Head over to the Mt Roberts Tramway parking lot in downtown Juneau and board a coach bus that takes you on a scenic 20-minute drive to Auke Bay Harbor. Your driver shares fun and informative anecdotes along the way.

At the harbor, meet your crew and climb aboard a boat custom-made for whale watching. Your captain leads you into the Inside Passage, a route dotted with fjords and glaciers. Soak up the sights outside from a spacious deck, or enjoy unrestricted views of stunning mountain scenery from the comfort of an enclosed cabin.

Your sharp-eyed crew is on the lookout for the orcas and humpbacks that swim in these waters. Once a whale is spotted, your captain slows down the boat and shuts off the motor. Watch for calves swimming next to their mothers as you click away with your camera; the great mammals are known to put on a mighty show as they roll along the water, sometimes even making a splashy entrance when they breach.

While the whales are the stars of this excursion, plenty of other wildlife will captivate your attention. Sail by rocky outcrops where sea lions and harbor seals may be sunning themselves, and look up to see majestic bald eagles in flight.

After about two hours on the water, return to the harbor and board a shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau’s most popular attraction. Shuttles head back to downtown Juneau every half hour, allowing you to explore the park at a leisurely pace.

Venture off on one of its six trails, perhaps Photo Point Trail, which winds along Mendenhall Lake and leads you to unobstructed views of the glacier's face. Inside the visitor center, enjoy an elevated view of the Mendenhall Glacier stretching some 12 miles (19 km) across the Juneau Icefield, and peruse the interactive exhibits on local geology.

When you’re ready, board a shuttle that takes you to a restaurant in downtown Juneau for a sumptuous crab lunch or dinner. After your meal, you’ll be transported back to the original departure point.