This memorial for Colonel Archie Van Winkle is near the visitor center in Juneau. Due to the…read moreliberties and freedoms we have in the US, I believe it's important that we recognize and honor those who have served and protected us. The memorial is beautiful with flowers surrounding it and is well preserved.

Family owned and operated company that consists of a tram tour about 600 ft up the side of…read moremountain. The ride was a little scary at times but the view is amazing.. the ride takes you through Tonga National Forest. Staff is friendly and very knowledgeable. Small gift shop at the base.

There were ZERO flowers hanging from upside down trees. It was a freezing cold ride sitting…read moreshoulder to shoulder with strangers in a tram up terrifying hairpin turns on a muddy path. At the top is a panoramic view of..... the airport. Hard pass on this one. Save your money.

What can I say about Juneau that hasn't already been said? We know that it's Alaska's state…read morecapital. That's a given. What I thought was interesting is that you can't actually get to it by roadway. You can drive to Alaska, but at some point you will need to drive your car onto a ferry. Juneau is only accessible by air, or by water. With that said, it's a great city to visit by cruise ship. There's so much to do here for nature lovers and outdoorsy people. There are lots of shops, restaurants, bars, and museums that don't require a tour. The Goldbelt Tram tickets can be purchased in town if you want to explore Mount Roberts. Otherwise, there are tours that can be booked for glaciers, hatcheries, whale watching, dog sledding, fishing, and hiking. There are seaplane tours. We personally had a great time just watching them take off and land in the channel. We didn't get to stay too long. We had a whole morning to explore the city before heading to Dawes Glacier that afternoon. I was shocked that we didn't experience any rain that day. It was a beautiful and sunny day in Juneau. It's a very walkable town that I'd love to visit again.

3.5 stars I came in…read morevia the cruise port. Since my ship was the first of the season (too early by some peoples' opinions), the downtown area wasn't too crowded. I thought downtown is really cute and easy to walk around. There's plenty of gift shops & a ton of jewelry stores. There's a museum nearby that I didn't get to go in. It closes at 4pm. The views are stunning no matter where I looked. Definitely a city worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Chris is the absolute best. Experienced, fair & honest, and fun to hang out with. He went way above…read more& beyond for us, I couldn't be happier! I booked a 4-hour salmon charter, and it was tough to talk the wife into even that--she gets seasick on boats sometimes. (But Alaska, and Salmon!!) Chris answered all my questions ahead of time, picked us up, and off we went to the boat. He had everything we needed--just wear rubber-soled shoes, and warm clothes/rain gear. Chris had to navigate thru REALLY thick fog in the marina & first part of the channel to get to the fish. He thought it'd break up once we got out further, and it did. He set up the rods for us, and we were off. I know that experience isn't everything when finding fish. Sometimes you're just not lucky. But being good definitely helps...these two novices caught the limit of 6 coho apiece! (That's about 40 pounds of salmon to send home). Since the wife was feeling good (and catching more than I was) she agreed to a little longer on the boat, and Chris was happy to accommodate. Before too long, we'd 'limited out' and were headed home. Chris gutted & took off the heads, took us to the processor (didn't have to do that, but it was TRULY appreciated!--we'll be able to pick up our fish in a couple days before we fly home!) Overall, just a really great experience. Chris has over 25 years of experience on these waters, and it shows. On top of that, he cares about giving you a great time. Appreciate it, Rum Runner...if we ever come back into town, we'll be happy to head out with you again!

Captain Adrienne and her Deck hand Marlin led us on an epic fishing and whale watching adventure…read more Our hope was to catch king salmon and to see Orcas and Humpbacks. Adrienne and Marlin made it all happen! They are very accommodating and knowledgeable about fishing and about the wildlife. We plan to hire them again in the future!

