One or Two Day Trips Outside of Juneau

For those making a real vacation out of their trip to Juneau, you might consider getting out to see one of the other nearby communities. Here are some ideas:

Gustavus and Glacier Bay
Gustavus is a small community with access to Glacier Bay National Park. There are many small B&Bs in Gustavus, as well as the Glacier Bay Lodge located within the Park at Bartlett Cove. A full day whale watching and glacier cruise departs from Bartlett Cove each day. Kayaking is also a favorite past time in the Bay. Alaska Air flies into Gustavus via jet each afternoon and there are several small airlines which have regularly scheduled flights as well.
Here are some useful links:
http://www.gustavus.com/
http://www.visitglacierbay.com/

Skagway
Located about 60 miles north of Juneau at the end of Lynn Canal, Skagway is a cute historical town. One day seems to be plenty in Skagway. The Alaska Marine Highway ferries make daily trips to Skagway and the ferry ride itself is well worth the money.

Once in Skagway, I would recommend visiting the National Park Service's Klondike Goldrush National Historic Park. The visitor center is right on the main drag and offers walking tours of town and films about the Goldrush.

And don't miss the train ride on the Whitepass Railroad. The fully narrated trip is 2.5 hours and costs $95 for adults and $47.50 for kids over 12. They only have three departures each day and its a very popular excursion, so make reservations as soon as you decide to go.

If you stay the night, try to get tickets to the Days of '98 Show with Soapy Smith. There's not much nightlife in Skagway and the show is a lot of fun.
http://www.nps.gov/klgo
www.skagway.com

Sitka
Sitka is the original Russian capital of Alaska, located on the outer coast of the southeast archipelago. Alaska Airlines has a flight schedule that allows you to leave Juneau early in the morning and return late in the evening and still have time to see most of Sitka's sights. The ferry also travels between Juneau and Sitka on a regular basis. Most of the small airlines will fly a charter to Sitka, but Harris Air flies a regular flight schedule.

If you get to Sitka, I would recommend checking out the Raptor Center, Sheldon Jackson Museum, Totem Heritage Park, Russian Bishop's House and Castle Hill. The New Archangel Dancers perform routinely at the Centennial Building so maybe start by checking there to see what time they are schedule to dance before heading to the other sites.
www.sitka.com
www.nps.gov/sitk

Activities Which Require a Bit of Planning

From May to late September, Juneau is flooded with tourists coming off of cruiseships by the thousands. This is actually a good thing, because that means there are a lot of established tours to keep all the tourists occupied while they are in port. If you are interested in any of the tours described below, you will need to make reservations ahead of time. Be sure to let us know what you'd like to do because we may be able to get you a better deal that you can get on your own.

Zipline Tour www.alaskacanopyadventures.com or www.alaskazip.com
Both of these tours are new to Juneau in 2006. Alaska Zipline Adventures starts at Eaglecrest Lodge, the location we hope to have our wedding and reception. I know they give a significant local discount if you can get a local resident to go with you. We might just be able to help you out there, since we've never done the tour before.










AJ Mine Tour (907) 463-5017
Juneau exists today because of gold mining. This tour visits one of the three large mines that operated in Juneau. We've taken both our sets of parents on this one and everyone seems to enjoy it.

Taku Lodge www.takulodge.com
One of the most awesome day trips you can take from Juneau. Fly over the Juneau Icefield and the Taku Glacier before landing on the Taku River right in front of the Lodge. Take some time to walk the trails and enjoy the sites and then feast on bbq'ed salmon. Often you'll get to see black bears clean the grill after the salmon's cooked.

Tracy Arm Cruise
Goldbelt Tours http://www.goldbelttours.com/travel/cruises/tracy_arm.html
Adults $147.89 Children $102.52, 9:00am to 5:00pm (2006 prices and times)
Adventure Bound Alaska http://www.adventureboundalaska.com
Adults $120 Children $80, 7:30am to 6pm
Although it takes an entire day, this tour is well worth the time and money. Goldbelt Tours runs a large catamaran which accommodates more people than Adventure Bound, but the smaller boats seem to have better customer service. Either way, the cruise will take you south of Juneau and up into Tracy Arm to see the face of the Sawyer Glaciers. Humpback and orca whales, sea lions, seals, eagles, deer, bears and goats are all likely to be seen on the trip.


