After docking in Juneau, we got up early for a full day of sight-seeing and adventure. The first stop was a salmon hatchery, where we learned that there is no farming of salmon in Alaska; wherever you find Alaska salmon, you can rely on the fact that it’s wild. Salmon born in this hatchery return from the wild ocean when ready to spawn but first climb these “stairs.”

In these tanks, the baby salmon look like minnows but there were well over 10,000 of them in each tank and about 70,000 overall.

After some growth the salmon are ready for release.

Our next stop was a place called, Glacier Gardens — a private area where an entrepreneur landscaped a large area to help control landslides. Today, visitors see the garden — some flowers are on top of an “upside down” tree.

We then took in the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, which once was very close to the glacier, but after years of retreating the glacier itself is only visible in the distance.

Having lunch at the Red Dog Saloon was quite an experience. The sounds of a local pianist filled the air and sawdust filled the floor. The Smith & Wesson revolver on the wall was alleged to be that of Wyatt Earp, who fled town hurriedly and had to leave it behind.

In the late afternoon we boarded a helicopter to head to the Mendenhall Glacier, where we walked with a guide.

We certainly slept well Tuesday night. Come back tomorrow if you’d like to see more of the week’s adventures.