A beginners guide to visiting Juneau, Alaska, by cruise ship

Most cruises stop at Juneau — for good reason. Alaska's capital has some of the widest range of attractions and shore excursions of any port in the Inside Passage. Surrounded by mountains, glaciers and the vast wilderness of Tongass National Forest, this engaging city manages to feel both wildly remote and adventure-charged despite being one of Alaska's busiest visitor destinations.A visit here can mean whale-watching, flightseeing or hiking. Numerous operators run excursions by boat or seaplane, while downtown's shops, restaurants and historic attractions are within easy walking distance from the cruise docks. Just a few miles from the port, you'll also find Mendenhall Glacier — one of North America's only true "drive-up" glaciers.Juneau offers a fascinating mass of contradictions: It's the state capital, but it's more than 500 miles from 95% of Alaska's population. It's on the North American mainland, but cut off from the rest of the country by mountains. It's the fifth-least-populous U.S. state capital, with around 31,000 year-round residents. However, it's also the largest U.S. capital in land area, at 3,250 square miles (most of which is wilderness).The stunning but logistical...