Destinations Menu
RSS
UNITED STATES | Juneau, Alaska Travel Guide
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
Juneau, Alaska
Salmon-themed stained-glass window at the public library in Juneau (cc)
Photo: Wasted Time R
Juneau
Juneau is the capital of Alaska, and the second largest city in the state (which is not saying much, when you consider that it has a population of just over 31,000). It is situated along the Gastineau Channel, surrounded by lofty mountains, in the southeastern part of the state, known as the Inside Passage. The city itself is a happy mix of old Victorian homes and contemporary buildings, with a fairly lively downtown. It must also be noted that it is this part of Alaska, the Inside Passage, that has the most pronounced Russian influence, which harks back to the time when Alaska was a Russian territory.
What to See and Do in Juneau
In Juneau, the places to see are the St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church that dates from 1887, the Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, and the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier. Among others, you can take a flight tour over the Juneau icefield, the “birthing ground” for scores of glaciers, or take in the scenic Tracy Arm Fjord on a boat tour, to see whales, seals and shore birds in their natural habitat.
Also, near Juneau, you can visit the Admiralty Island National Monument, which boasts one of the largest brown bear populations in the region, as well as one of the highest concentrations of bald eagles in North America. Of interest here, too, is the Tlingit Indian village of Angoon. Other points of interest in the area include Elfin Cove, an old Alaskan fishing village just west of Juneau, with nearly a dozen sport fishing lodges there now; and close to it, the quaint fishing town of Pelican, which has a boardwalk and is well worth visiting.
Juneau, we might add, is also an ideal base from which to explore the nearby Glacier Bay National Park and other places of interest in the region, including historic Sitka and Skagway, both with a strong Russian influence, as well as Ketchikan on a longer drive south.
Explore the Destination
Amenities and Resources
Overview
Hotels(26)
Restaurants(22)
Attractions(8)
Activities(6)
Map 
Weather Forecast
- Reported on:
Thu, 11/28/2024 - 00:53
- Reported on:
Trending Themes:
Guides to Popular Ski Resorts
-
Ischgl is a small mountain village turned hip ski resort, with massive appeal among the party-hearty young crowds. It is... Read More
-
Andorra la Vella is its own little world, and not just because it’s a 290-square-mile independent principality (a fifth the... Read More
-
Bariloche (officially San Carlos de Bariloche) is the place to be seen. It is to Argentina what Aspen is to the... Read More
-
Aspen is America's most famous ski resort. And that's an understatement. For, as a ski complex, Aspen is unsurpassed. Its... Read More
-
Zermatt is a small but glamorous mountain resort town, with a population of approximately 5,700. It is one of Switzerland's... Read More
-
St. Moritz is a glitzy, alpine resort town in the celebrated Engadin Valley of Switzerland, with huge notoriety as the... Read More
-
Lake Tahoe is the premier lake resort of America, and the largest alpine lake in all of North America. It is an absolutely... Read More
-
St. Anton, Sankt Anton am Arlberg in German, is Austria's premier ski-bum resort! It's actually a small village cum... Read More
-
Kitzbühel, a small, Tyrolian resort town in the Kitzbüheler Alps, comes with international renown and huge snob appeal, and... Read More