Juneau is Alaska’s capital city, and is a popular port-of-call for cruise ships sailing the Inside Passage. Remote in location at the base of Mount Roberts, it’s only accessible by boat or seaplane.

While working seasonally on cruise ships, I’ve had my fair share of visiting Juneau. The weather in this part of Alaska can be temperamental, being in a temperate rainforest. Yet even despite the rain that might come, it’s one of my favorite Alaskan ports! There’s an easily-accessed glacier nearby, yummy food options, and a handful of cute shops!

Below is a list of sights, adventures, and foods not to be missed. Simply my own personal recommendations and favorite experiences, it doesn’t cover everything available here in Juneau. But everything listed has been tried and tested, time and time again (especially the crab legs at Tracy’s *wink*), by myself, fellow cruise crew, and passengers alike.

Also check out my Cruise Crews Guide To Skagway, Alaska and my Cruise Crews Guide to Ketchikan, Alaska!

What To Do Here

Whale Watching & Wildlife Viewing

Sometimes you can see whales right from your cruise ship! But it’s not always guaranteed and they’re usually far away. Some of the best whale watching I’ve ever experienced was while on a tour in Juneau.

It was gray rainy when I hopped on a smaller boat on a tour to see some humpbacks. But the weather didn’t keep me from standing at the stern of the boat, with my raincoat hood cinched so tight around my face, getting absolutely drenched, and LOVING every moment! I failed at capturing many photos, but my group was lucky enough to see a large pod of humpbacks bubble net feeding!

Also available in Juneau are scenic floatplane rides to go brown bear viewing! Fly to remote locations such as Admiralty Island on an epic journey to seek out the world’s largest brown bear populations!

Flightseeing

Besides the above-mentioned floatplane tours to view the brown bears, you can also go flightseeing on tours to glaciers! Fly over the vast Juneau icefield to get up-close-and-personal with one of nature’s most awe-inspiring and dramatic creations! Opt for a seaplane or a helicopter. (Flightseeing also available in Skagway and Ketchikan)

Mendenhall Glacier Tour

The Mendenhall Glacier is Juneau’s #1 attraction. It’s easily accessible by car and offers plenty of hiking trails around it. Stretching across the Juneau Icefield into Mendenhall Lake, the glacier is 12 miles long and a half-mile wide. Although, these numbers will change overtime as it recedes.

You can witness the Mendenhall Glacier on tour by visiting its interactive visitors center or taking a guided trail hike. If you’re more adventurous, you can trek and climb the ice, take a flightseeing tour, or even go dog sledding on top of it (more on that later). Tours by boat are also available. Choose between a Native canoe adventure, a sea kayak experience, or a float trip!

Mendenhall Ice Caves Hike

This is hands down my favorite Juneau experience. You absolutely cannot miss a hike through the Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves. Take a guided tour or hike to them on your own with friends (for free)!

I first hiked to the ice caves in 2014. When I came back in 2017, I was shocked. The visible difference in size was alarming. If you’re interested in hiking here for free, read my post Hike The Mendenhall Glacier Ice Caves Before It’s Too Late.

Mount Roberts Tramway Ride

For a birds-eye view of Juneau, take the scenic tramway up Mount Roberts. The ride is about 5 minutes and brings you 1800 feet above the city. There’s a lot of great hiking up here in the sub-alpine meadow! It even has a handicap-accessible trail and wildlife-viewing platforms. Check out the nature center up here as well. The Juneau Raptor Center is a great place for anyone hoping to see a bald eagle up-close while in Alaska.

There’s also a restaurant, a gift shop, a Tlingit arts gallery, and live performances in the theater!

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is one of Alaska’s must-do activities! From the Iditarod race to transporting supplies in the backcountry to rescuing lost or injured hikers, dog sledding has been a huge part of Alaskan history. Meet professional mushers and their canine teams on a dog sledding tour! In Juneau, you can take a quick wheeled ride at a training grounds or even fly to the Mendenhall Glacier for a much more memorable ride! (Dog sledding also available in Skagway)

Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Visit

Visit the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery to learn about the spawning process and the lifecycle of Pacific Salmon. There are outdoor operations to view around the hatchery, and a 450-foot fish ladder where adult salmon can be seen fighting their way to swim up! Salt water aquariums and touch tanks make this the perfect place for families. It’s also a great place to buy your smoked salmon products (gotta love edible souvenirs)!

