Alaska Salmon Bake, Glacier and Hatchery

Alaska Salmon Bake, Glacier and Hatchery

• Board a motor coach and drive approximately 25 minutes through the streets of downtown Juneau. View the State Capital building and historic points of interest en route to Mendenhall Valley — home of the Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska's only glacier accessible by road.
• Explore the Mendenhall Glacier recreation area, which includes a variety of wilderness trails and viewpoints of the glacier, Nugget Creek falls and places to see Sockeye salmon (late July to August). Spend time at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
• Be sure to watch a brief film on glaciations and the Mendenhall's inclusion in the 1,500-square mile Juneau icefield while at the visitor's center. Various interactive displays on glaciations and the icefield can also be found here and you'll have approximately 90 minutes of free time to explore it all.
• Continue on to Macaulay Salmon Hatchery to learn about the life cycle of the salmon and the importance of the hatching process to Alaska's fishery.
• Enjoy a different experience depending on the time of your visit:
  • Take part in feeding salmon fry (early in the summer) before the annual salmon run (May to late June)
  • View wild spawning salmon in the fish ladder and raceways (late June to September)
• See several aquariums filled with a wide range of local sea life while visiting the indoor building. Be sure to take time to check out the hatchery's touch tanks — a favorite for kids and adults alike during the approximate 45-minute visit.
• Wrap up your tour with a feast at Juneau's original salmon bake. Menu items include fresh grilled Alaska wild salmon, baked chicken, salads, pasta dishes, beans, cornbread, coffee, tea, lemonade and blueberry cake. Beer, wine and soft drinks available for purchase.
• After your meal, roast marshmallows over an open camp fire or take a walk up to an abandoned mine. The Salmon Bake offers shuttles back downtown and cruise ships every 20 minutes, so stay as long as your time allows.

• Wheelchairs need to be standard size and collapsible; no electric wheelchairs/scooters are permitted. Guests must be able to board and disembark the motor coach on their own.
• This excursion is stroller accessible. However, some portions of the tour may require Guests to fold accompanying strollers. lightweight strollers are recommended.
• Guests should dress warmly, in layers, and carry raingear.
• The order of the sites may be reversed.
• Guests are encouraged to bring currency and credit cards to purchase extras such as souvenirs or snacks.
• You should never feel that gratuities are expected, but it is customary to leave a tip in recognition of exceptional service in restaurants, for taxis and for excursion guides and drivers. It is always up to you to determine the amount.