June, 2025. Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. *Quick. How long does it take to drive from Anchorage…read moreto the Capitol in Juneau? That was actually a trick question. The Capitol city can only be reached by plane or sea (cruise ship, ferry). *How tall is the Capitol dome? That was another trick question. Completed in 1931, the Capitol was originally constructed as a territorial and federal building. Upon becoming the 49th state in 1959, building ownership was transferred to Alaska to serve as the state Capitol. It currently houses the state legislature as well as offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. Due to its original purpose, the building lacks the traditional dome of most other state capitols. Juneau was a port stop on our recent Alaska cruise. My husband and I walked (uphill ) from the cruise terminal to visit the state Capitol building. (Note that there are no public parking lots in the area, and street parking is very limited). In addition to admiring its original (restored) 1931 art deco design, visitors can venture inside to explore historic displays, artworks, photographs, and cultural artifacts celebrating Alaska's rich heritage. Entry to the Capitol was easy, and admission was free. After being screened by security, we were given a Visitor's Guide, with the recommendation to start our self-guided tour on the top (5th) floor. Points of interest there are both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Finance Cmte rooms, as well as historical photographs showcasing the state's judicial divisions. The fourth floor houses Lawmaker's offices. The hallways are lined with historical newspapers highlighting important historic events in Alaska. The 3rd floor houses the offices of the governor and lt. governor. Of note on this floor is a unique map of Alaska crafted from a section of the 48" pipe used to construct the Trans--Alaska pipeline. The Hall of Governor's honors past leadership. The second floor is the central location for legislative activity. There are also artistic tributes that honor Alaska's history and leaders. The first floor accommodates the offices of the Senate President and the Senate Rules Chair. Finally, the ground floor is the unassuming entrance to the Capitol. See a replica of the Liberty Bell, stone-fired murals, ceiling accents, and a bust of Elizabeth Peratrovich, a champion for civil rights. Note that the legislature was not in session on the day that we visited so we had access to all of the committee rooms and non-private spaces. We were pretty much left alone to wander to enjoy the building and its historic and cultural contents. The building is air-conditioned and has plentiful restrooms.

We got off the beaten path when in port in Juneau to see the Alaska State Capitol building. They…read morefree offered tours on the hour you could register for or you could go on a self guided walk around on your own time. With our limited time in port, we opted for the self-guided. They had a cool movie room with the history of the state. They allowed you to view the house and Senate meeting rooms, as well as walk the halls with some interesting memorbilia and artifacts from the state. We saw the governor's office and some other interesting department offices. The marble bathrooms were also open to visitors and very nice and clean. A really interesting free stop if you're in port!

Very accessible Visitor Center with views of the Glacier just a short distance from the bus and…read moreshuttle drop off location. Visitor center has an elevator to the 2nd floor that provides insight, views, and toilets. If in Juneau via a cruise ship you can access the park via both shore excursions and tour operators. No real complications on May 5, on that clear dry day, though 5 cruise ships were in port making the park entrance busy with both tourists and transports. It was a nice way to see a glacier, but the initial park area was crowded, so do not expect to escape from the bustle of tourists unless you explore deeper into the park.

Extraordinary! If you are in Juneau or coming into port from a cruise, you need to come here! I…read moreactually went at the end of April. It was raining, but just bring an umbrella! EXPERIENCE: You must do the Nugget Falls trail. It's flat, easy, and takes you to the waterfall in less than a mile. The waterfall is stunning. You will be very close to the glacier from there! The trail itself is a fairy tale. Greenery, ferns, moss, rocks, and small waterfalls surround you. You will want to stop and take pictures of everything! OVERALL: This is almost an emotional experience. I want to go back one day and I'm so grateful I was able to experience it.

Obtained services via ship…read more Superb hike around Mendenhall Glacier. Laura led superb event on the East Glacier Trail. Kept a solid pace- not too slow or fast. Left ample time to view the glacier from some other vantage points. Made water and light snacks available to the group.

Signed up for a guided whale watching tour and nature walk to Mendenhall Glacier thru our cruise…read moreship. We were excited for the excursion but had no clue what was in store for us. We started the day with our guide- Chloe at the port, then was driven by Lucas to a nearby river where we had views of salmon swimming upstream on a salmon run back to where the salmon were to lay their eggs where they too were born then pass on. We stopped for a few minutes since we had extra time until we were to drive to where our boat was. We arrived at Statter Harbor where public bathrooms were available before we embarked on our adventure on "The Observer" with captain Leslie. There was a boat toilet on board but didn't want to miss any wildlife- so be sure to use the public bathrooms before you board your whale watching cruise! While maneuvering to see Humpback whales we were educated about humpbacks- structure, behaviors, etc.... very interesting tidbits from Chloe. It didn't take long before we spotted spouts of breath erupted from the waters. We were in awe. Next we saw bubble net feeding which is not something seen by most humpbacks- they tend to be solitary creatures so seeing a "pack" of ~12 humpbacks in the water surrounding fish with their bubbles- then stunning them in order to capture and eat them...was amazing. Little did we know that was only the prelude to the actual show! Not long after the first encounter with bubble net feeding did we see more spouts then another bubble net feeding... THEN they started making their way calmly TOWARDS O U R B O A T !!!! Stunned and amazed I just kept repeating "oh my god!!" Eventually they approached SO closely that THREE of the humpbacks dove UNDER OUR BOAT!!! Tears rolled off my face from the sheer delight of being graced by such sentient, graceful beings... it was the most amazing wildlife encounter I've ever had. If we had been positioned inside the boat with the open windows we would have had their blow holes tossing air/snot right at us! One of the passengers said she was hit by these breaths of joy. Experiencing this changes you- you feel more connected to your surroundings and at peace and are more steadfast in helping these creatures live their lives peacefully. It only further emboldened me to help protect wildlife and its habitat. We only had 12 passengers along with Chloe and Leslie on the boat so it was an intimate experience and never felt like we couldn't get a good look at the action. We left the waters after seeing some seals atop of buoy... feeling at peace and amazed. Next we got back on the bus and headed to hike at Mendenhall glacier where Chloe talked about the forest and the receding glacier with historical information. We saw Mendenhall glacier in July 2003- and 22 years later there's so much LESS to see. It's easy to see the impact of warmer climates and Earth's rising temperatures have had on the glaciers. As majestic as it was it was sad to know in less than 25 years these suppliers of food and sustenance to aquatic life will likely be melted thus drastically affecting the wildlife that intentionally seek out these glacial waters seasonally. We were provided a set of two snacks- granola bar and chocolate and nut trail mixture along with cups of water. Gastineau Guiding walks the walk and talks the talk. Chloe mentioned they used thousand of bottles of water for guests every year and needed to make changes. They source the large bottle of water from a local company that presupposes them for every tour and the cups are composted locally. Even better is if you bring a reusable water bottles like our family does daily!! The drive back to the cruise ship had us all feeling grateful and souls at peace. Make sure you take the excursion from this company. They are doing right by Mother Nature by educating visitors about Alaskan aquatic wildlife, whilst providing an experience of a lifetime. We realize we were graced by these whales with an incredible show that most don't experience- and I don't take that for granted. Thanks Chloe and Gastineau Guiding for an experience we will never forget

