Fabulous Whale Watching awaits in remote, breezy, gorgeous waters of Juneau

Cookie and Keller are all smiles as they set out to whale watch on a cool, gray day on the sea. Jackets and hats cut the breeze, with beautiful snowy mountains of Juneau behind them.

Juneau's harbor has a pastoral feel, almost painting-like. The surrounding forest and scenery are spectacular.

ORCAS, HUMPBACKS, DOLPHINS, EAGLES AWAIT, PLUS WILD, UNTAMED SCENERY AWAIT ON AN EXCITING JUNEAU WHALE WATCH

Yes, it's in the distance, but it's a definite whale sighting.  The boat will pull slowly closer for fine views.

STORY By CHRISTENE MEYERS

PHOTOS By BRUCE KELLER

"The Carpe Diem Kids"

SOME OF the best whale watching in the world happens off the North American continent in the chilly, lively waters of Juneau, Alaska. 

Alaska's capital city is thriving after a few dark COVID years, and the whale business is back.  Surviving rough financial times -- without the usual tourism that feeds the year's economy during three busy summer months -- tours are booking and folks are cruising again. 

The scenery around Juneau is vast and varied. A bird's eye view aboard Radiance of the Seas.

The best whale tour we've found in several Alaska trips is with Juneau Tours and Whale Watch. The company is run by friends and family with the mission to share and protect the precious whales that surround this remote and beautiful part of the United States.

Veteran photographer Bruce Keller is a regular on Alaska's waters. This time he chose Royal Caribbean's newly renovated Radiance of the Seas.

We sailed into the pretty port aboard  Royal Caribbean's graceful  Radiance of the Seas,  recently refurbished to the tune of multi-millions, and by far the most spiffy ship in the harbor. We like Royal for its well designed Alaska itinerary, which hits the high spots with ample port time: Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and the Inside Passage for a spectacular day of viewing.  

Juneau Tours works with Royal Caribbean, which courts family-owned and operated businesses such as Juneau Tours. The business was started  nearly two decades ago by an ambitious couple from Hawaii. Many of its employees have been with the company for years and everyone is pleasant and knowledgeable -- from the bus driver who greets you and gives commentary from the ship to the pier, to the deck hands and naturalist guides. 

The boat is roomy, the windows large and perfect for viewing.  Passengers may also go on deck.

We've met the same entertaining guides a couple years apart -- enthusiastic fellows who love the water and know its ocean life. We enjoyed lively commentary, pointing out dozens of soaring bald eagles and playful dolphins skipping along the boat. 

Plan to take time getting to the harbor because Juneau is a big place. We recommend a ship's tour which gets you there. Because of its vastness, it takes a while to get around after the whale watch. You're guaranteed two-plus hours of scouting humpbacks and orcas, sea lions, dolphins, bald eagles, and other wildlife. Most tours leave time for wandering the town.

We met several of the stars of Auke Bay, feasting in their summer feeding grounds –  whales Sacha, Flame and several others.  Our guides recognized  the whales because of the markings on their flukes -- each one unique to the individual whale.

The company's enthusiastic naturalist guides offer engaging commentary and fascinating whale facts.

WE WERE thrilled to see whales breaching. Scientists suspect humpback whales breach and slap their fins and flukes as a way of communicating. Our guides explained that the slapping sounds also send messages to other whales. 

The company's comfy, customized boats offer panoramic views for optimal whale watching even if you don't want to venture out on deck.  

Mendenhall Glacier is a wondrous sight. Even with global warming, it is still miles long

BECAUSE YOU are so near one of the world's most famous glaciers, ship's tours offer an opportunity to stop at  Mendenhall Glacier. On our day, several buses staggered trips back to the ship or town center, allowing optional time for glacier viewing. If you haven't been face to face with Mendenhall Glacier, it's an easy add-on to the whale watch trip. The glacier is a a 1,500 square mile remnant of the last ice age, cradled high in the mountains and an extra hour's journey -- well worth it. “Amazing!” We heard that over-worked adjective many times as we hiked with new friends to Nugget Falls, with its bird's eye views of the glacier.

Alaska has more bald eagles than any other state in the union -- up to 25,000. This one performed for our boat

A nicely designed visitor's center gives an overview of glaciers and this close-by one in particular. Mendenhall is perhaps the most accessible glaciers in North America, just 12 miles from downtown Juneau and a few minutes from the airport. It's large -- like everything in Juneau -- a half-mile wide, with ice as deep as 1,800 feet. And it's 13.6 miles long.

WE'RE PROUD to recommend Juneau Tours and Whale Watch, which has made a name for itself in southeast Alaska and around the globe. The hands-on approach and joy in their work is obvious, making the outfit a pleasure to travel with, share and enjoy.

And consider cruising -- the only way you'll see four distinct parts of this huge 49th state in a week's time.

• info@juneautours.com; 1 844-494-2537.

• royalcaribbean.com; reservations 866 562-7625

  
  

Tuacahn Center for the Arts is a magical place with a range of theater productions in a state-of-the-art amphitheater in Padre Canyon.

UP NEXT: Utah's Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, is a delightful discovery. We'd never been to this marvelous treasure of a performing arts center near St. George, Utah. So this year was our time for a visit. We were doing stories and taking photos near Zion National Park when we overheard fellow tourists talking about Tuacahn.  We went on line to find this gem of a theater set in a beautiful canyon near Ivins, in the mouth of Padre Canyon.

A first-rate docket of Broadway shows is also on tap, and there are activities year-round at this magical place.  www.tuacahn.org/

If this destination sparked your wanderlust, there’s plenty more waiting for you -- explore more worldwide travel stories and inspiration at WhereIsCookie.com