Glaciers

Look at the "Flush Pro" app. Its a free download and will show many of the restrooms available although not all. You can enter the community name and they will show on the map.

"Local tourism companies are being forced to turn away tourists in Juneau seeking to visit the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area this summer as commercial tourism limits in the area are being reached at a rapid pace due to “unprecedented increases in visitation,” the Forest Service announced Friday." https://www.juneauempire.com/news/unprecedented-visitors-at-mendenhall-glacier-rapidly-outpacing-allowed-capacity/?fbclid=IwAR2rMdm49it0PMpuNh6zUpswUY3wEmbUXwVs-hD1VSlE6HaPZv6bw0verpw

Although not confirmed, I read on a FB post that Juneau Whale Watch was canceling some of their combo tours that go to Mendenhall after the whale watch portion due to lack of passes.

@NewCruiser-2023 Don't lollygag as it can fill up early some days and they begin refusing acceptance of anymore bags. There are several other posts on this board regarding this dandy option.

The Pan Pacific Hotel at the cruise terminal will store luggage for non-guests. The bellman is located near the street entrance. It's been $5US/bag in the past. We stored our bags there and went exploring before catching the train that evening.

We’ve taken the train to Seattle after disembarking in Vancouver. Very easy and you’ll be able to explore Vancouver a bit before the evening train. Request seats on the right side for good views along the coast. Embassy Suites is next door to the train station in Seattle since you’d arrive rather late. There are some less expensive hotels but you’d need to take transportation after getting off the train. Business class train tickets are about $100pp. I may have missed something in the thread but the Amtrak train from Vancouver does not go to the Seattle airport. The King St. Train Station is in the south end of downtown, about 15 miles from the airport.

The Charter Hotel is in a great location and near many restaurants. Another option would be The Sound in Belltown. It would be a very short Uber/Lyft/Taxi ride to the port or a 15 minute walk. You’re within a few blocks of a dozen restaurants, particularly along 2th Ave. It’s got a slightly more neighborhood feel as you just north of the downtown core but only a 10 minute walk to Pike Place Market and 15 to the Space Needle/Chihuly Gardens. Buckley’s in Belltown has some of the best bar food. We’re done there weekly for their specials. Best avoid a game day though.

We were headed to breakfast at the 5 Point a few weeks ago although snagged a couple of seats at Tilikum next door due to a cancellation. There were 15 or so folks waiting to get into the 5 Point. Be prepared.

People walk to/from the cruise terminal at Smith Cove each day there is a ship in port when the weather is decent. Most are light packers and many are dragging their rollies. As @Ferry_Watcher noted you head towards the ride share lot along the marked white painted walkway. Continue following it as it turns right and follow it to Gate A which is where you would connect to the Elliott Bay Trail. If you need a point of reference you’ll be headed towards the Grain Terminal which you’ll be able to see at a distance. You’ll pass by it in about 20 minutes after exiting the gate. If the map link I provided works it will give you an idea of which direction to go. If you end up at the Magnolia Bridge you’ve taken a wrong turn although it would be difficult to get lost if you just follow the marked path. The posted You Tube video is great. Two things, at about 3:51, at the crosswalk, of the video is where the gate is although difficult to see. The video continues on from this point and you want to turn right on the trail as Ferry_Watcher noted and not left following the video. The video follows the bike path and you’ll take the pedestrian path that is closer to the waterfront. They are the same path for the first 100 yards or so. They parallel each other the entire way. The map just takes you to Pier 70 which is in the north end of Belltown. Another note, there is an osprey nest on top of one of the light posts near the gate you will exit. They’ve been active fishing and did have chicks this year. Keep a look out. You may also see bald eagles along the way. https://goo.gl/maps/oxDdEVfPZt5cMLXK8

Glen Alps that AKStafford suggested would be good. Great views of the Anchorage bowl and some trails to explore before it gets dark. Out by the airport is Pt Woronzof. From the parking area you can walk down to the beach and explore. Continuing on Pt Woronzof Rd behind the airport is a good area to watch aircraft come and go. If you go far enough down the road you may also see a moose or two. As an alternative you could go to Get Air and wear him out on the trampolines before your flight. Also, renting bikes and riding the coastal trail can make for a very nice evening with great views. Check out Pablo’s.

I did read another thread that indicated only disembarking passengers needed to go to the ride share lot and embarking passengers were dropped by the terminal although the Port of Seattle site indicates both “drop off or pick up” at the dedicated rideshare lot away from the terminal. I walked to the terminal last year and saw folks who were just dropped at the ride share lot and were walking to the terminal who did not want to wait for the shuttle.

A small consideration about transportation is that taxis can drop directly in front of the cruise terminal at Pier 91. Ride share such as Uber/Lyft drop ¼ mile away where you transfer to a shuttle to the terminal. You can also walk. Yellow Cab has an app like Uber/Lyft and can be scheduled in advance.

If you’re walkers it’s less than 3 miles to the Space Needle and can be a beautiful walk along the waterfront on the Elliott Bay Trail. I see people waking to/from the terminal each time there is a ship in port and most are schlepping luggage which you’d be free of. You could take the monorail from the Space Needle area to near Pike Place Market and then cab back to the ship.

The earliest suggested flight time is usually noon. 11am might be pretty tight. We went through the Seattle airport in May with TSA precheck and it took 45 minutes, plus we had to take the train to another terminal.

Check with Seattle Express. https://seattleexpress.com/private-group-transfers/ Also, look at posting on TripAdvisor. They have a couple of locals over there that are very good at airport transportation options. (there are a couple here too) https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g60878-i74-Seattle_Washington.html

Seems its already a given but these photos were taken nowhere near the Bering Sea.

@StrikeEagle Not sure. I only did it through the app.

Two of us took Yellow Cab (Prius) to the airport from downtown Seattle last month. We had two large bags and 3 smaller bags. It was tight and I carried one bag on my lap to the airport. A third person would have made for an uncomfortable ride. If you do decide to give it a go, they do have an app. Similar to Uber/Lyft and it worked well.

@Octavias If you don’t find a park & cruise package look at the Mediterranean Inn. It’s one of the closer hotels to pier 91 and they do have parking while you’re there. You could stay and park there for the night and then park at Seattle Cruise Parking for the cruise. They have shuttles to the pier every 10 minutes. https://www.seattlecruiseparking.com/

One of the closer hotels to Smith Cover is the Mediterranean Inn. It’s a 10 minute walk to the Seattle Center/Space Needle where you can catch the monorail into downtown. It’s also near many restaurants.

Where The Sea Breaks Its Back A wonderful read about the Vitus Bering, Georg Steller Alaska expedition. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/722003

You might try checking with Travel Juneau. The may know who she is. https://www.traveljuneau.com/

Yes, it packs small and works well under a light waterproof outer layer. It's nice to that if you get warm it can quickly be unzipped rather than having to take it off each time.

Try Bear Valley Road Runner. Another would be PJ's Taxi. https://www.bearvalleyroadrunner.com/ https://www.bearvalleyroadrunner.com/system/resources/W1siZiIsIjIwMjIvMTAvMTIvOGczZzF5M3Rkbl9SYXRlc18yMDIzLnBkZiJdXQ/Rates%202023.pdf?sha=a80a8935a8a403cc https://www.pjstaxi.net/

Mendenhall Glacier, of course. Douglas Island can be a nice drive. The hatchery has been dumping fish at the Shrine of St. Therese and the humpbacks have become savvy to it. We’ve spotted one on two different trips out that way close to shore. Eagle Beach just up the road from there has some nice trails and a great view.