TrojanJulez

Hi there! I have several nitpicking beverage questions that I'm hoping someone can clarify...

Hot Chocolate: free at Horizon Court, unclear/depends on the barista/ship if it's a punch on the coffee card or not... is it free in the dining room at breakfast or dinner?

Juice: free at HC... is it free at the dining room for breakfast/lunch/dinner?

Soda: is it free in the dining room at dinner, or is there always a cost (or needing the package)?

Is there anything I'm missing? Thanks! I really don't think we need a soda and more package, but I'm trying to plan ahead! :)

I had to look it up -- the Ketchikan playground I have walked by is the Totem Heritage Park, and it is located on Deermount Avenue.

Oh wow, thank you so much! I see it now on the map! [emoji1376]

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Hi there! We did the same thing with our 6 year old. A great mix of excursions and “run around time” during the day. Two recommendations: in Ketchikan we took him to the Grant Street Park/ Playground. It was a very easy walk from the port.

 

If in Skagway you’re doing the drive to Emerald Lake, be sure to stop at Carcross Desert. Not technically a “playground” but the huge sand dunes to run up and roll down were a highlight for our little dude.

 

 

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That helps so much! Thank you for the specifics!

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In Ketchikan, just across a footbridge from the Totem Heritage Center, is a lovely park. I don't recall seeing a playground per se, but did see lots of kids running, playing, burning off energy there.

That’s awesome! Thank you so much!

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We have BubbleBums for our kids to use when travelling. They are easily inflatable/deflatable and have a carrying cinch-type bag. We used them before in the Orlando area too. Just pack them in a carryon, pick up the rental car, inflate, attach the clips to the seatbelt, buckle up the kids and away you go. Easy!

Thank you! I will check these out, too. It’s like a whole new world! [emoji5]

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In Victoria take the kids to Beacon Hill Park, depending on what time you're in port the petting zoo there might be open.

 

 

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That’s awesome! Thanks so much!

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The bus ride might be a little boring, The mine underground is dark and noisy when they fire up the air drill. What 4 and 8 year old boy wouldn't love that. To add some excitement to the panning spend about 20 bucks on ebay on pickers to add to the pan when they are not looking.

Awesome idea! Thanks a lot!

Your excursion might go places the city bus doesn’t. It seems like the bus stop was at a parking lot and then there was a hike to the glacier. Where we went was a beautiful waterfall to our right, the face of the glacier to our front and a beautiful pond between us. The pond/glacier fed a creek to the other side and the salmon were running. The visitors center is just off the parking lot — it is beautiful up there. Mark remembers the hike to the glacier as about an hour along a trail. Perhaps others who have made the excursion and the on-your-own path will chime in. Google Earth might answer some questions too. We recall the trail winding through a wilderness area through the trees (Mark says brush). We left after breakfast, went to town for lunch and then did a small group whale watch with a very small group. Out in the water that day, there were about 4 larger (maybe 100-200 passengers) boats all after the same whales. There were several ships in port that day—too many. The time before when we were in Juneau we went up Mt Roberts on the tram and checked out the bird habitat. Only ship in top that day but miserable, cold and wet. We’re looking forward to our next visit to Alaska. Make that a one mile—not one hour—hike. Easy terrain, people and children of all ages along the way.

 

 

 

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That's a big help - thanks a lot for those details! :)

Regarding Skagway -- The Klondike Gold Rush National Park has two units, one in Seattle and the other in Skagway. If you look at the website for the Skagway unit you will find a section on kids and youth. The NPS actually runs a junior ranger activity center in one of Skagway's old historic saloons (The Pantheon). When I stepped in last summer there were two NPS Rangers and a number of kids working on their Junior Ranger activities. That website also should have information on the Mollie Walsh Park in Skagway.

 

There is also a public playground in Ketchikan rather near the Totem Heritage Center -- I could take you right to it but don't remember the name of the street.

Thank you! I will check that out!

We took it when we went to AK w our granddaughter. She enjoyed it. The mine was interesting and between the 3 of us we got enough gold to put into a locket.

