Alaskan Cruise Highlights

The Wild Life

How can you not appreciate the wildlife of Alaska? It’s so funny because everyone on the ship was hoping that they would see a whale on the cruise. I didn’t book a whale-watching excursion and I can’t even begin to tell you how many whales we saw on this trip! We saw humpbacks galore and even got to see some orcas frolicking in the water. Seaworld ain’t got nothin’ on Alaska y’all!

On the ship, there was a naturalist that stood on the bridge of the ship and made an announcement anytime she spotted a whale, seal, bald eagle, porpoise, etc. It became kind of a game to rush to the side of the ship that she referenced in her announcement.

While we were in Juneau, we hopped on a bus to the Mendenhall Glacier. As we were driving through downtown Juneau a mama bear and two cubs ran across the road. It was the coolest thing ever! I definitely didn’t expect to have a bear sighting- especially in downtown Juneau!

The Lakes & Snow-Capped Mountains

As a Florida girl, it was nice to see something other than palm trees, sand, brackish water, and flat terrain. I loved all of the gorgeous green lakes, evergreens, and snow-capped mountains. There were mountains galore! We even got to play in the snow… in the summer! And yes, I fought back the urge to sing songs from Disney’s “Frozen”.

The Glaciers

Seeing the glaciers was pretty rad too! We visited both the Mendenhall Glacier and the Dawes Glacier on this trip. We were amazed by how blue the glaciers were and how gorgeous the surrounding water was. It was pretty neat sailing by little icebergs on our way through the Endicott Arm.

The lush green hillsides stood out in comparison to the vibrant blue water. It was absolutely stunning! Another cool thing about the Endicott Arm was all of the waterfalls that lined the waterway. I don’t think I’ve been anywhere quite as beautiful as the Endicott Arm! It was truly that beautiful.

Yes, Even Canada, eh

Believe it or not, we actually spent about as much time in Canada as we did in Alaska! We spent several hours driving through British Columbia and Yukon Territory. We also made a pit-stop in Victoria, British Columbia. This part of Canada was just as gorgeous as Alaska! I’m so glad we made the drive from Skagway to Carcross!

I have a feeling we’ll definitely be back to The Last Frontier. Now that we’ve been formally introduced, we’d love to drive around and check out more of what Alaska has to offer. Going to Alaska was a dream come true, I can definitely see why people consider this a trip of a lifetime.

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Ketchikan, known as Alaska’s “first city”, due to its location at the southernmost entrance of the Inside Passage. This makes Ketchikan a popular stop on most Alaskan cruises.

In addition to Ketchikan, we visited Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia. We also sailed through the Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier.

Should I book an excursion in Ketchikan?

Firstly, there are so many great excursions available in Ketchikan, but Alaskan excursions are expensive. If you are on a budget, you can easily experience all of the best Ketchikan has to offer without booking an excursion. There are plenty of things to do near the Ketchikan Cruise Port. We had a chance to explore the Salmon Capital on foot and really enjoyed ourselves.

While we were in Ketchikan we did the Orca Beach Nature Trail which took us to an island where we had a chance to hike and become at one with nature. During our trip, we saw whales, porpoises, countless eagles, and tons of other wildlife (including a slug that I managed to kiss…)

5 Things to Do Near the Ketchikan Cruise Port

Note: We suggest grabbing a map at the Visitors Center. The map includes 35 points of interest. The entire loop around downtown will take you at least an hour to do.

Creek Street

The #1 thing to do in Ketchikan is to take a stroll down Creek Street. Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, and this is the perfect place to spot the salmon swim upstream to spawn. Believe it or not, this is the former red light district. Locals say this is where “both men and salmon came upstream to spawn”. 

Creek Street is about a 10-15 minute leisurely stroll from the cruise port. Signs are posted that will lead you through the town to this popular spot. If you don’t want to risk getting lost, you can stop by the Visitors Center to grab a walking tour map.

Stroll Through Downtown

Downtown is home to many shops, bars, and restaurants. There are also lots of really cool totem poles that are scattered throughout the town. If you want to learn more about the totems, you can stop by the Totem Pole Heritage Center.

Walk and Shop at the Boardwalk

The historic boardwalk is a living postcard. It is dotted with colorful shops where you can pick up souvenirs, sample some of the local salmon, and grab a beer. Be sure to peer over the railings to look for salmon!

