08/27/2026
Passport Stories: JUNEAU, ALASKA 🏔️🐋🦭
Ohhhh Juneau…you were DREAMY! 💜
Our day was packed with three quintessential Alaska experiences: whale watching, Mendenhall Glacier and a salmon bake.
Let's start with the whales.
Apparently, nobody told them I had arrived. 😂🐋
We spotted a few, but for the most part they were playing a serious game of hide-and-seek. And that's one thing to remember about wildlife excursions, nature doesn't perform on our schedule.
The sea lions, however?!
THEY understood the assignment! 😂🦭
Watching them fuss and fight for prime real estate on the navigational buoys was entertainment all by itself.
Then it was time for Mendenhall Glacier. 🧊🏔️
So…what's the big deal about Mendenhall?
For starters, it is the only glacier in Southeast Alaska accessible by road. Mendenhall flows from the immense Juneau Icefield, dropping approximately 4,500 feet over 13 miles before reaching its terminus.
But here's the part that really stayed with me:
Mendenhall Glacier has been retreating for hundreds of years and has receded approximately 1.75 miles since 1929.
Standing there looking at something so massive and beautiful while understanding how much it has changed over time puts the experience into an entirely different perspective.
It's also a gentle reminder:
"See the places you've been dreaming about while you can." 💜
Now for a little "Luxe White Glove Travel Tip" from my experience:
There ARE less expensive ways to reach Mendenhall than the organized local tour we chose.
Juneau's city bus is approximately $2 per person each way, but inexpensive doesn't necessarily mean convenient.
From where our ship was docked, our guide explained that reaching the city bus required approximately a 2-mile walk from the cruise terminal, followed by the bus ride and then another approximately 1.5-mile walk from the closest stop to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
You're looking at roughly seven miles of walking roundtrip, in addition to the bus travel time.
Could you save quite a bit of money? Absolutely.
Would I recommend it for everyone? Absolutely not.😂
Your mobility, available time in port, weather and comfort level all matter. This is exactly the type of detail I pay attention to when I'm traveling because the least expensive option isn't necessarily the best value for every traveler.
For us, using the local tour company meant maximizing our limited time in Juneau and combining Mendenhall with the other experiences we wanted that day.
And then came my surprise favorite…
THE SALMON BAKE! 😩🔥
Listen. That salmon was crispy, beautifully seasoned and quite possibly the best salmon I've ever eaten.
But y'all know me, the experience is always about more than the food.
I absolutely fell in love with the local cook. Her cheerful personality and warm disposition made an already delicious meal even better. Those little human connections are becoming one of my favorite parts of this entire Alaska journey. 💜
Waterfalls. Glaciers. Whales playing hide-and-seek. Sea lions showing OUT. And salmon that I'm probably going to be thinking about long after I leave Alaska.
Juneau, you were good to me.
Next stop: SKAGWAY! 🚂🏔️
Another rail adventure awaits…and the quest continues:
"WHERE ARE THE BEARS?! 🐻👀😂"
Luxe White Glove Travel — Passport Stories
One Passport. Countless Stories.
Luxury is wonderful. The stories you bring home are priceless. 💜
