You’ll quickly come to realize that one of the main reasons Juneau has so much character, is it’s long history. Being established before the big Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 makes it one of Alaska’s oldest cities. Around 1880, a local Tlingit Indian Chief led prospectors Joe Juneau and Richard Harris to (what later became known as) Gold Creek. These two men immediately discovered nuggets of gold just laying on the ground. Almost immediately after this incident, a town site was established. Juneau became Alaska’s territorial capital in 1906 and later on it’s State Capital in 1959.
Downtown Juneau sits perfectly between Mount Roberts, Mount Juneau, and the Gastineau Channel. With absolutely no road access, it is one of two State Capital’s in the United States that can only be accessed by boat or airplane. Southeast Alaska (colloquially referred to as the Alaskan panhandle) is made up of many islands, mountainous regions, and large bodies of water. Seaplanes, helicopters, and boats are all common modes of transportation. Cruise ships remain a common way visitors reach Juneau during the Summer months. Juneau happens to be one of the most popular ports in all of Alaska.
More than likely, you will be flying into Juneau International Airport on either an Alaska Airlines or Delta flight. I personally could not find a flight (from Minneapolis at least) that did not have a layover in Seattle. This was true of airlines on Google Flights. Roundtrip flights from Seattle to Juneau averaged between $200-$300 USD’s.
Check out the article “How to Use Google Flights to Find the Cheapest Flights”.
Downtown Juneau is home to several nationally-owned hotel chains. Better yet, they also have locally-owned hotel and boutiques with plenty of that Alaskan charm. Like any trip, I always recommend looking into rentals such as AirBNB and VRBO. Regardless of where you choose to stay, make sure to book early if you are planning on staying during the Summer months. Accommodations fill up early during the high season. My family and I stayed in Juneau during June, and people were being turned away from the hotel for last minute booking.
One thing I’ve noticed is the lack of car rentals around Juneau. The one car we were able to find was extremely expensive and extremely broken down. There was a few times we didn’t know if the minivan would even start. Regardless, we were able to get from “point A to point B” so we made the best of the “junker”. Similar to booking housing accommodations, try and book your car rentals ASAP. There is a lot of cool places and hikes just outside of town.
Mendenhall Glacier
Located just 12 miles outside of Juneau is Mendenhall Glacier. One of the cities most iconic sites sits within the Tongass National Forest. Tongass is the largest national forest in the United States, sitting on 17 MILLION acres of Pacific temperate rain forest. For a comparison, Chugach National Forest (The second largest National Forest) has approximately 6.9 million acres. Visitors can watch icebergs descend off it’s frozen face and into Mendenhall Lake. Follow along the popular Nugget Falls Trail and be greeted by a beautiful roaring waterfall downstream to the glacier. This 1.9 mile (roundtrip) hike is ranked as being easy. The Mendenhall Glacier brings in over roughly 400,000 visitors each year. When we arrived, the center was closed due to COVID. Normally, you can stop here for information about the glacier, a short video, and a overlook area.
Now If you are looking for a more adventurous way to see Mendenhall, I highly suggest a helicopter glacier trek. We decided to book through North Star Helicopters, and they definitely did not disappoint. Their tour provides you with two hours on the glacier where you are able to learn basic glacier travel techniques, explore, take photos, and appreciate the magnificent surroundings. They will outfit you in state-of-the-are trekking equipment and give you a safety briefing before boarding the helicopter. Once you are in the air, you will have the chance to see Juneau’s incredible range of ecosystems, the Tongass National Forest, dramatic mountain ranges, and expansive flows of ice that change from white to brilliant shades of blue.
Once you arrive at “base camp”, your guide will outfit you with crampons, a helmet, and an ice axe before you begin your trek. Throughout the tour, the guides teach you different techniques to make glacier travel as easy as possible. You will also have ample opportunity to capture once-in-a-lifetime photos as well as learn about the local history and geology of the area. The price of the tour costs approximately $440 USD’s. But that includes the helicopter price, renting the gear, and your tour guide!
Historic Downtown Juneau
Juneau’s historic downtown district has kept many of it’s original facades, making you feel as if you are in an old gold rush mining town. Within easy walking distance from the cruise ship docks, is South Franklin Street. These “turn of the century” buildings have been converted into souvenir shops and eateries that cater to the prevalent summer cruise ships. Also nearby are some of Juneau’s other main attractions. This includes the State Capitol building, Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, several museums, Mount Roberts Tramway, and the Juneau Visitors center.
This lively downtown area is compact and easy to navigate on foot. Twice, we were able to easily park and spend part of the day walking around. While shopping, please keep an eye out for any signs noting either local owners or local merchandise. Not only is it ethically better to support the locals, but you often get more authentic and better quality products.
