JUNEAU in a Day

🗺️ JUNEOO 101 Capital you can’t drive to – only boat or plane. Population 32k – 15,000 cruise visitors per day in July = town runs on lattes & king crab. Ship docks 07:00-17:00 = 10 h to eat, heli, tram & shop. 🚁 HELI + GLACIER WALK – 5-STAR MUST “Whole cruise highlight” – book BEFORE you board (sells out first). Options: 2.5 h heli + 45 min crampon walk = $369–$399 pp 3.5 h heli-hike = more ice-time, $459 pp (choose if legs like hills). Flow: 10-min shuttle pier ➜ heli-base 25-min flight – front-left seat = pilot wing + glacier selfie window 📸 Land on icefield – blue pools, crevasses, ice-cube cocktail photo. 45 min guided stroll – guide chips ice for your cup = live Dolby thunder ❄️🍸 Tip: sunglasses mandatory – snow glare = instant headache. Sweat level: 2/5 – waterproof gloves saved my fingers (learn from my fail). Book: TEMSCO, NorthStar or Coastal – all 5-seat R44; difference = time-on-ice, not safety. 🦀 TRACY’S KING CRAB SHACK – FOOD MEMORIES Orange shack 200 m from pier – line moves fast, go 10:30 or 14:30. Order: 1 lb red king crab legs + garlic butter dip = $89 but story for decade. Crab bisque bread-bowl = thick, peppery, $18 = cheaper thrill. Hack: split 1 lb + bisque between 2 = full lunch under $60 total. Photo: hold leg against blue shack wall = colour pop. 🚡 MT. ROBERTS TRAMWAY – 5-MINUTE ELEVATOR Pier-side station – $49 return, no booking needed before 09:00. Top: 1,800 ft = fjord + cruise ship panorama; eagle sightings daily. Café: $6 honey-lavender latte + free Wi-Fi = Instagram upload heaven. Hike option: Alpine Loop 2 mi – free if you walk up (save $49, burn 900 cal). 🏛️ 10-MINUTE WALKING TOUR Alaska State Capitol – free, sit in actual House chamber, no security line. Sealaska Heritage Center – $10 – neon clan-house wall = IG candy, totem carving demo daily. Shopping: Russian Co. & Dry Goods – ulu knife, Santa-shaped smoked salmon = edible souvenir. 🐋 BACK-UP PLAN: WHALE-WATCH (if heli full) Small-boat operators (Harv & Marv, Dolphin) – $139–$169, 95 % orca success July. Big boat (Allen Marine) – $119, indoor heat, 100 pax. Tip: book ship excursion if weather sketchy = full refund if cancelled. 🌡️ MAY WEATHER = HOODIE HEAVEN 12-18 °C (54-65 °F) – T-shirt on deck, wind-shell on glacier. Hot-tub deck = 38 °C water = steam selfies while passing Vancouver Island ♨️📸 💸 ONE-DAY SPEND (per person, 2-share) Heli hike ............... $369 Tracy’s crab ........... $45 (half-share) Tram + coffee ........... $55 Souvenir penny .......... $1 TOTAL ≈ $470 – cheaper than land-hotels + meals + taxi DIY. ✅ TL;DR Book heli EARLY, budget for crab, ride tram for fjord selfie. Juneau hands you glaciers, king crab & gold-rush vibes in 10 hours – let Princess handle the rest. Questions? Drop them below – I’m still floating on that post-cruise high. #US #Alaska #Juneau