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Alaska Help Needed please!
I am trying to help a friend who is going on a Princess cruise next week to Alaska. Stops include Ketchikan, Juneau, Victoria, and Skagway. Does anyone have any must-see sites, great restaurant recommendations, excursion feedback, or other overall tips in these places?? Any feedback for each spot that you can provide is appreciated!!
Married 
8.31.2008<br>
8.31.2008<br>
Re: Alaska Help Needed please!
I used to live in Juneau - highly recommend Pel'Menis for a restaurant. They only serve Russian dumplings which are so freaking tasty that I still dream about them. The restaurant is in the Hangar on the Wharf. If I remember correctly, it costs around $6.
They might also enjoy the Alaskan hotel. It's a former brothel turned hotel/bar. A lot of locals used to hang out there and it's a nice quiet place to grab an Alaskan Amber.
Mt. Roberts Tramway is a good one in Juneau. The view is nice and there's a short-ish hike up top that gives good views of the city and bay. Depending on how much time they're there, they can do the Mendenhall Glacier. We didn't do this b/c we went on to Seward where you can hike on a glacier.
We had the best meal of our 4 week trip in Juneau at the Twisted Fish. Delicious salmon and great views. I think it was right at the bottom of the Mt. Roberts tramway. Like PP said, the Alaskan Hotel was a good, quiet place to grab a few Alaska ales. It was nice and mostly locals in there. There's also the Red Dog Saloon, which is totally touristy, but worth a look and a beer inside. T
In Skagway there was a little bakery called Lemon something or other and they had the BEST cinnamon rolls. People were lined up out the door. In terms of excursions out of Skagway, I think the railroad is pretty good. We drove from Skagway through the Yukon, so I'm not sure exactly where the railroad goes. I think there is a stop in Carcross and there's a desert there. It's crazy, and something different to see. Honestly, there's not much else up there; a general store and an ice cream shop. But it beats the hell out of staying in Skagway all day. It's a TINY town that's typically totally overrun with cruise ship patrons.
We went to the Lumberjack show and it was really cool! They get the crowd involved and it's really interesting. We went to Saxman Village which had a bunch of totem poles and we watched a performance by the Native Americans who reside there and watched as they made the totem poles-Ketchikan was my favorite port!
In Jueanu we did a tour of the city which was kind of boring and then we visited Glendenhall glacier which was pretty cool-we wish we had done something else though like actually going on a glacier so whale watching probably be more interesting for you-I've heard only negative things about the tramway though-people say it's overpriced and not much to do at the top but I can't tell you b/c I was too chicken to go on it
We didn't go to Skagway so I can't help you there but the scenic railway sounds great
Have a great time!
And in Victoria we did a "Highlights of Victoria" tour which was kind of neat to see all the nice houses on the water and we then went on a tour of Craigdorroch Castle which was interesting. We heard from other people on our ship that the Empress Hotel was cool to see and they offer high tea
I highly recommend Butchart Gardens when they are in Victoria. If they are there on a Saturday, the Gardens does late night groundworks & fireworks. They are fabulous. It depends on timing though.
Sometimes there isn't a lot of time at each port and sometimes there's lots of time -- so again. it depends on their itinerary. Harv & Marv is excellent and so is Mt. Roberts -- but leaves very little time to do much else. (at least we only did those two things when we went)
The Lumberjack show is very corny but it is fun and silly. We didn't have a choice b/c everything else closed down b/c of the weather. (our floatplane was cancelled and this was the only thing running. Well, that and the zipline) DH and I are going again next month and are trying the floatplane again. It's not cheap, but I have heard it is beautiful! And that's why I am going to Alaska -- I want to see the beauty of nature not see a silly theme parkish show. (no offense!)
In Skgway, we did the dog sledding on land and a 4X4 mule last time. This time we are doing Glacier Point Wilderness Safari and Helicopter/Dogsled. I also have heard nothing but amazing things.
Again, the excursions took up most of the time we had in port. In Skgway, we did have time to wander around but it's tiny and almost everything is owned by the cruiseships -- I didn't need tons of jewelry or t-shirts. You get kinda tired of seeing the same stuff in each port b/c it's cruiseship owned and driven.
Most of our excursions included food -- so we didn't get a chance to eat anywhere else. (and the food was yummy on those excursions!)
Tell them to have fun! Alaska is beautiful -- even if only get to see a tiny bit of it!