Juneau, Alaska’s capital, is a popular cruise port offering family-friendly activities including whale watching, glacier tours, and wildlife viewing. Accessible only by sea or air, families can explore Mendenhall Glacier, ride the Mount Roberts Tramway, visit the Alaska State Museum, or take nature walks. The compact downtown area features shops, restaurants, and easy walking access from cruise ship docks.
Quick Facts for Families
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Distance from Dock to Downtown | 5-10 minute walk |
| Best for Ages | All ages (toddlers to teens) |
| Typical Port Time | 7-9 hours |
| Weather | 40-65°F, rain likely |
| Stroller Friendly | Downtown yes, trails vary |
| Free Activities | Downtown walking, beach access, Alaska State Capitol grounds |
Want to know more about Alaska cruise ports?
Why Juneau Works So Well for Families
Unlike some Alaska ports where you need to shuttle everywhere, Juneau puts you right in the action the moment you step off the gangway. The downtown area is genuinely walkable with kids, and the compact layout means less time herding children through transportation logistics and more time actually doing things. Plus, the variety of activities means you can satisfy both the thrill-seeking teenager and the nature-loving elementary schooler without splitting up your group.
Here’s something most families don’t realize: Juneau has more bald eagles per capita than anywhere else in the United States. Your kids might spot more eagles here than pigeons back home. It’s the kind of casual wildlife viewing that doesn’t require expensive tours or perfect timing.
Planning Your Day in Port
The biggest mistake families make is trying to do too much. With a typical port call of seven to nine hours, you can realistically do two major activities or one big excursion plus downtown exploration. Trying to squeeze in whale watching, glacier tours, tramway rides, and museum visits will leave everyone exhausted and cranky.
The Timing Strategy
Most cruise ships arrive early morning and depart by late afternoon or early evening. Book your most important activity first. The most popular family excursions like whale watching often sell out, so reserve through your cruise line or directly with tour operators before you even leave home.
Here’s an insider tip: If your ship is the first to arrive that day, book the earliest whale watching tour. The waters are calmer, the boats less crowded, and honestly the whales don’t care what time it is. Later tours fill up with passengers from multiple ships.
Top Family Activities
Mendenhall Glacier
The Mendenhall Glacier sits about 13 miles from downtown, which sounds far but takes only 20-30 minutes by shuttle or taxi. This isn’t one of those glaciers you squint to see in the distance. It’s massive, blue, and genuinely impressive even to kids who’ve been dragged through countless “boring” nature sites.
The Photo Point Trail is paved and easy enough for strollers, taking about 10 minutes to reach the viewing area. The Nugget Falls Trail requires more effort but rewards you with a waterfall view and closer glacier perspectives. Kids love the salmon viewing area near the visitor center where they can watch bears fishing during salmon runs.
Mount Roberts Tramway
The Mount Roberts Tramway launches right from downtown and takes six minutes to climb 1,800 feet. Kids get a kick out of the ride itself, and at the top you’ll find a nature center, restaurant, gift shop, and walking trails with varying difficulty levels.
The Nature Center offers free Junior Ranger programs where kids complete activities to earn badges. It’s genuinely educational without feeling like homework, and gives parents a chance to catch their breath while children stay engaged.
Whale Watching
Juneau waters host humpback whales, orcas, and occasionally other marine mammals. Tours range from large boats with indoor heated cabins to smaller vessels offering more intimate experiences. For families, the larger boats provide bathrooms, snack bars, and protection from weather while still delivering excellent wildlife viewing.
Motion sickness is real, especially for kids. Even on calm days the boat movement can upset sensitive stomachs. Bring medication if your children are prone to car sickness, and pack extra layers because it’s always colder on the water than on land.
When Weather Doesn’t Cooperate
Rain happens in Juneau. A lot. In fact, if you get sunshine, consider yourself lucky and take a million photos. But rain shouldn’t ruin your day if you plan for it.
