day trips Juneau - Pitstops for Kids

Exploring Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau Alaska

September 9, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

Part of the Tongass National Forest, Mendenhall Glacier is one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers. Located just outside Juneau Alaska, Mendenhall can be driven to by tour bus or private vehicle, or can be explored from above via float plane or helicopter. While some helo tours do include a landing on the glacier, visitors arriving by car or bus will have access only to view Mendenhall and Mendenhall Lake via observation deck or trail.

Exploring Mendenhall with kids:

If possible, allow at least two hours to explore Mendenhall. Start at the visitor’s center, which is set above the entrance for optimal viewing of the glacier. Kids can look through high quality telescopes at viewing stations within the visitor’s center, and everyone will learn more about glacial activity (and Mendenhall in particular) before exploring it in person. The park service staff are very knowledgable, and though Mendenhall is run by the US Forest Service, kids can participate in a Junior Ranger curriculum. Tip: If you are on a cruise ship itinerary and don’t have time to finish, the completed booklet can be turned in in Ketchikan.

Take the Nugget Falls trail from the visitor’s center to the glacier. The trail is less than one mile on even terrain and is well maintained, and will take you to the base of the glacier and the shore of Mendenhall Lake. The rushing water of Nugget Falls flows into the lake here, creating quite the dramatic destination. This is a great place to get family photos at the glacier, and kids will burn off energy running around in the sand by the lake.

Date last visited: July 2013

Hour of operation: 8 am to 7:30 pm daily in summer. Open Fri-Sun in winter.

Directions: Mendenhall is at 6000 Glacier Spur Road. Follow signage from Juneau.

Best Juneau day excursion: Sled Dog Discovery and Mushers’ Camp

September 4, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

If given the opportunity to visit the Sled Dog Discovery and Mushers’ Camp in Juneau Alaska, take it! It may well be the best Juneau day excursion for kids. This scenic camp deep in the Tongass National Rain Forest is a 30 minute bus ride from the Juneau cruise terminal (a camp driver will pick you up), and once there, visitors are treated to dog heaven. (Note: you should probably like dogs to enjoy this excursion!) The camp’s primary purpose (apart from tourism, of course) is as a summer training camp for sled dogs. Many Iditarod athletes are here, working out on dirt instead of snow during the summer months.

The Sled Dog Discovery experience:

We started our experience boarding a sled dog buggy (summertime sled) and meeting our musher. I was impressed that these staff members are more than just ‘drivers’: our musher had run several dog sled races, and was at the camp to exercise Iditarod dogs for their owner. We took a circuit through the rain forest of about a mile, and while this is not a long ride, and the dogs don’t go as quickly as they do on the snow, it’s still fun and scenic. Our musher said their pace is determined by the team and their training level; we had two seven-month-old pups in our team who were clearly still learning the ropes. This video below shows the experience well:

After our ride, we greeted the dogs, then met with another musher who talked with us about the racing lifestyle of the teams and owners, and allowed the kids to try on mushing jackets and other equipment. We then moved on to the highlight of our experience: meeting the puppies. The camp had two litters at the time of our visit and we were all able to hold and cuddle the weeks-old puppies. What fun!

While waiting for your bus ride back to Juneau, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and cider is available, and guests can warm up by a bonfire. The entire camp is beautiful; make sure to take the time to walk across the suspension bridge over a flowing creek!

Date last visited: July 2013

Cost: $129 for adults, $89 for kids

Directions: Meet at the Juneau cruise terminal directly off the ships.

We experienced the sled dog camp as part of our Alaskan Dream Cruise experience, for the purpose of review.

Juneau Alaska with kids: lesser known Mt. Roberts Tramway hiking

September 2, 2013 By Amy Hagstrom

If you’re experiencing Juneau Alaska with kids, you’re most likely arriving by cruise ship. If you’re very lucky, you’re cruising via a small-ship cruise, disembarking ahead of the masses, but even if you’re onboard a large cruise ship, families can escape the crowds of downtown Juneau. The trick is getting kids to pass up the Juneau souvenir shops lining the dock in favor of harder-to-reach but rewarding hiking spots.

The Mt. Roberts Tramway is located in the heart of touristy downtown, and costs a whopping $31 per adult, $15 per child to ride (we recommend you do so via a cruise excursion instead, or buy a combination pass), but once you’re on the tram, you leave downtown behind. The views on the ride up are amazing (even during partly foggy or rainy weather), and once at the top, it’s fairly easy to ditch the crowds by skipping (yet more) souvenir shops and the top-of-mountain restaurant. Head to the nature center, where (amid even more souvenirs!) kids can find information about the mountains here, including what wildlife to be looking for. Hint: there are mountain goats up here!

From the nature center, the Alpine Loop Trail is only .5 mile, but fairly steep with commanding views. (Bring binoculars.) From this loop, it’s easy to add more length by taking one of the many side trails (they all end up eventually back on the Alpine Loop and then back at the nature center.

If you want to escape humanity entirely, opt to hike the trail back down to Juneau (instead of taking the tram back down). The trail is clearly marked on Mt. Roberts’ trail maps (pick one up when you arrive), and doesn’t take as long as you’d think…probably because it’s all downhill. This said, the way is steep and often slippery. We recommend kids be at least eight years old (you are your child’s best judge) and that everyone has good footwear. Do not attempt in rain. The trail will deposit you on the opposite end of downtown Juneau from the tram (approximately a 10 minute walk back). The plus side of ending away from the tourist zone: you will pass several historic houses (including one resided in by Sarah Palin) en route back to the main drag.

Hiking in Juneau is a great way to experience the beautiful scenery here (and I bet you’ll still have time to buy a t-shirt or two). Stop for lunch after hiking at The Hanger, located right on the bay. The kids will enjoy watching the float planes take off and land, and the food is fast and delicious.