 

DON

Do you mind telling me how old your granddaughter was at the time? My boys are 4 and 8... do you think the underground part might be too scary or long/boring? (Knowing that you don't know my kids... I'd still be interested in your opinion). :) Thank you!

I am in early stages of trip planning. I have 4/6 yo. I was thinking of doing cars/taxis with mifold/bubblebum seats. Not our normal boosters, but safe enough, hopefully?

I've never heard of these - very interesting!

Thank you, everyone! Those a great ideas, and the pictures are very helpful!

Here's something I just found on Skagway (Googled "Playground near dock Skagway") that sounds interesting:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g60877-c86824/Skagway:Alaska:Kid.Scene.html

Great idea! Thanks so much!

There is one in Skagway in the middle of town. I noticed it because there are public restrooms right next door.

 

 

 

Walking down Broadway from the dock, turn right at 6th st. and it’s on the left about 1/2 block down. Was not large but should get some of the energy off the kids.

 

 

 

Don

Thank you so much, Don! That’s a big help!

I believe there was an increase right after our trip and the white shuttles are also $45.

 

http://www.juneautours.com/book-a-tour/details/33355/mendenhall-glacier-shuttle/

Yikes - that's a big increase! Thank you for letting me know!

Hello,

I'm looking for recommendations for a kid-friendly hike/nature walk in Juneau that is within walking distance of the cruise docks. Here are my thoughts so far:

• It sounds like Nugget Falls at Mendenhall Glacier would be perfect, but the white shuttle/blue bus/Princess prices are all $40/$45 per person to get there. (I'm not willing to rent a car or get a taxi because both kids need a carseat/booster).
  
• Hiking up Mt. Roberts... how long would this take us? Is it too hard for a 4 and 8 year old? Is the starting point easy to find?
  

Are there other options that I'm missing? Thank you!

Hi there!

I was wondering if anyone remembers a name/location of a "playground park" in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, or Victoria that are within walking distance of the cruise ship docks? We have excursion ideas in each port, but my 4 and 8 year old would love an hour at a park, too. TIA! :)

We took the 9:00 am white shuttle to the glacier, hiked to Nugget Falls and took the 11:00 am shuttle back. We had a 12:30 excursion. We had time for a quick visit to Red Dog Saloon for a soda and some chowder. $35/pp and our cruise was last month. We also had a tight timeline but it was doable and we didn't feel rushed.

Hi there!

I know it was a while ago, but do you remember the name/company of the white shuttle? I have learned (I think) that the blue busses are M&M, and they are $45 round trip... cheaper to book on the cruise line! I'd love to learn more about the white, though. Thanks so much! :)

In Juneau skip the ship excursion. From port you can catch a local bus to Mendenhall Glacier for less than $5. It runs every half hour or so and it is a great morning or afternoon adventure.

 

 

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Hi Sharpgirl,

I was wondering if there's anything you "miss out on" by taking the bus... does it still go to the visitor center and everything that the excursion would do? The excursion descriptions make it sound like the tour bus driver has a special pass to go through the Tongass Forest, so I wondered if they end up at a different viewing point? Also, how long would it take if we walked instead of taking the bus - and is that even possible? Thank you for the info!

Thank you so much for posting these! My sons and I really enjoyed your YouTube videos, too!

I already replied to the other half of this report, just wanted to say that we were booked in an oceanview for our honeymoon (August/September 2002), and Disney upgraded us to cabin 6152, too! It was such a nice surprise and an incredible room! Nice and quiet, plus the huge balcony, and we were lucky enough to discover the stairs to the "secret" verandah! I would book that room again in a heartbeat! Unfortunately the Mexican Riviera cruise we booked for 2008 is so expensive, we couldn't afford a balcony, but we were lucky enough to get cabin 5020, a secret porthole room, so we get a view with a nice savings! :)

Thanks again for all of the wonderful info and photos!

This June we will have an 11-year old and a 14-year old in our group. Would they be given kid menus or adult menus? Or is it their choice? Ironically, the 14-year old is a lot pickier and would probably benefit more from having a kids' menu than his 11-year old sister! :)