familycruzinnewbie

On the topic of future vacations - for our next family trip we are thinking of maybe flying to a Denver and doing a road trip from there. We have airline points and companion vouchers to use up. I have to wait until DD has finalized her school plans for next year but prob this August Or next. Since you’ve done a lot of road trips I’m up for suggestions. I also have the one family member with height issues so it will be a mix of finding the great places/ hikes he can do with the occasional - leave him back at the hotel/find something for him to do. Strangely most road trips from Denver I see posts about spend more time at Utah parks, which I’m up for but need to figure out some Colorado places that are great in summer too.

I contacted Juneau Whale watch and managed to book the 1:30pm tour. With the 2:30pm there would have been barely any time to spend at Mendenhall Glacier. With the 1:30pm tour, it may be close to 5pm before we get there (hopefully 4:30pm). I could possibly do the last shuttle at 6:30pm, but thinking we need to be back onboard by 7:30pm, so 6pm may be safer.

I think we will just put Fortress of the bear as a maybe to be decided when we get to the raptor center. Problem is Sitka is the first port so we do not know if we will see bears at the other ports in the wild. We don’t have a zoo, we do have a nature park which has local animals. We also have a lot of opportunities to see animals in the wild. We just had an Atlantic walrus on the beach 10 min from my house this weekend (we’re in Newfoundland so it was quite a ways south for him). My whale watch and glacier is now booked for 1:30 with Juneau whale watch. My only other question is Ketchikan because of port times - if we want to go to the Totems we have to get the first bus and I think most museums and such will be closed before we get back, unless the extend openings. We can still do the downtown walking tour. We are sticking with the MDR, being new to Royal. I am a gym person but started doing triathlon (sprint distance) a few years ago. I am doing one in June in Montreal, haven’t finalized any local ones post cruise yet but will do 100-120km Ride for Mental Health in August. Typically I would eat small breakfast, hit the gym and the have family breakfast after. I may try MDR for breakfast but while I don’t mind slow dinner, slow breakfast is a pain. I often order multiple appetizers, just because hubby is so picky that he never wants to share what I want to try.

We are cruising in July and in Juneau Wed July 27 from 12-8pm. I was just going to DIY Mendenhall Glacier but now thinking this may be a good port to do a whale watching excursion. Other ports are Ketchikan and Stika. Is late July a good time for this tour? Problem is I think some times and options may be booked. Juneau Whale Watch has a combo tour with a Glacier visit but only list 2:30 and 3:30pm start times. I don't know if this will leave us any time at the Glacier (they do list 1:30pm whale watch only tour. Harv and Marv only do a stop at a bridge overlooking the Glacier but I think the boat tour is longer and they have space at 2pm. I'm not sure about space on Jayleen's but that is whale watch only. Alaska tales has more space but does a 45min stop at the Glacier en route to the boat tour (and I haven't read much about them on here). There are a few option with Royal Caribbean - but they are $, I think they are Gastineau but the rates I see are even more than when I link from their site to the Royal webpage. Looking for opinions of timing, tours, companies etc. And if I do end up having to book a 2pm or 2:30pm tour what would you do beforehand? Thanks

We will be in Juneau from 12-8pm in late July. I understand you can get a city bus to within walking distance of Mendenhall glacier. I read a trip report of someone doing West Glacier Trail which sounded quite interesting to me but I am not sure hubby would be comfortable doing it (we are both fit). We are looking at suggestions and information on what to do. We are comfortable taking public transit, if we have the info. I would consider an excursion if there was something of interest but hubby has ruled out any helicopters.