Check out rainy day activities in Juneau for covered options like the Alaska State Museum, which features interactive exhibits about Native cultures, gold rush history, and wildlife that keep kids interested. The Sealaska Heritage Institute offers cultural demonstrations and the City Museum is small but free and right downtown.
Shopping the downtown galleries and gift shops becomes more appealing when it’s pouring. Many stores welcome browsers and the Alaskan artists selling locally-made items often enjoy chatting with curious kids about their crafts.
Dining with Kids in Juneau
Most families grab quick lunches to maximize adventure time. The downtown area offers everything from food trucks serving reindeer sausages to sit-down restaurants with kid menus.
- Tracy’s King Crab Shack serves fresh crab legs and chowder at outdoor picnic tables (perfect for messy eaters)
- Reds Pop Shoppe offers old-fashioned sodas and ice cream that kids love
- Heritage Coffee has quick sandwiches and excellent coffee for exhausted parents
- Several grocery stores downtown sell ready-made sandwiches and snacks if you’re on a tight budget
Pro tip: Bring refillable water bottles. Tap water in Juneau is excellent and free refills prevent both dehydration and the expense of buying bottled water constantly.
What You Need to Pack
Even if the forecast looks decent, pack like it will rain. Because it probably will.
- Waterproof jackets with hoods (one poncho won’t cut it for active kids)
- Layered clothing that kids can shed as they warm up from walking
- Waterproof bags for phones and cameras
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip (wet wooden docks are slippery)
- Binoculars for wildlife spotting (cheap kids’ versions work fine)
- Snacks and water (everything costs more in port)
- Motion sickness medication if doing boat tours
- Small backpack to carry shed layers and souvenirs
Getting Around
Most cruise docks are walking distance to downtown, though some berths require a short shuttle ride that cruise lines provide free. Once downtown, everything is walkable. For visiting Mendenhall Glacier, you have several options:
- Cruise ship excursions (most expensive but guaranteed return timing)
- Independent tour companies (often cheaper with similar experiences)
- Taxi (around $60-90 round trip for a vehicle, can split costs with others)
- Public bus (cheapest option but requires schedule planning)
- Rental car (only worthwhile if staying all day and visiting multiple sites)
For more tips on managing Alaska port days with children, read about cruising with kids to plan ahead.
Money Saving Tips
Alaska cruise ports aren’t cheap, but you don’t need to spend a fortune to have an amazing day.
- Book excursions directly with local operators instead of through the cruise line (often 20-30% cheaper)
- Use the free shuttle to downtown and explore on foot rather than taking taxis everywhere
- Pack lunches and snacks from the cruise ship buffet breakfast
- Visit free attractions like the State Capitol building, Juneau-Douglas City Museum, and waterfront parks
- Split taxi costs to Mendenhall Glacier with other families (drivers often help coordinate this at the port)
Safety Considerations
Juneau is generally very safe, but a few things deserve attention when traveling with kids:
- Watch the clock obsessively. Missing your ship is a nightmare scenario. Set phone alarms for two hours before departure and head back with plenty of buffer time.
- Keep young children close at the docks. The waterfront has no barriers in many spots and the water is cold and dangerous.
- Wildlife is wild. Don’t let kids approach bears, eagles, or any animals no matter how accustomed to humans they seem.
- Trails can be slippery when wet. Kids tend to run ahead, so establish clear boundaries about staying together.
- Have a meeting spot planned if anyone gets separated. “Back at the ship” isn’t specific enough in a busy port.
Bonus Tips
- The Alaska State Capitol offers free tours that take about 30 minutes. Kids find it surprisingly interesting to see where state government happens, plus it’s a nice warm indoor activity.
- Download offline maps before leaving the ship. Cell service can be spotty and you don’t want to waste time or data finding your way around.
- Bring cash for small purchases. Some vendors and food trucks are cash-only or have credit card minimums.
