Juneau
Practical Travel Advice for Seniors: Juneau, Alaska
Juneau was one of our favorite stops, not because of our short walk through the city, but because we had signed up for a float plane ride out to a Lodge for a grilled salmon lunch and back!
Juneau is the capital of Alaska, and interestingly, can only be reached by boat or plane. No roads in to mar the exquisite, unique scenery. The Auke and Taku Tlingit tribes fished the waters in the area in olden times and still keep their traditions alive in the area. It is very close to the Mendenhall Glacier and the Tongass National Forest which allows for plenty of excursions to chose from.
But first, a bit about float planes: They are small aircraft, usually seating 10 or so people. They take off and land on the water with their ski like appendages where the wheels would normally be. It is actually pretty fun to watch them take off and land. You’d think it would be rough and bumpy, but it is very smooth and you hardly know you are landing/taking off. Also, interestingly, there are also skis and other types of oversized rubber tires for landing on snow and glaciers. You learn all kinds of new things here!
It was not scary at all in the small plane and the views were exceptional. I was first up to ask questions of the pilot on the way to the plane, so he asked if I wanted to ride co-pilot. Of course I agreed (after finding out I didn’t really have to do anything!). It was a wonderful experience if you get the chance. It’s easy for the pilot to point out sights including wildlife and you are right there to see what he is seeing. Such fun! It is pricey, but you should do it at least once when you are in Alaska. It’s really the best way to see the glacier.
We took a short flight in a DeHaviland Otter (I understand this is the classic, easy to repair and long lasting type of plane) over the Juneau ice fields featuring five different glaciers. We landed on the Taku River and motored up to the Taku Glacier Lodge for an all-you-can-eat salmon feast.
The Lodge right across the river from a glacier and you get a great view. There is a short trail to hike to a small waterfall that is on the property. The dock was wooden, but level and the trails were dirt/small gravel and not level. The lodge is not accessible. Note that the float planes have two or three steps up into the plane and also are not accessible.
The best part was the food of course! Wood fire smoked wild-caught salmon, creamy coleslaw, fried apples, beans and home made bread/biscuits! And berry crumble for dessert. Heaven!
There are plenty of other things to do in Juneau: Do try to get a look at the Mendenhall Glacier, it’s a thirteen mile river of ice that has a few trails and a visitor center. There are also whale watching cruises, rain forest walks (yes, really!), Alaska State Museum, salmon and halibut fishing, flight seeing, helicoptering and dog sledding at the glacier, plus canoeing in the glacier lake. No shortage of ways to entertain yourself.
Where we stayed: On board a small cruise ship. Limited accessibility: Wide aisles and elevators, but only some penthouses have accessible restrooms. Also, in rough seas mobility in the aisle ways can be tricky.
General Accessibility Information: Alaska is in the US, so most sights, hotels, shops, restaurants and infrastructure are accessible. But it is still best to call in advance to verify and make specialty arrangements. Some of the towns, sights and excursions may have uneven ground will not be completely accessible plus some of the conveyances (small planes, kayaks, etc.) may not be accessible. Larger cities will have curb cuts and better infrastructure, but some smaller towns may not. See our sections on specialty apps and accessible travel for more on accessibility assistance.
How we got there: Flight from US to Vancouver, then sailing through the Inside Passage and up to Seward. This was part of an eleven-day Inside Passage cruise followed by a seven-day land tour from Seward to Denali National Park and Fairbanks.
