Exploring Alaska - Day 1

Day 1: Juneau, Alaska

The 7 a.m. flight from Kansas City to Seattle did not have one open seat. On a precautionary note, I masked up for both flights on Alaska Airlines, so I stay healthy for my trip to Juneau, Alaska. I arrived at the Juneau International Airport at 11:30 a.m. My suitcase was already there by the time I hit baggage claim and I quickly found a taxi to the Super 8 motel and then the Harris Harbor where Bob Pender and Tim Benoit had moored the Benwa. After three weeks since Bob started his journey on the Inward Passage to Alaska, I was very happy to see him again.

The taxi from the airport to the Super 8 to Harris Harbor was $34.80, which I thought was a little high. That did include a 15-minute stop at the Super 8 while I checked in.

Juneau runs 15 miles between Gastineau Channel and the mountains – with Sheep Mountain close to Harris Harbor. Harris Harbor is within walking distance to downtown Juneau and where all the cruise ships dock to these schedules. These floating cities are amazing to watch as they maneuver in and out of Juneau all day long.

Bob took me to the Red Dog Saloon for a bit of old time Juneau nostalgia and a beer. We arrived when a cruise ship had just recently arrived and there wasn’t a lot of open seating. But just as fast as the cruise ship passengers arrived, they quickly left.

Next on the tour list was the Overstreet Park also known as Whale Park, featuring an amazing humpback whale water feature. The Overstreet Park is a winding walkway along the Gastineau Channel featuring a large bronze humpback whale. Looking south with the giant humpback whale, mountains, cruise ships and this wonderful outdoor wilderness was an amazing end to my first day in Alaska.