Flightseeing
Juneau offers glacier flightseeing tours by both helicopter and airplane. Helicopter flights are generally more expensive, but can include stops on the glacier. Some companies off hiking once on the glacier and others offer dog sled tours on the glacier. For the most economical views of the Juneau Icefields, I recommend chartering a plane. I can help you work on the details. We may be able to get local discounts on a flight for you. If we can get 4 or 5 people to go together, a one hour flight may cost about $100 per person. Everyone we've ever taken flightseeing has a perma-grin for the rest of their trip.
Helicopter companies:
ERA Helicopters www.flightseeingtours.com
Temsco Tours www.temscoair.com
Airlines:
Wings of Alaska www.IChooseWings.com
Ward Air www.wardair.com

Pack Creek Bear Viewing http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/admiralty/packcreek/index.shtml
Known for brown bear viewing in the summer months, Pack Creek is located on Admiralty Island southwest of Juneau. Permits are required from June - September. Peak season is considered July 5 - August 25, during which time permits are $50 for adults, $25 for children 16 and over and seniors 62 and over. The US Forest Service issues peak season permits on a first come, first served basis, beginning March 23. The application is available online.
If you get a permit, you'll need to find a way to get there. The flightseeing companies listed above also fly charters to Pack Creek.
Several tour companies also have permits to take tours to Pack Creek. While they tend to be more expensive, there is less work involved as the company already has the permits. The Forest Service website listed above has a link, Getting to Pack Creek, which includes contact information for both charter planes and boats, as well as tour companies providing guided trips to Pack Creek, including permits.


Whale Watching
Several companies in Juneau offer whale watching tours. They generally run 3-4 hours and they almost all go to the same spots. In fact, when we're out fishing we can hear the different tour boats talking to each other to find out where the whales are. Usually they all go to North Pass which means you'll get a chance to see Herbert and Eagle glaciers in the distance, and either Sentinel Island lighthouse and/or Point Retreat Lighthouse. Often you'll be able to see the sea lion rookery on Benjamin Island or see the sea lions hanging out on one of the navigational buoys. Tours are in the neighborhood of $100 for adults.

We are hoping to charter a whale watching tour for our families and out of town friends in the few days either before or after the wedding. The cost will likely be around $40 each. Let us know if you're interested so we can gauge how many to expect.

If you don't think you can join us for the charter and still want to get out and see the whales, here are our preferred charter companies:
Allen Marine www.allenmarinetours.com Large catamarans
Four Seasons Marine www.4seasonsmarine.com Large catamarans
Four seasons also has a combined whale watching/salmon bake trip that takes you to a lodge on a small island outside of Juneau.
Orca Enterprises www.orcaenterprises.com Smaller jet boats
We recommend against Dolphin Jet Boat Tours. We have had many occasions on the water where this tour company is rude and obnoxious. They once nearly swamped John and a friend while they were fishing in the skiff.


Charter Fishing
Mid-July marks the beginning of silver salmon fishing in Juneau. While the run isn't generally at its peak until August, a few silvers can usually be found. Halibut fishing is in full swing too. The streams are starting to see fish as well, so flyfisherfolk should be able to satisfy their fishing needs too.
We have several friends who would be more than happy to take our guests fishing, depending on weather and work schedules. You would be expected to pay for fuel and your own food. If you are interested, please let us know as soon as possible.
There are also many charter fishing operations to choose from. We even know a few of the owners. Some offer fly-in fly fishing in addition to open water boat fishing.
If you'd like to book a trip, please let us know so we can help get you the best deal.
Start here for ideas:
Bear Creek Outfitters www.flyfishsoutheast.com Owned by some friends of ours.
And check out the Boating and Fishing link on www.traveljuneau.com