- The earlier you book popular excursions, the better your time slots. Booking months in advance gives you first pick of departure times.
- Check if your cruise line offers a “last boat back” guarantee. Some do, which provides peace of mind when booking independent tours.
- Dress kids in bright colors for easy spotting in crowds. Juneau can get packed when multiple ships are in port.
- Take advantage of the long summer daylight. During peak cruise season, it stays light until very late, so you’re not racing darkness.
- The visitor information center right at the docks has free maps, bathroom access, and staff who can answer questions about what’s open and how to get places.
- If anyone in your family has mobility challenges, most major attractions offer accessible options. Call ahead to confirm specific needs.
- Save room in your luggage. Juneau has excellent shopping for unique Alaska gifts that kids actually want to keep, unlike typical tourist junk.
Common Questions and FAQ
Can we see glaciers without booking an expensive tour?
Absolutely. Mendenhall Glacier is accessible by taxi or public bus, and you only pay entrance fees to the visitor center area which are minimal. The glacier viewing is essentially free once you get there. You can also see smaller glaciers from many whale watching tours and even from some downtown viewpoints on clear days.
How likely are we to actually see whales?
Very likely during cruise season. Reputable tour companies have success rates above 90% for humpback whale sightings. Orcas are less common but still regularly spotted. If you don’t see whales, most companies offer vouchers for another trip, though that doesn’t help much if you’re on a cruise.
Is there a beach where kids can play?
Yes, though “beach” in Alaska means rocky shores rather than sand. Sandy Beach and Auke Bay Beach are accessible by taxi and offer tide pool exploration. The water is too cold for swimming, but kids enjoy hunting for sea creatures and skipping stones. Pack a change of clothes because someone will get wet.
What if we don’t want to do organized activities?
Downtown Juneau offers plenty of self-directed exploration. Walk along the waterfront, visit the State Museum, explore the historic downtown buildings, hike the Perseverance Trail right from town, or simply enjoy the shops and local culture. Not every port day needs to be packed with scheduled tours.
Are there places to store luggage if we want to explore before or after the cruise?
Some hotels and tour companies offer luggage storage for a fee. The visitor center sometimes has options as well. If you’re arriving or departing through Juneau and have time between your flight and ship, this can be arranged but requires advance planning.
Can teenagers do activities separately from younger siblings?
While possible, keeping families together in port is generally recommended. That said, older teens can certainly explore downtown independently with clear check-in times and phone contact. More adventurous activities like kayaking or helicopter tours often have age minimums that might naturally separate age groups.
What happens if our excursion runs late and we miss the ship?
If you book through the cruise line, the ship will wait or help you catch up at the next port. If you book independently, you’re responsible for getting yourself to the next port at your own expense. This is why many families choose cruise line excursions despite higher costs. Travel insurance sometimes covers missed departure expenses, so check your policy.
Personal Experience
Our day in Juneau turned into one of those magical family adventures you hope for but never quite expect. We booked a whale watching tour right from the port, and within twenty minutes, the kids were pressed against the windows watching humpback whales breach so close we could hear the splash. Our guide was fantastic with the children, explaining whale behaviors in a way that had even our seven-year-old asking surprisingly smart questions. The best part? The tour company had backup rain jackets in kid sizes, because let’s face it—nobody packs perfectly for Alaska weather.
After lunch, we hopped on the Mount Roberts Tramway, which the kids absolutely loved. The views going up were stunning, and once at the top, there’s a nature center where they could earn their Junior Ranger badges while my husband and I soaked in the scenery with coffee. We spotted bald eagles from the observation deck, and the kids burned off energy on the walking trails before we headed back down. If you’ve got a few extra hours, the Mendenhall Glacier is worth the trip—we took a family-friendly shuttle tour that included time to walk the easy Photo Point Trail. Watching our kids stand in awe of that massive wall of blue ice made the whole cruise worthwhile. Just remember to bring layers and snacks, because hungry kids and glacier wind don’t mix well.