We%26#39;re going to be in Juneau for five days in July and are travelling independently (no cruise ship). We%26#39;d like to see Glacier Bay National Park while we%26#39;re there. Are there trips out of Juneau or will we need to get to Gustavus on our own? Staying at the Glacier Bay Lodge in conjunction with their cruise seems outrageously expensive ($600 for two people). Any other suggestions?
Glacier Bay Independently
I%26#39;m not aware of any way to see Glacier Bay other than taking the park service%26#39;s boat tour from Gustavus. You do not, however, have to stay at the Glacier Bay Lodge. Look at www.gustavus.com for the many othe Gustavus lodging options. The other lodges are about 10 miles from Bartlett Cove, where the boat leaves from, but most of the lodges will provide a way there. Note that there are very few walk up restaurants in Gustavus; most people stay at lodges that have meal plans. We, however, stayed at a B%26amp;B and were able to find places for dinner. As for getting to Gustavus, we were able to book our flight to and from Gustavus, for little more than the flight to Juneau, and stagger the flight. In other words, we flew to Gustavus on Alaska Airlines, after a few days, we flew to Juneau, and a bit later, flew home. All for the cost of a round trip airfaire to Gustavus.
Glacier Bay Independently
I am also going to GB/Gustavus and am using the commercial airlines to stop in Juneau and Gustavus. However, our IP trip starts in Gustavus and ends in Ketchikan, so we will be needing to get transportation back to Juneau to catch the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry to begin heading south. You might want to look into using Fairweather Express of Goldbelt tours which support that connection for about $75.
We are spending two days and three nights in Gustavus. Looking to rent kayaks and take in a boat tour. Hoping to coordinate a one day kayak drop off and pick up in GB (or Tracy Arm) or use a guided outfitter (like Glacier Bay Se Kayaks). Also looking to take a boat tour, but unsure which one at the moment. Recommendations on activities (kayaking in GB or TA, drop off services, with or w/o a guide), and reasonable accommodations are much appreciated. Open to all types of accommodations, inns/hotels/motels and B%26amp;Bs. In searching the excellent gustavus.com links, I am thinking of securing accommodations at the Blue Heron or Good River B%26amp;B. Can anyone who has stayed at either facility share there experience? Additionally, how feasible it is to independently yak locally and out to Pleasant Island, or get dropped-off/picked-up inside Glacier Bay. After deciding upon our yak outing, we hope to decide on a boat tour destination (Glacier Bay, Pt. Adolphus or Tracy Arm) and operator. Again, any and all recommendations very much appreciated. Thank you.
Welcome to TA.
You will be glad that you spent the time you did at Glacier Bay. Most people only go for the day on a big cruise ship. I spent 2 nights there last summer and it was great.
The Park Service boat tour is the only that goes into Glacier Bay. If you kayak in Glacier Bay you basically get the same Glacier Bay boat tour, just half of it before you get dropped off and half of it after you get picked up. Very easy to get dropped off and picked up within Glacier Bay. Happened on our boat trip. You probably just need to coordinate it with the outfitter when you reserve.
I stayed in the Bartlett Cove campground so I can%26#39;t really help with lodging. I did look at the Gustavus website a bit though before deciding to just camp.
Pt. Adolphus is also excellent since it is a prime whale watching area. If you kayak in Glacier Bay, try to fit in a whale watch tour with Taz at Pt. Adolphus. You won%26#39;t be disappointed.
In Gustavus, plan on taking a taxi between town and Bartlett Cove (where the GB tours depart from). I think it is something like $12-$15 each way. I reserved all my needed trips in advance and paid for them all during my first trip. They were very prompt and very friendly. I think there is only one taxi service but honestly I don%26#39;t remember for sure.
John
No comments:
Post a Comment