The Port City Of Juneau

Quick Juneau fun facts:

it is the only U.S. state capital not accessible by roads! Residents have to travel by plane or boat
It is the only U.S. state capital located on an international border
The city is larger in area than any other U.S. state capital – it is larger than the state of Delaware

Because Juneau is the state capital of Alaska, there are a lot of government buildings and 1 out of every 2 Juneau residents work for the government. Kinda interesting I think.

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The history of Juneau stems from its Tlingit Native American roots and Russian influences. Juneau was a fishing outpost until Gold Rush fever hit. That boosted their economy along with canning, saw-milling, fishing, and mining.

What To Do in Juneau

Juneau has mountains, glaciers, and rain-forest. It provides for many things to do for all types and ages. Recreational activities include hiking, kayaking, fishing, skiing, whale watching and wildlife viewing. Seeing a brown bear fishing for food or a bald eagle casually soaring overhead is not out of the ordinary in Juneau. Visit one of their gardens or take the tram up to Mount Roberts.

Juneau Mount Roberts Tramway — Mount Roberts Tramway

Shopping

As with other cruise ports, shopping is nearby. You will find a huge selection of crafts and souvenirs.

You should be able to find genuine Alaskan jewelry, baskets, and furs, along with the normal souvenir magnets (my thing 🙂 ), key-chains and tee shirts. Just stay within your souvenir budget.

There are a lot of Disney Cruise Line port adventures from dog sledding to zip-lines, or you can go whale watching or explore Mendenhall Glacier. Remember that the excursions can fill up quickly, so book them as soon as you are allowed. Also, they can be expensive – so be sure they are included in your travel budget!

We did a seaplane excursion in Juneau that was an experience I will never forget! #Seaplane #Juneau #Alaska #JanetBPearson Share on X

Seaplane Tour

On our first trip to Juneau, we did a seaplane tour that flew over the Tongass National Forest to see 5 glaciers of the Juneau ice-field! We took off from the waterfront where we all had a window seat with unobstructed views. Before seeing the glaciers, we passed over waterfalls and rain-forest!. Seeing the glaciers from the air was an experience I will never forget. Plus flying in a seaplane was a lot of fun!

Wings Airways

The seaplane we flew on for 5 glacier tour Juneau

Glacier Ice Field from Seaplane

Wings Airways Seaplane 5 Glacier Tour

Exploring Downtown Juneau

We also spent a bit of time just walking around. There are totem poles and sculptures around the town that are so beautifully crafted.

Walking around

Downtown

Visiting Downtown Juneau

They have an interesting book sharing system. They use little boxes around town where you can borrow and donate books. Seems like a neat idea!

Juneau Residential library Sharing Boxes — Residential library Sharing Boxes

At all the port cities, remember to be respectful of the people and their culture. We can learn a lot from the native people.

See the port of Skagway here.

Read about Ketchikan here.

See how I display my Souvenir Magnets here.

Get a free Alaska Packing List here.

We are longtime Disney cruisers, having taken 15 cruises so far. We have sailed on each of the 4 Disney ships and have been to Alaska, Western Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean, Bahamas, Southern Caribbean, Canadian Coastline, and a special Mexican Mayan itinerary. If you have any questions, please contact me. I love to talk about Disney cruising!