Shopping

Although all the Alaskan ports have pretty much the same exact souvenirs and kitschy merchandise, Juneau has a handful of unique and trendy shops. I plan on going into way more detail in a future post on shopping in Alaska, but I’ll just name a few of my favorite stores here.

Definitely don’t miss The Port. This little shack-like stand sells the coolest items that are all exclusively made in Alaska (mostly Juneau and Southeast AK makers). The best gifts here are Barnacle’s Kelp Salsa and the art or clothing by Frost + Fur. Kindred Post is another favorite of mine. It’s a post office and a hip gift shop in one! They sell everything from cute prints and stationary to stylish jewelry to soy candles to fun home goods. And of course you can’t leave Juneau without picking up a bar (or 5) of glacier silt soap from Glacier Smoothie!

Where To Eat Here

Lunch/Dinner

Guys…you cannot not eat at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. This always-busy restaurant is a Juneau staple and has the “Best Legs in Town”! They also have king crab cakes and my personal favorite item on the menu — the crab bisque with warm buns. I’m drooling just thinking about this place now.

Hangar on the Wharf is another popular restaurant, and offers a great waterfront view. Watch the seaplanes come and go while you munch on an oyster po boy or halibut chowder. They have a nice selection of non-seafood items like the macadamia nut chicken, as well as a lot of vegan/gluten free options like the poached pear gorgonzola salad. Plus, the beer selection is the largest in the city.

Another foodie stop to hit up is Deckhand Dave’s. This taco truck has an Alaskan twist. It’s decked out (hah! punny!) as a ship, and serves up baja-style fish tacos. Bonus points for the fish being fresh, locally sourced, and sustainable.

With its swinging doors and sawdust floors, the world famous Red Dog Saloon tends to be the watering hole of choice, by both tourists and locals alike. It originated in the heyday of Juneau’s mining era and has a pretty interesting history! It offers lunch, dinner, pub food, and a wide selection of drinks. They claim to have the best wings in town, too!

Another “watering hole” if you’re looking to try (or bring home) local Alaskan beer is the Alaskan Brewing Company. You can grab a bottle in the town shop or at most bars. Or take a tour of their brewery for a closer look into how the beer is made! They offer year-round, seasonal, and limited edition options (currently wishing I could try the limited edition Raspberry Wheat Ale)!

Coffee

Heritage Coffee Roasting Co. is the perfect cafe to wander into on a rainy day. Or any kind of day really. Heritage is Juneau’s hometown roaster and is Alaska’s oldest privately-owned roasting company. The Downtown location is my favorite spot to pick up beans to bring home, and it sells sweatshirts, mugs, and other merchandise.

Another favorite coffee spot is The Rookery Cafe. They’re currently the only ones in Alaska serving Stumptown Coffee and they also provide tasty lunch and dinner items. The Rookery tries to make as much as they can from scratch and presents only the highest quality of food.

Sweet Tooth

For awarded handmade ice cream, head to Coppa! Sample flavors like Sentinel Coffee, Spruce Tip, Vanilla Bean, and the vegan Coconut Lime Cilantro. For the adventurous folks, I suggest trying their ice cream flavor that won a Grand Prize in 2017 — Candied Salmon ice cream. Yep. That’s right.

For an on-the-go sweet treat, grab a delicious crepe from the Alaskan Crepe Escape. They have sweet or savory creations, along with smoothies and espresso.

Snag a bar of fudge from the Alaskan Fudge Co. on your way back to the ship. It’s made fresh everyday and has the cutest Alaskan names like Mendenhall Mudd and Klondike Walnut. You can also get specialty chocolates, truffles, and candies here! (Skagway is another Alaskan Fudge Co location)

Are you planning a cruise to Alaska?! Consider checking out my travel agent Facebook page and using me as your travel professional! I’m a certified Alaskan Cruising Specialist and it’s low-key my favorite type of trip to plan and book for clients. And no, there’s no extra charge for using me as your travel agent PLUS you get a gift from me delivered to your cruise cabin!
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Have you been to Juneau?
Tell me in the comments what you did there, or what looks like the most fun!