Explora Journeys in Juneau

Juneau is Alaska's state capital, wedged between the Gastineau Channel and steep forested peaks and reachable only by water or air. The cruise docks put you in a compact gold rush downtown with a tramway up the mountain right at the pier, and the two marquee day trips, the Mendenhall Glacier and humpback whales in Auke Bay, are both a short drive out. It earns the day on the strength of what is within 13 miles, not just the town.

What to do on a day in Juneau

• Mount Roberts Tramway, steps from the dock, climbing about 1,800 feet to trails, a nature center, and channel views
• Mendenhall Glacier, roughly 13 miles out, reachable by shuttle in about 30 minutes, with the visitor center and Nugget Falls trail
• Whale watching in Auke Bay, where around 65 humpbacks return each summer to feed and sightings are often guaranteed
• Tracy's King Crab Shack near the waterfront for Alaskan king crab
• The Sealaska Heritage Institute and the downtown collection of painted cedar totem poles
• The Red Dog Saloon, the sawdust-floor gold rush bar in the historic core

Getting ashore

Ships dock right along downtown, so the historic core, the totem poles, and the tram base are all walkable from the gangway. The glacier and the whale-watching harbor are out of town but well served by shuttles that stage near the tram. One day means choosing a focus, typically the glacier or whales plus a downtown stroll, rather than trying to do everything.

When to book the ship's excursion vs your own →

Weather and when to visit

• May to September (the cruise window). Cool and often wet. Typical highs run mid-50s F in May and September and low-to-mid 60s F from June through August, with lows around 47 to 50 F in midsummer. May and June are usually the drier months; rainfall climbs through August, and September is the wettest. Near the solstice expect very long daylight, around 18 hours.