Sample the Local Cuisine

There are plenty of great restaurants in town. Grab some fish and chips, freshly caught crab and fish at one of the portside restaurants.

Take a Hike

Believe it or not, there are some pretty rad hiking trails near the port. The Deer Mountain Trail, in particular, offers panoramic views of Ketchikan. Word on the street is that this is one of the best hiking trails in the Frontier State! The trail takes between 3 to 5 hours to complete, so make sure you have plenty of time before trying to tackle it.

While You’re in Ketchikan

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Isn’t it glorious? I could totally see myself living here. As soon as I saw this place, it was love at first sight! The turquoise water, jagged green snow-capped mountains, and massive evergreen trees are like something you’d see on a post-card. The town itself was very charming and there was a ton of things to do near the cruise port. Ketchikan is seriously the ideal Alaskan town.

Our Day in Ketchikan

We booked the Orca Beach Nature Trail excursion through Carnival. We took a bus out to gorgeous Knudson Cove where we caught a rib boat to a neighboring island for a lovely little hike. The boat ride out was stunning and the air blowing through our hair was so relaxing. In fact, the ride out was probably the highlight of the excursion! The views were absolutely jaw-dropping. We were on high-alert hoping to see a humpback whale but didn’t have any luck. We did spot a ton of bald eagles, however.

The “hike” turned out to be more of a 3/4 mile walk on a rustically constructed boardwalk. Considering how much walking we had done this week, it was actually a welcomed relief! Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable and shared with us information about the island and the plants and animals that inhabit it.

The natives used to strip trees, like the ones pictured above and used the bark for the construction of canoes. When they stripped the trees, they only took the bark from the side of the tree that is facing away from the water. By doing this, they were able to preserve the tree. Pretty responsible, right?

Oh…. and I also kissed a banana slug and walked around the woods singing, “I kissed a slug and I liked it” to the tune of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl (and I Liked It)”. It was a dare…I couldn’t pass it up. Apparently, kissing a banana slug is supposed to bring you good fortune.

We enjoyed a light snack of smoked salmon, cheese, and crackers before we headed back for Knudson Cove. Our rib boat was manned by two of the most charming guys I’ve ever met. They were so sweet, fun, and easy-going! We spotted a humpback on the way back to the cove so our captain circled back and sat for a bit so we could watch the giant creature.

He also pointed out an active eagles nest, pictured above. The nest was about 6 feet wide and housed eaglets.

Our Thoughts on Our Tour

This was hands down the best tour we have ever taken through Carnival. Someone owes these guides a beer! After the tour, we headed into town to do a little shopping before we sailed off for Victoria, British Columbia.

Watching the sunset on Ketchikan as we sailed away was the perfect way to end the day.

Ah, I just can’t get enough of this place! Take me back! This must be what heaven looks like! I apologize for all of the teeny-bopper exclamation marks.

While You’re in Ketchikan

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What is the Mendenhall Glacier?

The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the many large glaciers that flow from the 1500 square mile area known as the Juneau Icefield. Around 3,000 ago, the earth experienced the Little Ice Age. When the climate warmed, much of the ice sheet melted back and exposed the valleys that we see today.

The glacier is located in Tongass National Forest. It is about 1.5 miles wide and more than 100 feet high.

How do I access the Mendenhall Glacier?

We took a quick 12-minute bus ride from the capital city of Juneau to Tongass National Forest. A roundtrip bus ticket from downtown will cost you about $30. You can also take a taxi, which runs about $35 each way.

We departed via bus from downtown Juneau to head out to Tongass National Forest. You won’t believe what happened as we were driving through the downtown streets! A black bear ran right in front of our bus! The bear was on a mission to chow down some skunk cabbage on the side of the road. Our guide said it was his first black bear of the season. It was such a cool sight!

The $5 entrance fee (ages 16+) covers admission to the Observatory building, as well as access to the trails and viewing areas. 

How cold is it on the Glacier?

Even if it’s a balmy 70 degrees in Juneau, you’ll want to pack a jacket. Temperatures on and around the glacier will most likely be around 32 degrees, or possibly cooler depending on the winds.

Highlights of the Mendenhall Glacier and Tongass National Forest

Learn All About the Glacier and Surrounding Forest

The Visitor Center building has several exhibits that breakdown how the terrain and landscape have changed over time. There are photos that show how much the glacier has changed and receded since the center first opened in 1962.

