🏔️
🤝 Phase 1: With the Group  ·  ARRIVE & EXPLORE

Stop 1: Juneau

You arrive a day ahead of the group. Two days to explore Alaska's unique capital city — no road access, glacier right in town, fresh king crab on the waterfront. The group rolls back from Glacier Bay on Aug 15 evening with stories of calving icebergs and humpback whales. Then it's the 5 AM ferry alarm and the real adventure begins.

📅 Aug 14–16, 2026
🌙 2 nights
✈️ Fly in Aug 14
🚨 Ferry check-in 5:00 AM Aug 16!
📅Day-by-Day Plan

Aug 14 — You Arrive

Family of 7 flies in. Group is still up at Glacier Bay doing the boat tour.

Afternoon: check into Auk Village Campground. Set up, get your bearings.

Evening: waterfront dinner — Tracy's King Crab Shack, Hangar on the Wharf, or stroll downtown Juneau. Early night — kids need sleep after travel.

Aug 15 — Explore & Wait

Morning: Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (~12 mi from town) — easy walk, stunning blue ice wall. The group hiked here; your kids will love it too.

Afternoon: downtown Juneau — Mount Roberts Tramway, Red Dog Saloon, waterfront walk, sea stacks views.

Evening: group returns from Glacier Bay! Meet them at the campground. Get all the glacier stories. Pack your bags — 4 AM alarm tomorrow.

Aug 16 — Ferry Day 🚨

4:00 AM: Wake up. Everything should be packed already.

5:00 AM: Ferry terminal check-in at Auke Bay (~15 min drive).

7:00 AM: Ferry departs → Skagway. Booking #2226291.

1:45 PM: Arrive Skagway. Adventure is fully underway.

🏔️Glacier Bay — What the Group Did (Ask Them!)

While you're exploring Juneau on Aug 14–15, the group is at Glacier Bay National Park — one of the most spectacular places on Earth. Here's what they're doing:

🏔️ Glacier Bay Full-Day Boat Tour

8-hour boat tour deep into the bay past tidewater glaciers that calve icebergs directly into the ocean. Humpback whales, harbour seals on ice floes, mountain goats on cliffs. UNESCO World Heritage Site. The group's booking: Res 3EU3XI, 7:15 AM–3:30 PM. Cost: ~$4,128 for the group.

🐋 Whale Watching

Juneau is one of the world's best whale watching destinations. Humpbacks are nearly guaranteed in August — breaching, bubble-net feeding, tail slaps. The group's booking: B-JG8MWW9, 10 AM. When they arrive Aug 15 evening, ask about the whales — the kids will be spellbound by the stories.

💡 Your kids' conversation starters: "Did any glaciers calve while you were watching?" · "How big were the humpback whales?" · "Did you see any bears?" · "Was it cold on the water?" — The group will be buzzing about it all night.
🏕️Where You're Staying
✅ Auk Village Campground — Both Nights
Sites: 001, 008, 006
Reservations: 0860019815 & 0846855554
Nights: Aug 14–15 (2 nights)
Location: Near Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Centre
Facilities: Water available, no hookups
Distance to ferry terminal: ~15 min drive to Auke Bay

⚠️ Ferry Morning Checklist

  • Pack everything before sleeping Aug 15
  • Set multiple alarms for 4:00–4:15 AM
  • Drive to Auke Bay Ferry Terminal (~15 min)
  • Check-in: 5:00 AM sharp
  • Departure: 7:00 AM — Booking #2226291
  • Nothing happens in the morning. Everything is done the night before.
⭐Juneau Highlights (Aug 14–15)
🧊
Mendenhall Glacier
Only 12 miles from downtown — a full tidewater glacier you can walk up to. Nugget Falls trail (3.2 km RT, easy) gets you right to the glacier face. The group hiked here too. Free visitor center. Don't skip this.
🚡
Mount Roberts Tramway
Gondola from downtown to 500m elevation in minutes. Panoramic views of Juneau, Douglas Island, and the Gastineau Channel. Nature centre at the top, short hiking trails. Kids love the ride. ~$35/adult.
🦅
Downtown Juneau Walk
Alaska's capital has no road connection to the rest of the US — only fly or ferry in. Historic downtown, the famous Red Dog Saloon (oldest bar in Alaska), seafood restaurants, craft shops. Good evening stroll after setting up camp.
🌊
Auke Bay Area
Right near the campground — beautiful bay with mountain backdrops. Morning walk before the ferry on Aug 16, or evening stroll after arriving Aug 14. Free, scenic, calm.
🐋
Whale Watching (Optional Aug 14)
If the group's whale watching stories aren't enough — book your own. Multiple operators from the Juneau harbor, humpbacks nearly guaranteed in August. 3-hour tours, ~$100–130/person. Book same-day is usually possible.
🧗
Perseverance Trail
Easy 5 km trail from downtown through a historic mining gulch. Well-maintained, flat sections, beautiful old-growth forest. Great for burning off energy after the flight. Free.
🍽️Restaurants
  • 🦀
    Tracy's King Crab Shack
    Famous Alaskan king crab — outdoor shack on the waterfront, incredibly fresh, iconic Juneau experience. Do this on arrival, Aug 14.
  • 🍕
    Hangar on the Wharf
    Waterfront views, family-friendly, excellent fish and chips. Good for the whole group on Aug 15 evening after they return.
  • 🍺
    Red Dog Saloon
    Legendary Alaskan institution since 1890 — sawdust floors, taxidermied animals on the walls, live music. Good for an evening drink with the group. Walk downtown Aug 15.
  • 🍔
    Rockwell
    Elevated burgers and local seafood at the waterfront. Modern, family-friendly, reliable quality. Good alternative to Tracy's if you want to sit down.
  • ☕
    Heritage Coffee
    Juneau institution — downtown. Open early. Get coffee here before the 4 AM alarm hits. If you wake up and need a warm-up before the ferry drive, it's your best bet.
🗺️Location
✈️ Trip starts here — fly into Juneau Aug 14 🗺️ Full Map Stop 2: Skagway →