I never thought I would travel to Alaska so soon! Initially I had no idea know how I would get there. Usually you see people travel by cruise which is so beautiful but it can be expensive. I would still like to do a cruise someday but at this time I knew I would have to fly in. After doing some research I found Juneau which happens to be the capital of Alaska. I always thought the capital was Anchorage, didn’t you? When I looked at photos comparing the two cities it was Juneau that won me over. I flew around 2 hours to Seattle from San Fran, and then I flew around another 2 hours to Juneau. It reminded me so much of Alberta Canada, neighboring British Columbia that comes as no surprise. You can expect to see big beautiful mountain ranges, and as a coastal city you’re right on the water.
My most memorable and favorite moment on this trip was riding across glacial valley to see the glaciers. It was a 9 hour boat ride altogether and it was worth every minute every second. A very rewarding experience. I had a huge moment of self reflection and appreciation of my own life and life in general. I felt so undeserving but grateful all at the same time. I remember there was a calmness as I was looking out into the ocean and down at the waves crashing against the boat, feeling the crisp cold air against my skin. You feel so small because everything surrounding you is massive in comparison. The beautiful contrast between the sky, mountains, and pacific ocean was very majestic. I will remember this forever.
Details
Flight Time: 5-6 hours direct to anchorage from San Fran – connecting would be more 6-8
2 hours to Seattle, around 2 hours to Juneau from Seattle
Glacier Company – Adventure Bound Alaska
Great way to see the sawyer glaciers and it’s inexpensive. Great company, knowledgeable, comfortable and clean. They offer cold and hot food, drinks, snacks, and you can sit inside and walk out on the deck. It’s very cold so wear extra clothes, bring a coat, a blanket, or gloves. I wouldn’t bring a book because it’s nice to see everything and you’ll be busy taking photos anyway but headphones would be great
Mount Roberts Tramway passes are 35 dollars for adults, there’s a theater, food and snacks, hiking trails, a gift shop, and you may spot a few bald eagles! You can also purchase art from one of the native Alaskan artists
Downtown Juneau is very small but there’s shops, a ton of tour booths, and restaurants. It’s walkable from the hotels closeby but there are ubers here. This is also a port stop so you’ll see big cruise ships and lots of tourists
Mendenhall Glacier was a 10 minute walk from the entrance and the walk to Nugget Falls took me about 20-25 minutes. Nugget Falls Trail is 1.3 miles – Difficulty Level: easy
- If you do not rent a car – the shuttle buses supposedly run every 30 minutes but I think it’s good to book a one way instead of a round trip if you know you’re pressed for time and don’t want to wait around for the shuttle if they’re running behind for whatever reason
Other food places I visited
Fish tacos at TK Maguires – located inside the Ramada Wyndham
Tracy’s King Crab Shack – I ordered my first king crab leg, I feel incredibly proud to say that
El Sombrero – Mexican cuisine
Juneau Alaska, 2019
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