Juneau - an animal house kind of town. I talked to people from the west side of Chicago that say…read morewalking around in Chicago makes them feel safer than walking around downtown Juneau at night (which is like 6 months out of the year). Lots of rain, privileged people, shipping takes twice as long (if the grocery barges don't come in - ooh forget it), and beyond terrible drivers. Surprisingly, the restaurants are pretty good and there's always fresh seafood and good fishing. (Prices are $$, so be prepared to pay $6 for two apples or $7 for a five dollar footlong). In the winter? Good luck finding something to do (that's how I started writing reviews anyways, for those that were curious. Do the touristy things). The glacier is great. Pretty unique things- northern lights, reindeer corn dogs, ice caves. I encourage everyone that thinks Alaska is great to spend during the summertime to spend a week during the winter when half of the touristy shops and restaurants are closed (I actually don't mind the tourists, it adds a whole new perspective). You'll hate it when you get there, but you won't be ready to leave. And, you can't beat when the sun actually does come out (the rumor that sunglasses are illegal is not true). I just wish I had gotten the chance to ride in a helicopter that takes you to the top of the glacier to dog sled...

The quaint part is quite close to the ports where the cruise ships dock. As expected, very…read moretouristy, but makes for a fun day if you are into shopping. The Mendenhall Glacier (magnificent) is really close and viewable from a visitors center and you can see salmon in the river at a little view point close by the glacier. Those are things you should not miss. If you feel brave and want to save money, you can do all this without a tour guide.

I swear - it's just a coincidence that I'm writing this review on Election Day 2008…read more In early August, a few weeks before the vice presidential picks were announced we visited the Inside Passage of Alaska on a cruise. I wanted to see everything there was to see in Juneau (so I was done in 2 minutes! *rim shot* I'll be here all night) so I walked all around the downtown. There are three "big" tourist attractions - St. Nicholas Church (the oldest wooden church left - meaning it hasn't been burnt to a crisp - in Alaska), the Capitol building (easily the fugliest I've ever seen), and the Governor's Manse. (Note: We liked Juneau so much that we half-kidded about moving here because it was so beautiful, but a place of tourist landmarks it is not.) Anyway, I hiked up the hills of downtown Juneau to the Governor's Mansion. I was struck by the fact that I could walk right up to the house and there was no security at all. According to Wikipedia, Sarah Palin doesn't live here, which makes me wonder where she think she can do better in Juneau. As far as I can tell from looking online there are no tours and you can't go inside. The house itself is a pretty little mansion, with "only" six bedrooms) and isn't really outstanding in any way. Don't go out of your way to see it. However, if you want a pretty little walk up into the hills next to Downtown Juneau, go here.

I was here for a reception and it was very nice. There are a lot of historic pieces on display…read more There is an entry area with a coat check which is convenient. There is a hall way that leads to the dining area and off to the left is a living room, sitting room and smaller room where they were serving drinks. While they aren't typically open for food and drinks, it still is a nice historic spot and if the governor and first lady are there, they are very down to earth and welcoming. I don't believe they are open for tours but I have also been by it in the summer and enjoyed seeing the outside with the flowers and landscaping. It's not far from downtown-an easy walk. May not be somewhere to go out of your way to see but if you want to take a walk, nice to walk by.