Named after Joseph Juneau who discovered gold in the 1880s at the mouth of Gold Creek, it’s the capital of Alaska and the third largest city in the state. Part of the Tongass National Forest, its located at the base of Mt. Roberts, Gastineau Channel and Douglas Island. Neighborhood districts include Downtown Historic Juneau, Telephone Hill, Star Hill, Indian Village, and Chicken Ridge Historic District. Great glacier viewing can be had from Tracy Arm Fjord, Mendenhall Glacier, the 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield, and Glacier Bay National Park. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy watching whales, eagles, orcas and brown bears, helicopter tours, hiking, boating and floatplane flying.
From wilderness cabins and fishing lodges to bed and breakfasts and modern hotels, accommodations include the Baranof Wilderness Lodge, Blueberry Lodge Bed & Breakfast, the Green House, Blue Heron Bed & Breakfast, Breakwater Inn Hotel, Frontier Suites, Alaskan Hotel, Driftwood Lodge, Prospector Hotel , Auke Bay and the Spruce Meadow RV Parks.
Alaska’s fresh seafood is always popular at Thane Ore House & Salmon Bake, Twisted Fish Company, Goldbelt Hotel Restaurant, the Island Pub, Westmark Baronof Hotel Restaurant, Wild Spice Restaurant, and Taku Glacier Lodge (accessible by floatplane). Other restaurants include El Sombrero, Valentine’s Coffee House & Bakery, Doc Water’s Pub, Olivia’s de Mexico Restaurant and Dragon Inn Chinese Restaurant. Yes, McDonald’s found its way here, too.
Attractions and historic landmarks include Mendenhall Glacier (13 miles north of downtown), the statue of English Bull Terrier Patsy Ann on the dock, Juneau-Douglas City Museum, Alaska State Museum, Federal Building (native crafts exhibit), Centennial Hall, Sealaska Plaza, the State Office Building, Last Chance Mining Museum, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Glacier Gardens, and the Sentinel Island Lighthouse. The tram ride to the top of Mt. Roberts offers a spectacular view.
Events include the Golden North Salmon Derby, Classic Car Show, Southeast Alaska Garden Conference, and Alaska Gold Rush Days.
There’s wonderful shopping in the downtown district for clothing, ivory, native art, Inuit dolls, fossil whalebone, gold quartz jewelry and tanzanite, natural furs, and Russian-made crafts at The Jewel Box, Galligaskins, Alaska Fur Gallery, Dockside Jewelers, Annie Kaill’s, Little Switzerland, Alaska Christmas Store, Hickock’s Trading and D.K. Mining.
Written by: Natasha Lawrence
