How to Have a Dope Time in Juneau, Alaska

This post has been sitting on the back burner for a while now and its got me UPSET. I haven't been able to write, due to my impulsive nature of saying YES to a thousand projects. Y'all already know about that. Thankfully, God and I had a little chat, that challenged me to start cutting up my current lifestyle. I left things I didn't love and slowly walked myself back to the routines I found the most joy in. 

For the full scoop, check out my insta post from December 1st.

NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT JUNEAU. Looking at this place, I still can't believe Trey and I made it. I remember planning this thing and being like, "Can you even like um drive in Alaska?" DUMB, but all that came to mind at first was miles of glaciers. Lol, Juneau ended up being one of the easiest places to get around, we barely used maps!

Anyway, this past year, I started building my "Top Five Favorite States" list and Alaska made it by a landslideeeee. Let me tell ya why with: How to Have a Dope Time in Juneau, Alaska...

how to get there:

We flew with Alaska Airlines for the first time and were super impressed. I have never had that warm of a welcome at check-in. It was very refreshing. For round trip, I spent a little under $1,300 for the both of us! I was stoked. 

Along with that, I didn't have to pay extra to sit next to Trey. I ordered the tickets a lil last minute, so on two flights we weren't by each other. HOWEVER, when checked in online, enough people canceled, that I was able to change our seats last minute! How cool. 

In regards to luggage, they charge $25 per bag, which is pretty reasonable! We just shoved our things in one suitcase and called it good. I'll definitely be flying with them again. Plus, you will not believe how many airports they serve! Check out their flight map here.

renting a car:

I feel like there's a huge stipulation out there that you can't rent a car if you're not 25. This is far from the truth! Some rental companies let you be as young as 18. I rented my first car here in Alaska and it was a BREEZE!

In Juneau, I used Enterprise. I really value this company because A.) they show you EXACTLY what you're paying for and B.) they let you use a debit card. You may be thinking, "there are so many cheaper companies." This may be true, but if you're under 25 and don't have a credit card, this is the way to go!

I normally choose the economy car (cheapest option) and it's still nice as hell! Why pay more? I spent $276 to have the car for three days. $200 is a pretty dang good deal and the $76 is for the young renter fee. Don't let people convince you a third party site could be cheaper, especially if you're under 25. It's nearly impossible to tack on the young renter fee through these sites! I've tried countless times.

TIP: I never check out before I look for Enterprise promo codes. I seriously always find one! My favorite site for this is retailmenot.com!
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where to stay:

For this trip, I had really wanted to stay in a hotel, just because you don't have to walk around on your tippy toes. However, I waited too long and every hotel was booked for our dates. So Airbnb it is! Which wasn't upsetting- they usually make the trip more unique. I rented out Erica's Island Hideout Loft in Douglas and it was STELLAR. The interior is absolutely charming. I spent about $80 a night, so I was stoked.
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the dope part:

Before I say anything, this trip would have been nothing without two sweet girls! Thank you so much Cierra & Cheyenne for the greatest recommendations. :) They were so fun to try!

Hands down, I would have to say that Mount Roberts Tramway is one of the coolest attractions Juneau has. It's the most expensive thing we splurged on, but a CRAZY FUN first stop. Tickets are $35- but they give you all day access.

I highlyyyyy suggest hiking one of the trails they have at the top. I would have loved to do this if we were more prepared! If you've got a tight schedule, walk to a photo point, and plan another visit for later in the day. This is just a TINY glimpse of how cool the view is! We didn't hike miles for this guys- anyone can do it. 

the kind of alaska you dream about:

Alright- so if you're like me, when you think of Alaska, you think ICE, right? Well here's your ice: Mendenhall Glacier. After the tram, we headed here to see our first glacier ever! I was hesitant at first, I kept reading online about all this alternative transportation stuff. I was seriously like, uh can we drive up to this thing? 

The answer is YES! We had no problems driving right up to the visitor center. Then it was a short walk to a lookout point. Pretty sure I missed where we were suppose to pay too! I didn't see an admission thing anywhere. Regardless, I have an America the Beautiful pass that gets me into any national park for a year! Best investment I've made. I purchased mine in Grand Teton national park. They're only $80, so you save BIG!

lunch it at twisted fish company:

Eeeee! This place is so cute. It's located downtown and has huge bay windows that make for a great view of the water. Trey ordered crab legs and I had the Twisted Pasta Caesar Salad with grilled chicken. Both dishes were super yummy and refreshing. I've never eaten pasta noodles and lettuce together, but it tasted bomb so. Our service was fast and friendly too!

TIP: The restaurant has their own parking stalls, so don't worry about paying for parking downtown.

snag a crepe at alaskan crepe escape:

This cute lil crepe shack is set up right near Franklin Street. I ordered a Nutella Crepe and the total came to $5.50, not bad! It was delicious and fun to hold while window shopping downtown. It would have gone great with a cup of coffee too! I'm excited to head back and try one of their famous savory crepes. 

find a log at sandy beach: 

If Cierra didn't tell me about this one, man I don't know where we would have spent half our time. THIS PLACE IS THE COOLEST. To find it on maps,  plug in "Savikko Park." I think T and I honestly hit up this beach twice a day. We would just find a log and post up for a while. It's crazy beautiful and pretty secluded. The PERF place for a quick picnic or evening walk. 
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drive around auke bay:

If you love driving around, drive to Auke Bay. Walk around the harbor or head up to Auke Recreation Area. We hung around there for a while and barely saw a soul. It was crazy peaceful. 
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a couple extra tips:

• Juneau has a Mcdonalds and Subway, so we often ate there twice a day to cut down on food cost.  It was fun too, because it made our one meal at a local restaurant really special. 
• I spent close to $20 on clif bars and snacks at Super Saver in Lincoln before we left. That way, we didn't always need to buy a breakfast or stop for a snack.
• I'd love to go back and travel all around Alaska. Juneau is GORGEOUS, but it can be done over a weekend in my opinion. 
• We traveled in mid September and the weather was perfect for us. I either wore a light jacket or sweater and the sun was shining constantly. So don't bring a heavy coat unless you plan on being close to the glaciers. :)

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WOW, I have been waiting so long to send this out. It feels so nice. Yay alright, now whose ready to have a good time in Juneau?! You must send recs my way if you find anything crazy fun I need to add! 

I hope this helps you plan a dope trip and get the most out of your time. Our experience was outttttt of this world. You'll have a blast. Get packing!
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