Juneau with kids question - Mendenhall glacier

[sdjen]

Hoping those of you that have cruised with kids can help. We are doing a whale watching tour early morning in Juneau (myself and my 9 year old DD). Our tour can drop us at the glacier if we want. I'm wondering if you think it's worth it to visit with kids? If so, about how much time should we plan there? Any other tips would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

 

[dotfurio]

We loved the glacier. They have a small visitors center with some hands on for the kids. When we were there they also had some hands on educational activities for kids set up outside. There's a junior Ranger program we didn't have time to complete.

I think I had about 90 min there on my tour and would've loved another hour or so to do some of the longer hikes. Of course, I had my 5 year old so we Move a little slower than a 9 year old. I really wanted to do the waterfall hike but we never would've made it back to the bus on time.

 

[sdjen]

Thanks! I would like to see it just not sure if my dd would like it.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

I have the opposite opinion. As an adult I was good with 30 minutes or so at the glacier. I didn't see much for kids, unless the kid was really in to nature or science.

 

[3Down1Up]

My younger ones were five when we went to the glacier and so we didn't have time to hike out closer to the glacier itself. They tell you how long each hike will take, so you can gauge it based on when you have to be back on the bus; I think the shortest was about 30 minutes, one was about an hour, and it went longer from there. Once you get there, you can judge how your DD will do and if you can complete one of the hikes. The visitors center didn't hold their interest for more than about 30 minutes or so. Although they did get to touch real live "glacier ice" - they thought that was neat.