Grand Tour By Land Glacier Gardens Hatchery & Mendenhall Glacier
Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, boasts of breathtaking views, rich culture, and history. Visitors can experience the best of Juneau through the Grand Tour By Land, which offers a comprehensive tour of the city’s top attractions, including Glacier Gardens Hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier.
This article will explore the beauty of Juneau's top destinations, the history and culture of the city, and what visitors can expect from the Grand Tour By Land.
Glacier Gardens Hatchery
Located just a few miles away from Juneau International Airport, Glacier Gardens Hatchery is a hidden gem that showcases the beauty of Southeast Alaska's flora and fauna. The hatchery is known for its well-manicured botanical gardens, which cover over 50 acres of land. The gardens feature over 15,000 plants, including flowers, shrubs, and trees, that have been expertly arranged and planted to create a picturesque landscape.
Aside from the gardens, visitors can also find the full-service Salmon Creek Hatchery in the area, where they can learn about Alaska's ecosystem and watch the skilled staff breed and raise different species of salmon. The hatchery features several aquariums that allow visitors to see and interact with different aquatic species, including starfish, crabs, and clams.
Mendenhall Glacier
If you want to experience the grandeur of glaciers, Mendenhall Glacier is a must-see destination in Juneau. Located just 13 miles from downtown, the glacier covers 1,800 square miles of land and is over 12 miles long, making it one of the largest glaciers in the state of Alaska.
Visitors can explore the glacier by taking a guided tour, hiking, or kayaking. Guided tours offer a comprehensive experience, including visiting the visitor center, hiking trails, and viewing areas where visitors can see and hear the glacier calving massive icebergs into the water. For those who want a more adventurous experience, there’s kayaking where you’ll paddle in front of the glacier and have a unique view of this massive ice formation.
Grand Tour By Land
Now that you’ve learned about Glacier Gardens Hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier individually, imagine having an opportunity to visit both these beautiful places in one day! That's what the Grand Tour By Land offers visitors. This tour is designed to make sure visitors get to experience the best of Juneau in a day.
The Grand Tour By Land features a guided tour of Juneau's historic downtown area, followed by the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier, and ends with a visit to Glacier Gardens Hatchery. The tour takes visitors through some of Juneau's iconic landmarks, including the Governor's Mansion, the Alaska State Capitol Building, and the Russian Orthodox Church.
The tour also includes a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center where visitors can learn about the various glaciers in the Juneau Icefield and their dynamics. The tour then ends with a visit to Glacier Gardens Hatchery, where visitors can explore the beautiful botanical gardens and the Salmon Creek Hatchery.
Conclusion
Visiting Glacier Gardens Hatchery and Mendenhall Glacier separately can be an unforgettable experience for visitors. Still, the Grand Tour By Land offers a comprehensive experience of the two attractions in a day. The tour is designed to make sure visitors get to learn the history and culture of Juneau while enjoying the city’s natural beauty. So be sure to book your Grand Tour By Land ticket during your next visit to Juneau, Alaska.