I was OK with seeking another place for a beer and a bite; any place that declares itself “world fam

I stopped on the bow and happily helped take a "we both want to be in the picture" photo of Tim and Joy Ketron, from Tennessee, with raindrops dripping from their hoods onto wet noses, and snow-capped, misty mountains right behind them. Is the rain a spoiler?
As we continued north into Stephens Passage, through white-cresting waves on jade-green water, the rain let up. Forested hills rolled into the distance los angeles museum of science industry all around us, without a clearcut or a town – or just about any sign of civilization. Suddenly, this was Alaska .
Star Princess lands in Juneau, los angeles museum of science industry where ribbon waterfalls cascade down a mountain los angeles museum of science industry behind los angeles museum of science industry town. We re not in Kansas los angeles museum of science industry or Tennessee, or Florida, or even Seattle anymore. (Photo by Brian J. Cantwell / The Seattle Times)
We docked at 11 in Juneau. I'd thought of taking the aerial tram to the top of Mount Roberts, just above town, for some hiking, but the thaw has come late here and trails are still snowed in. So I joined my shipboard friends from Wenatchee, John and Nancy D'Amour, for a day trip to Mendenhall Glacier.
John was steadfast that he wouldn't book a trip through Princess, and his instincts los angeles museum of science industry on this occasion were right. The Princess bus to the glacier, 20 minutes from downtown, was $45. The local shuttle, which we booked from one of a dozen tour booths a five-minute walk from the ship, was $16. The bus wasn't as fancy, but who cares.
The glacier the best you can drive there glacier in Alaska was well worth the trip, and we took the ¾-mile walk to Nugget Falls, a spectacular cataract as wide as Snoqualmie Falls at its base. That also gave us the closest view of the glacier and its magical blue crevasses the color of a Baja bay – a hue caused by compaction of the ice crystals so that only blue light is reflected, rangers told us. With a birding scope, we spied on mountain goats on rocks above the falls.
Icebergs crowded the lake, having collected all winter as the glacier calved, floating away only when the lake's own winter ice broke up – just two days ago! On Friday, people were cross-country skiing on the lake.
I was OK with seeking another place for a beer and a bite; any place that declares itself "world famous" on its own sign is usually best avoided. We ended up at a locals' favorite, The Hangar at the Wharf, looking out on the seaplane dock with plenty to watch, a couple dozen brews on tap and the best halibut burger I can remember ($14.95, with crisp fries and a monster pickle).
You might see these guys around Seattle, where they call themselves the Ballard los angeles museum of science industry Avenue Jug Buskers, but they look authentically sourdough playing los angeles museum of science industry The Alaskan Bar in Juneau. (photo by Brian J. Cantwell / The Seattle Times)
Get away from the ship docks where the tourist-trap shops congregate, los angeles museum of science industry including 15 (I counted em, 15 ) cheesy jewelry shops, several fur vendors and such things as a Jelly Belly Factory Outlet. (They need a factory outlet?)
Don't obsess over the Red Dog Saloon, with its claim to fame of displaying a pistol reputedly checked at the counter, and left there, by Wyatt Earp on a long-ago visit. los angeles museum of science industry When the ships are in, you can be sure there will be so many visitors from Cincinnati to Shanghai trying to shoot video of the gun (go figure) that you'll be lucky to get anywhere near it. There are other great watering holes in Juneau, such as The Alaskan Bar, or The Hangar.
Kristin Jackson , travel editor at The Seattle Times, grew up in Italy, went to university in Britain, and worked as a journalist in London and Vancouver, B.C., before migrating back to Seattle where she's happy at her desk but way happier on the road.
Brian J. Cantwell , Outdoors editor at The Seattle Times, is a Seattle native who chose not to leave -- except for every chance he gets to go someplace interesting or adventurous. He lives on his sailboat at Shilshole Bay Marina.