Best 3 Juneau shore excursions - by authority Howard Hillman

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Best 3 Juneau
shore excursions

Alaska cruise
tips you can trust

Juneau's best
shore excursions

Helicopter sightseeing

The established helicopter TEMSCO, has three tours: 1) Its basic tour gives you 30 minutes flightseeing time plus a glacial landing with a guided walk. 2) Its Pilot's Choice tour has 50 minutes of flightseeing plus two distinct glacial walks. 3) Its ultimate tour combines 30 minutes of flightseeing with dog sledding on a remote glacier.

Helicopter & dog sledding

Floatplane sightseeing

If the helicopter tours are fully booked or beyond your budget, then do book a floatplane excursion. You fly over glaciers. One tour also lands you at a remote lodge for a salmon lunch. Click this link for my floatplane page:

Floatplane tour

Mt. Roberts Tramway

Take a 6-minute journey 550 meters (1800 feet) up a steep mountain for a bird's eye view of Juneau, cruise ships, and the wilderness. Mt. Roberts has a restaurant, viewing area, and native-culture film. There are also hiking trails (be aware of occasional bear encounters, a reason guided hikes are popular).

Juneau runners-up

In Juneau ...

Red Dog Saloon

Pass through the swinging doors for honky-tonk piano music, saloon girls, sawdust floors, and gold-rush-day decor. The decor and brew are better than the grub.

Alaska State Museum

Local art, artifacts, and more.

Salmon Hatchery

Observe the process, from egg to release.

City tour

Organized or self-guided.

Outside Juneau ...

Sawyer Glacier

If your cruise ship does not make a visit to Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm Fjord as part of its itinerary, I recommend taking a boat or (especially) air tour out of Juneau to experience this natural marvel.

Mendenhall Glacier

It's grand and just 20 minutes outside of Juneau by shuttle bus, tour bus, or rental car. But be aware that the observation areas are distant from the glacier. It's better to see it from a helicopter or floatplane.

Glacier hike-and-climb

An icy adventure for visitors with good climbing skills.

Whale watching

Choice of tours, on big and small boats.

Rainforest hikes

Connect with nature on a ranger-guided or self-do hike in nature's paradise.

Wildlife kayaking

Doing it in Tongass National Park is especially rewarding.

Sport fishing

Salmon is the star from late July to early September.

Zipline

it in a harness suspended from a zipline as you whoosh through tree tops.