Other ideas to keep you busy:
Mendenhall River Float Trip www.alaskatraveladventures.com
Adults $99, Children $66; 3.5 hours

Gold Creek Salmon Bake www.alaskatraveladventures.com
Adults $32, Children $21

Guided Sea Kayaking www.alaskatraveladventures.com
Adults $85, Children $57, 3.5 hours

Gold Mine and Gold Panning Tour www.alaskatraveladventures.com
Adults $45, Children $30, 1.5 hours

Stuff To Do On Your Own in Juneau

We hope that you will all have time to enjoy some of Juneau's highlights while you are here. The following are some of attractions we recommend. More ideas can be found online at www.juneau.com or www.traveljuneau.com.

State Museum 395 Whittier Street www.museums.state.ak.us/asmhome.html
$5 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, May 14 (2006) through September 23

Juneau Douglas Museum Fourth and Main Streets http://www.juneau.org/parkrec/museum/
Adult $4, 18 and under free. Weekdays 9-5, Weekends 10-5.

Mount Roberts Tram 490 South Franklin www.goldbelttours.com
Adult: $23.95 Child 6-12: $12.50 Child 5 & Under: FREE (2006 prices)
A definite hit on a sunny day! The tram ride is short, but the pass is good all day. Once up top, there is a restaurant, bald eagle exhibit, nature center, gift shop (of course!) and cultural center including a movie about Tlingit culture. Oh yeah, and then there's the view....

DIPAC Hatchery 2697 Channel Dr www.dipac.net
$3.25 for adults, $1.75 for children, and $15.00 for a group pass good for 5 adults or 12 children.
Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday - Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Macaulay Salmon Hatchery provides amazing views of spectacular salmon sights and allows visitors to learn first-hand about Alaska's salmon. From the elevated entrance, visitors get a birds-eye view of outside operations as they listen to a 5 to 10 minute informative commentary. A knowledgeable tour guide explains the fascinating life of the Pacific salmon and the workings of our hatchery. Inside the facility visitors will find museum-like interpretive displays, beautiful saltwater aquariums, and a mini-market place featuring local salmon products and novelties.
During mid-July you should be able to see salmon returning to the hatchery.

Mendenhall Glacier and Visitor Center
$3 admission fee,8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m. Sunday through Saturday
A must see for anyone visiting Juneau. For those renting cars, it couldn't be easier to get to the glacier. For those without rental cars, taxi companies and tour buses from the docks make frequent trips to the glacier. The city bus gets you close, but its still a couple mile walk to the visitor center. There are several nice walks near the visitor center. For a nice stroll, we suggest the trail out to Nugget Falls. Also, keep an eye out for black bears. While we rarely have brown bears around town, this is one of the few places they can occasionally be found. Don't worry though - if they're in the area, the Forest Service staff will post signs to warn visitors. You may also be able to see goats on the mountain sides. The visitor center has a spotting scope inside to help you find them.


Glacier Gardens 7600 Glacier Highway www.glaciergardens.com
Open Daily 9am to 6pm, ~$20 per person
This is a terrific spot to check out! The owners, Steve and Cindy, own a local nursery and landscaping business. In 1984, a landslide wiped out a huge portion of the hillside of Thunder Mountain, near the airport in the Mendenhall Valley. Ten years later, Steve and Cindy bought 6.5 acres in the slide zone and started fixing it up. They now own over 50 acres. I won't ruin the whole story, but let me assure you, what they have created is amazing. The tour includes a ride in a golf cart up to a vantage point around 600'. Along the way the tour guide provides information about the temperate rainforest and the gardens Steve and Cindy have planted.


Alaskan Brewery 5429 Shaune Dr www.alaskanbeer.com
11:00 am - 5:00 pm, 7 days a week
Free beer tasting. Need I say more? I swear, the first thing I hear whenever I go in there is, "Would you like to try a beer?" As if anyone would say no to that! The brewery is quickly outgrowing its small space and the cruiseship companies bring tourists by the bus load, but it is worth stopping. They have a great gift shop and provide tours upon request. Remember to plan enough time to stay for a try of each of their beers (generally 5 or 6 on tap at a time), oh yeah, and maybe take the tour too (they'll let you take your sample on the tour with you!).


