Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In Juneau, we rented a car with Turo and drove to Mendenhall Glacier and went to the salmon hatchery. It was much cheaper for us to rent a car for the day than take a taxi or do a planned excursion, and the driving is super easy.

In Ketchikan, we did the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour. It was awesome and SO much fun for the kids.

Our cruise ship also went to Icy Strait Point, and we went on a small whale watching boat, which was incredible. Definitely plan to go whale watching at one of your stops.

We did a Disney excursion that went to these two places in Juneau, along with the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. Our kids loved that day. So much fun walking a short trail at Mendenhall, exploring the small "beaches" just off the trail, etc. The hatchery is interesting, and the rainforest (isn't really an "adventure," but it took us through a cool forest and we saw a ton of bald eagles, etc.

We really liked Juneau.

I don't understand all of the folks on cruises who want to get on another boat for a whale watching tour. We saw whales from our ship.

We saw whales from our cruise ship but all from a distance and we were up high b/c cruise ships are tall. On our small whale watching boat, the whales literally swam up to and around the boat. Like, I could nearly have touched the whale if I reached my hand over. We were also able to quickly move to different locations when a pod of orcas was spotted a little ways away. And, we drove past so many adorable sea otters that you would barely have been able to see from the cruise ship. Much different experience than just staying on the cruise ship.

Juneau: we rented a car and drove to Mendehall glacier and did a short hike, drove to Eagle Beach, and then had a crab feast at Tracy’s Crab Shack. It was a fun day. We booked the rental car through Turo. It was waiting for us at the parking garage next to the port and gave us more flexibility than a cab or tour.

Skagway: helicopter glacier tour. This was really cool. You take a helicopter to a glacier and then hike around for a bit before flying back. Then went walking around Skagway. We booked through M&M tours. We thought about the train excursion but my kids are younger than yours and I wasn’t sure they’d sit that long.

Juneau is great. Hopefully you have a couple days there. Everybody goes to Mendenhall Glacier and for good reason- it’s spectacular. The glacier is very scenic, but we also saw bears, bald eagles and salmon.

We also did a boat ride to Tracy Arm Fjord. You will see whales, mountains, cliffs, seals and glaciers. The small boats from Juneau take you between icebergs and right next to the glacier. Whale watching from Juneau is great too- tons of whales with a backdrop of snowcapped mountains.

The only disappointing part of Juneau was our king crab dinner. Thought since we were in Alaska, that it would be much cheaper. Nope! About $100 per person. Maybe we wee at the tourist/wrong place. It was good…but pricey.

We had a great private tour in Skagway with https://beyondskagwaytours.com/ We went all the way to Emerald Lake and did the dog sledding visit.

In Juneau we did one of the helicopter trips to the top of the glacier that was truly amazing - well worth the $$$ price tag. We also did whale watching with https://jayleensalaska.com/ that was great.

We were supposed to do a float plane fishing trip that got rained out in Ketchikan. It got rained out so we did the lumberjack show - it was okay but kind of corny.

Anonymous wrote:In Juneau, we rented a car with Turo and drove to Mendenhall Glacier and went to the salmon hatchery. It was much cheaper for us to rent a car for the day than take a taxi or do a planned excursion, and the driving is super easy.

In Ketchikan, we did the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour. It was awesome and SO much fun for the kids.

Our cruise ship also went to Icy Strait Point, and we went on a small whale watching boat, which was incredible. Definitely plan to go whale watching at one of your stops.

We did a Disney excursion that went to these two places in Juneau, along with the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. Our kids loved that day. So much fun walking a short trail at Mendenhall, exploring the small "beaches" just off the trail, etc. The hatchery is interesting, and the rainforest (isn't really an "adventure," but it took us through a cool forest and we saw a ton of bald eagles, etc.

We really liked Juneau.

I don't understand all of the folks on cruises who want to get on another boat for a whale watching tour. We saw whales from our ship.