There’s also a 15 minute documentary that shows the changes, as well.

Hike the Photo Trail

Okay… even if you’re not a hiker, you’ll most definitely want to walk the 1/3 mile path along the Photo Trail. The trail is a paved walkway that gives you absolutely remarkable glimpses of the Mendenhall Glacier.

Get Up Close & Personal With a Waterfall

One of the highlights of our visit was the 2-mile hike on the Nugget Falls Trail. The trail took us to the 377-foot Nugget Falls and the base of the Mendenhall Glacier. The view couldn’t have been more photogenic with bald eagles flying around, the falls pounding into Mendenhall Lake and the glacier as the backdrop.

The water from the falls actually comes from Nugget Glacier, which is upstream from Mendenhall Glacier. It’s one of the 38 glacier that make up the Juneau Ice Field. There are also more impressive views of the Mendenhall Glacier from this location.

Hit the Other Trails

There are four other hiking trails that cover about six miles worth of terrain. Some of them are even paved, making them a bit easier to navigate. Make sure to grab a map from the visitor’s center before you venture out on your own.

It is strongly recommended that you remain alert and are aware of your surroundings. There’s a chance of running into bears while you’re out in the forest- they’re hungry and on the hunt for food! In fact, no food or drinks (other than water) is allowed on the trails during peak season due to bear activity. If you’re hitting the trails, make sure to pack some bear spray (yes, that’s a thing!), a bear horn, and a good pair of hiking shoes or boots.

Where can I see these bears?

Black bears are often seen close to the parking lot near the Steep Creek Trail. There are several boardwalks near creeks that can give you aerial views of bears fishing in the creek.

While in Juneau…

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Updated: 12/14/2020

We had a lot on our itinerary for the day. We were heading to British Columbia and The Yukon, and of course, we had to explore this charming little town. We planned on fitting as much as we could so that we had a chance to really explore this area. First, we followed the White Pass Trail from Skagway up to Frasier, British Columbia passing cascading waterfalls, gorgeous snow-capped mountains, and some of the most spectacular lakes I’ve ever seen. Yep, you read that right- we headed into Canada!

British Columbia

Words simply cannot describe how stunning British Columbia was! The towering snow-capped mountains, the lush green evergreens, the azure glacier lakes were more gorgeous than I can put into words. Visiting this region was like a dream come true- I’m dying to go back!

I spent the hour-long ride from Fraser, British Columbia to Carcross, Yukon Territory gazing out the window with my jaw dropped. The vistas were breathtaking! This would be an amazing spot to pitch a tent for a couple of weeks and forget about the world.

Yukon Territory

Next, we made a pit stop in Carcross at the Caribou Crossing Trading Post for a delicious barbecue lunch and a chance to stretch our legs.

After lunch, we went to spend some time with animals. We fed goats, alpacas, and donkeys! This goat reminded us so much of our little terrier Parker. He had a way of forcing himself on you so that you’d pay attention to him.

Then, we had a meet and greet with some of the Alaskan sled dogs. We watched as they were harnessed up and carried sleds off into the hillsides.

Next, we made a pit stop at the Carcross Desert, which is often called “The World’s Smallest Desert”. It was a great spot to stretch our legs and admire the biodiversity of the area.

Our last stops in The Yukon were Spirit Lake and Emerald Lake, both well known for their impeccable green coloring.

Have you met my pet monkey Isabelle? Isabelle has traveled with me for nearly 2 decades. She has visited 18 countries with me and joined me on my trip into Canada since she missed out on my first trip to this amazing country!

Skagway, Alaska

Finally, it was time to check out Skagway! Isn’t it such a charming little town? It was covered with Gold Rush-era buildings painted in vibrant colors and decorative storefronts.

How cool is this building? It’s covered entirely in driftwood!

Lastly, we met up with some friends at the historic Red Onion Saloon, one of the best-known brothels in all of Alaska. The ladies of the Red Onion are all in full costume and character and are an absolute riot. The upstairs is a museum dedicated to the building’s past and the saloon’s role during the gold rush. The day was a perfect introduction to all of the wonderful things we would see throughout Alaska and western Canada.

While in Skagway…

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Slide on over to our post about checking out the famous Mendenhall Glacier in Tongass National Park just outside of Juneau. Be sure to give us a like on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for more travel tips and tricks. See you next time!