Shrine of St. Therese 23 Mile Glacier Hwy www.shrineofsttherese.org
Free. 8:30 am to 10 pm, 7 days a week.
The Shrine is a beautiful place to visit. Although it is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Juneau, you do not need to be Catholic to visit. The Shrine is located on the beach with awesome views of Lynn Canal. Often, Stellar sea lions can be seen playing in the cove in front of the lodge. Some of the highlights of the Shrine include a beautiful stone chapel, stations of the cross, a labrynth, and columbarium with flowers of biblical reference. The drive out to the Shrine itself is worth while.


Hiking, Biking or Kayaking
Juneau has terrific trails for hiking and biking. Check out www.Juneautrails.org for info on some of the more popular trails. I would recommend the Perserverance trail (great views, awesome waterfall, relatively easy but a bit uphill and right downtown). Once in town, you can pick up the book Juneau Trails, or give me a call and I can help you find a perfect trail. There are also several outfits in town who rent kayaks so you don't have to book a tour to get out on the water. Try www.juneaukayaks.com. Again, I'd be happy to help you set this up.

Our Current Wedding Plans

I guess I should start at the beginning...

John and I met in the fall of 2000, when we both started working of the City and Borough of Juneau's Engineering Department within a few months of each other. It wasn't long before we started dating and when I suddenly needed a place to stay, John responded with, "I don't mind having you around. You can stay here." Boy, romance from the start!

Five years later, we sold that little house and moved into an even smaller travel trailer with our 2 labradors while we had a new house built. By that time we were both playing hockey several times a week - you don't even want to imagine what that trailer looked (or smelled) like! We decided to skip Christmas gifts because of the money we were hemorrhaging on the new house. On Christmas morning, we got up and had coffee in the "living room" of the trailer and opened gifts our families had sent. John gave me a card and at the bottom signed it, "This card is good for one (1) engagement ring of your choice." I was shocked to say the least. When I came around, my first question was, "ANY ring?" to which John replied, "I don't know, how much can you afford on your credit card." Let me tell you - I'm one lucky gal!

Probably the funniest and most awkward part of the day was telling my family. I called my parents in Spokane knowing that my sisters were both home for the holidays. They passed the phone around so I could talk to everyone and hear about the gifts they had received. One problemo - no one ever asked me what I got! I finally had to ask my mom (the second time the phone was passed to her) if she wanted to know what I got. When I told her I got a ring, she asked me what kind. My only response was DUH! You see, for five Christmases, both our families had been asking if I'd gotten a ring and this year they had finally given up. HA. Jokes on them.

There must have been something in the air because everyone in my family seems to be taking the plunge. In February 2005, my cousin Christa McMullen married Matt Hagan in Bellingham, Washington. Then everyone started getting engaged. Christa's younger brother, Chad married Kristina Knoll on August 27, 2006, followed the following weekend by my older sister Amy's wedding to Tom Kay in San Fransisco. That was just last weekend and in less than a month, Christa's youngest brother, Craig, is getting married in Hawaii to Holland Brunsting. We decided to wait a bit because 1) I could hear my dad's mind working and his blood pressure rising when I told him I was engaged - only one week after my sister announced her engagement, 2) somehow moving into a brand new house and planning a wedding all at the same time just seemed to ambitious and, 3) we figured no one could afford to come to our wedding after all the others, and if they could, they wouldn't be able to afford to buy us any gifts! So.... July 2007 it is.

My plan for this blog is to give our friends and family a place to find information about fun stuff to do in and around Juneau. Please let me know how we can help you with ideas or suggestions. Also, if you let us know your plans in advanced, we may be able to work you some local discounts.

We also have a website with wedding details at: http://mcmullenandbohan.weddings.com.

We hope you can all come to Juneau to help us celebrate next year. And if we had to choose, we'd take you presence over your presents any day!!