In Juneau, we rented a car with Turo and drove to Mendenhall Glacier and went to the salmon hatchery. It was much cheaper for us to rent a car for the day than take a taxi or do a planned excursion, and the driving is super easy.

In Ketchikan, we did the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour. It was awesome and SO much fun for the kids.

Our cruise ship also went to Icy Strait Point, and we went on a small whale watching boat, which was incredible. Definitely plan to go whale watching at one of your stops.

Your kids will like the Ketchikan lumberjack show. We had clear, sunny weather every day of our cruise this past summer except our day in Ketchikan, where it was gray and rainy-- apparently very typical as it rains nearly everyday there. The tiny town is cute to walk around but did not think our expensive private driver was "worth it." He didn't take us to Saxon village and got defensive when asked why not. He had his "favorite" spots where, in fairness, I think he expected to see wildlife but nothing was there so kinda a bust.

In Juneau we enjoyed the Mushers' camp land sled dog experience but it was short and pricey, leaving rest of a long day in Juneau without much to do. We thought it would be too complicated and expensive to do a second tour that day and ultimately felt very underwhelmed by Juneau bc of it and just went back to the ship and enjoyed the pool that afternoon .A lot of glacier based tours were cancelled bc of immediate local flooding, ie expensive zodiac boats cancelled at last minute. People were so disappointed but this is common and you have to roll w it. Helicopter tours often cancelled due to weather conditions. The actual port of Juneau was very small and tacky.

Anonymous wrote:Are you spending time on land also or just going on a cruise? That will change me recommendations.

We went to Alaska this past July with a 7 year old, one week going around the Kenai peninsula and then a second week cruising from Whittier to Vancouver. Happy to help with recommendations.

Yes we are adding 4-5 days at the end after getting off in Whittier. Haven’t planned it yet as I just booked the cruise portion. Thanks!

Anonymous wrote:Saxman Totem Park in Ketchikan. I have no idea if cruise ships offer that as a land excursion (or if you are going on a cruise) -- I have relatives in Ketchikan so have just been on my own -- but the totem poles are beautiful and often there are artisans there working on new ones.

They definitely do. I didn’t do that but would have liked to.

We did whale watching in Juneau which was nice and also took the funicular thing up to top of mountain and walked the nature trails and went to the visitor center there.

In Ketchikan we did zip lining which was fine but basically like anyplace else. The town itself is cool to walk around. I think we also did from Ketchikan a combo of dog sledding on ground and meet the puppies and helo to glacier with dog sledding. The dog sled puppies were my kids favorite thing in Alaska.

In Skagway you can go to the NPS visitor center for free and earn the junior ranger badge. The white pass rail is cool but your kids might get bored doing it round trip—we did it with a young kid who liked the train and then fell asleep.

Anonymous wrote:If you go to Sitka the Alaska raptor sanctuary!!

Sitka also has a Bear rescue facility. Good way to get close to bears.

Saxman Totem Park in Ketchikan. I have no idea if cruise ships offer that as a land excursion (or if you are going on a cruise) -- I have relatives in Ketchikan so have just been on my own -- but the totem poles are beautiful and often there are artisans there working on new ones.

For an Alaska cruise:

Ketchikan: We loved the Rainbird Trail but apparently it is closed due to a landslide. We also enjoyed the lumberjack show. Cheesy but fun. Also Ketchikandies candy store.

Juneau: East Glacier Loop Trail or Nugget Trail by Mendenhall Glacier (pre-booked a taxi from the pier and asked them to pick us up after hiking)

Skagway: Klondike Summit to Sea Bicycle Tour with Sockeye Cycle (walkable from the pier); the White Pass train is fun, too.

Have a great trip!

Are you spending time on land also or just going on a cruise? That will change me recommendations.

We went to Alaska this past July with a 7 year old, one week going around the Kenai peninsula and then a second week cruising from Whittier to Vancouver. Happy to help with recommendations.

If you go to Sitka the Alaska raptor sanctuary!!

First time visiting with an 8 and 12 year old next July. What was worth the money, and what wasn't?