Back in 1867, the US purchased Alaska from Russia at 2 cents per acre. Totaling to $7.2 Million, this is less than the purchase price of some houses these days! This vast piece of land which could fit two states of Texas, encloses endless natural wonders for travelers to explore. On our cruise ship journey, we had the opportunity to explore the capital city of
Juneau.
Situated in Alaska's southeast ecosystem, Juneau gets plenty of rainfall supporting the many habitats and wildlife of the
Tongass National Rainforest. It's amazing how one of our coldest, snowiest states is also the home to the largest rainforest in the United States! The waters of Juneau are home to sea lions, seals, orca and humpback whales- just to name a few.
To see the most of Alaska's wildlife during our time in Juneau, we signed up for the
Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Quest with Allen Marine Tours. We booked the tour through the
Crown Princess. For $180 each we went on a catamaran tour with guaranteed whale sightings through the Inside Passage, followed by a motorcoach ride to the Mendenhall Glacier. This was an incredible tour that we highly recommend to future Juneau visitors!
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| For our Outdoor Gear shop at- http://www.montauktackle.com/ |
Aboard the catamaran, we passed by the Herbert Glacier, fjords, mountains and valleys. The landscape was beautiful. Aside from the scenic vistas, there was no shortage in wildlife. We saw a number of sea lions and other ocean life. But by far, our favorite part of the excursion was witnessing the bubble net feeding of the humpback whales. Bubble netting is a unique type of feeding in which whales gather in a group blowing bubbles to force the fish upward. Birds swarm around the surface of the water just before the whales are about the breach, giving you just enough time to get your camera ready and capture some awesome photos!
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| Sea Lions in Juneau |
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| Herbert Glacier |
Our next stop was the Mendenhall Glacier Park. There are numerous walking trails; we took the Nugget Creek Trail which was around 2 miles. The Mendenhall Glacier left us awestruck. It is 13.6 miles long and a dozen shades of blue depending on how the light shines off the ice. Alongside the glacier is the beautiful Nugget Falls. The falls cascade 377 feet into a freshwater pool at the face of the glacier.
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| Mendenhall Glacier |
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| Nugget Falls |
If you enjoy seafood, it's impossible to leave Alaska without ordering a fresh serving of king crabs.
Tracy's Crab Shack in downtown Juneau is a 5 star experience. Easily, the BEST crab legs we ever had. If you like seafood just as much, don't leave Juneau without visiting Tracy's!
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| King Crab Leg at Tracy's Crab Shack |
Our last stop in Juneau was the
Red Dog Saloon. It is a city staple for good brews, live music and a great atmosphere. With a mix of locals and tourists, there's no shortage of people and good times. If you like craft beers, try out the Alaskan Amber- our favorite, or some of the other
Alaskan Brewing Co. beers on tap!
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| Red Dog Saloon |
Kristy Albano & Matt Pickering
