The View from the Top of the Tramway and other Juneau, AK Things to Do Tips

The Mt. Robert's Tramway is definately a touristy activity and expensive, but worth it for the view. The restaurant up top isn't too bad either, especially if you can get a table by the front windows. The day we were there, a bald eagle from the rapture center was there with a naturalist. Fun to see up close. The tram ride takes about 10 minutes to climb 1,760 feet so you end up above the tree line with great views of Juneau and out the channel.

$21.95 for adults and 12.60 for kids 7-12. Under 7 is free.

Lots of trails from either the bottom of the mountain or from the top of the tramway further up the mountain.

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Address: 4905 Franklin St.
Directions: At the cruise ship docks just south of downtown - you can't miss it, the bright red and white tram cars are visible from anywhere in town.

Update: Have heard that Allen Marine bought 4 Seasons early in 2008. So that makes this tip more of a memoir than a useful tip, but will give you a feel of what a whale watching tour is like.

Took a whale watching / salmon bake tour on Four Season's vessel, The Baranof Wind, out of Auke Bay. Left at 10 AM and back to shore by 3PM. A great trip on a good sized vessel with plenty of room to roam around on deck or inside. The Baranof Wind is a 72' steel hulled catamaran that cruises at 22 knots. The ship hold 212 passengers, but there were only about 50 people onboard the day we went.

Four Seasons isn't owned or committed to cruise companies only, although you can book them through most cruise companies, so tend to be less crowded and more laid back. We can talk about vertical integration some other time :)

Saw many Humpback Whales and Steller Sealions, Bald Eagles, and the hind end of a Black Bear diving into the bushes to get away from us. We stopped at Orca Point Lodge for a great BBQ salmon lunch. The salmon was so good, I got the ingrediants from the cooks and use it all the time at home. They gave us time to walk around this remote area - never felt hurried. On the way back to Auke Bay, just as we were turning the corner into the harbor, an Orca came up right next to the boat - an outstanding experience!

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Phone: 877-774-8687
Directions: Auke Bay next to the Ferry Terminal
Website: www.4seasonsmarine.com

I've been out to the glacier many times over the years. My daughter lives less than a mile away. Each time I've run into visitors they all remark that this is the best view they have had of a glacier during their all Alaskan travels.

The glacier is an easy drive from downtown Juneau. Buses are available from the cruise ship docks for $7 each way. I hear you can take a city bus for even less but they stop at least a mile short of the visitor's center.

The visitor center is interesting, but a nice way to avoid the crowds is to hike to the falls at the right side of the glacier. About a mile over fairly flat and sandy trails during the summer when the water level of the lake is lower.

Keep in mind that this is black bear country. Exercise caution in the eraly morning , late evening times when there aren't many folks around.

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Directions: At the head of Mendenhall Valley. If you reach Auke Bay, you have gone too far :)

The Perserverance was an active gold mine for over 75 years. This is an easy hike through some heavily wooded areas. Popular as a lunch time workout, the trail is only about 2 miles and travels in a loop. Toward the end is a mine shaft and some of the historical buildings left from it's active gold mining days. Climb of perhaps 500 feet on very moderate scale.

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Directions: Walk past the Governor's Mansion heading north, at the bottom of the hill turn right into Cope Park. Follow the dirt road back in. Can't miss it.

We were feeling especially touristy one day and decided to go to Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. Not sure if it was the high prices or the attraction itself, but it just seemed like a tourist trap to me. I post this in "things to do" because my wife thought it a worthwhile activity. So, for $20 each, you join all the cruise ship passengers for a ride up Thunder "Mountain" on roads carved out of the rain forest. Nice view from a look out at 580' up and the flowers down at the bottom were nice - but worth $20? I didn't think so. Seemed more like a greenhouse trying to make ends meet after the growing season to me.

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Phone: (907) 790-3377
Address: 7600 Glacier Highway
Directions: On the main road north of town just before you reach Mendenhall Valley.

The legislative session runs from January to May each year and that is the best time to visit. Even when they aren't in session, free guided tours are available with just a little advance notice - meet on the first floor by the security guard's desk. Feel free to wander the halls of the modest 5 story building - there is a lot of history everywhere you look. I've spent a lot of time waiting for my next appoinment in most of the hallways and always find something interesting to while away the time.
The 3rd floor is the Governor and Lt. Governor's office and access is limited to the hallway as you come off the elevator.
The House and Senate meeting rooms are on the 2nd floor and galleries are available for a small number of observers. Be aware that you will have to check in any bags before entering.
The legislature outgrew the present building years ago, so everything is crammed together. Hopes for a new building rise and wane depending on how the push to move the capital to Anchorage or Matsu is going that year.

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Phone: (907) 465-3800
Address: 4th & Main

A bit of a drive north of Juneau is one of my favorite places to visit in Juneau. The Shrine of St. Therese is an active retreat center with cabins to rent that range in size from 2 person to corporate retreat size. My daughter and her family rented a place a few weekends ago and enjoyed themselves immensely. If they'll rent to her you know it doesn't have to be for a religous group, if you catch my drift.

Right on the water with Orcas and humpback whales swimming by on a regular basis. The peacefulness and sacredness of this spot hits you as soon as you park your car and start strolling down the trail to the water. The shrine itself is on a spit of land called Shrine Island.

Built over 50 years ago it is a simple chapel handmade of stone. A major renovation was just completed of the interior. A stations of the cross trail goes around the outside. A few moments inside the chapel always lift my spirits. The view out over the water is stunning and the grounds are thickly wooded.

There isn't any public transport to the Shrine. The city buses stop at Auke Bay so you'll need to rent a car, ride a bike or hitch hike.

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Address: Mile 23
Directions: Start slowing down at mile 23 and look for the sign on your left.

An nice easy hike from the parking lot to the sea along mainly flat terrain. About 4 miles round trip, although you could walk a long way up the beach if you chose. What recommends this hike is the scenery. You start in the thick rain forest, along the river through open meadows and then a deserted beach with otters, seagulls and even a few whales blowing fine mist in the distance. Just seemed like a magical day. Might have been the bottle of good cabernet...

Did notice a lot of fresh bear scat in the woods, but we were a large, noisey group so porbably scared them off for miles.

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Directions: I'm not real sure so double check before trying this on your own. But we went north on Glacier Hwy past the Shrine of St. Therese and just before Eagle Pt. The scout camp is just across the river, so if you see a sign for that you've gone to far :)