If you are looking for a birds eye view of Juneau, check out Mount Roberts Tramway. This costs roughly $20 USD for a roundtrip ticket. The tram brings you 3,819 feet up from sea level. If you are more active and adventurous than most, there is multiple hiking trails that will bring you to the top of the tramway. These trails range from 2-7 miles depending on the route. You can opt to take the tramway down, if you are feeling tuckered out (after a nice beer, of course).
On top of being greeted with beautiful views of the city, the Tramway has many hill top amenities. Their nature center offers interpretive displays with knowledgeable staff that can provide a wealth of information about the natural history, environment, and wildlife of the area. Timberline Atop Mount Roberts is a full service restaurant and bar that overlooks the most beautiful view of Juneau and the Inside Passage. Enjoy many Alaskan recipes as well as Alaskan beers, wine, and liquors. Or stop by the Chilkat Theater and watch Seeing Daylight, an 18-minute award-winning film on Tlingit history and culture.
Fishing in Alaska
Alaska offers some of the best freshwater, saltwater, fly, and even ice-fishing in the world. Fishing in Alaska also comes in many flavors. Every year, tens of thousands of people harvest and feast on halibut, salmon, crab, trout, and many other varieties of finfish and shellfish. This is done under subsistence, personal use, and different sport fishing regulations. There are currently more than 627 species that inhabit Alaska’s 3 million lakes and 12,000 rivers.
Guides, lodges, and charters all provide visitors with a memorable fishing experience (and hopefully an abundant one). But, fishing can be as easy as pulling to the side of the road, and throwing in a line. Float planes make for an easy and convenient way to bring you somewhere more secluded as well.
Twice now, I’ve had the opportunity to do some amazing fishing in Alaska. Back in 2017 my dad and I first booked a trip with the Highliner Fishing Lodge. We actually had such a good time, that we came back again in 2021 with my sister and brother-in-law in tow. This all-inclusive lodge is located about 45 minutes outside of Juneau via seaplane!
Old Glacier Highway
While Juneau is one of only two capitols in the US that isn’t accessible by road, boats and planes can reach the city. But, there is a stretch of road that runs north from town. You’ll need to pass the University of Southeast Alaska and the ferry terminal before making it out of town. It makes for a beautiful drive past Auke Bay and is roughly 50 miles out and back. While driving, you’ll have access to great hiking, and pass a numerous amount of coves and beaches. While we didn’t stop, we also saw the exit for the Shrine of St. Therese.
Where To Eat in Juneau
Red Dog Saloon – 278 S. Franklin Street Juneau AK, 99801
Originating during the heyday of Juneau’s glorious mining era, this world famous saloon has provided hospitality and fellowship to weary travelers and local patrons alike.
Alaskan Brewing Company – 5364 Commercial Blvd. Juneau, AK 99801
The Tasting Room is open year-round and offers an off-the-beaten-path destination for visitors and locals alike to relax, meet friends and try Alaskan’s newest brews. The Wild Alaskan Food Truck is conveniently located on site to feed your cravings post beer tastings.
Forbidden Peak Brewery – 11798 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801
One of Juneau’s newest family owned breweries, located in Auke Bay. RED SPRUCE AK, a global street food eatery, is located inside the taproom for all your food needs.
McGivney’s Sports Bar & Grill – 9101 Mendenhall Mall Rd Ste 10, Juneau AK 99801
High quality food, great service and a wide selection of beers, wine and spirits. One of my favorite things to do is try local beers and drinks while traveling, and McGivney’s definitely did not disappoint.
What to pack for Juneau
It’s best to be prepared for a variety of different weather conditions while traveling to Alaska. Summer temperatures can be mild (for Alaska standards), with highs in the mid-60s. But this area receives frequent precipitation due to its location in a temperate rainforest. Having adequate clothing can make or break your trip.
It’s easy to agree that Alaska’s Climate can be fairly unpredictable. But, as the old saying goes “there’s no bad weather, just bad gear.” The key to being comfortable in Alaska is layering. This entails packing a base, mid, and outer later that can be taken off depending on the weather.
- Your Base Layer’s job is to keep any and all moisture off your skin. This should be some sort of moisture-wicking fabric, both short and long sleeve.
- Your Mid Layer is meant to keep you warm. Try and stick to polyester fleece, wool, or light weight down. You don’t want this this layer to be too bulky, but it should provide plenty of insulation.
- Lastly, you Outer Layer will protect you from the elements. A good rain jacket is going to be the most important thing you can pack.
Future To-Do List
- Glacier Bay National Park
- A whale watching cruise
- Staying in a National Forest Cabin
- Bear Tour
- Gold Mining
- Douglas Island Hatchery