I always love stopping by Kindred Post while visiting Juneau! It's such a cute, locally owned shop…read morewith so many fun little finds. They have the sweetest selection of postcards, stationery, handmade gifts, Alaska-themed items, and all kinds of unique treasures that are fun to browse through. This is where you want to go for unique and fun gifts. The shop has such a warm, welcoming feel, and you can really tell it's a place built around supporting local artists and the community. It's the perfect spot to pick up a special souvenir or just wander around and enjoy all the charming little details.

Lovely little shop to meet your mailing needs! We utilized…read moreKindred post to send postcards whilst passing through on a cruise. The variety of options exceeded our expectations; the worker was very warm and welcoming and we had a wonderful conversation with her. The prices were comparable to the area.

It's a very touching tribute to a very special English bull terrier. She was even given the title…read moreof "Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska" by the Mayor for her knack of knowing when a steamship was approaching. The interesting thing is that she was born deaf. Did she feel the vibrations? No one knows for sure. She even knew exactly where the ship would dock. What an amazing story! The community loved her so much that they chipped in to buy her a county license and collar. You'll see her collar displayed over her left paw. Read all about it online. She preferred being in the company of longshoremen towards the end of her life. She passed away in the Lonshoremen's Hall, and was given a funeral in the very same area where she greeted a lifetimes worth of steamships. It also happens to be her burial place which is pretty cool. She continues to greet cruise ships and their passengers from the Juneau Seawalk. Her spirit lives on.

Cool statue honoring Patsy Ann, who used to greet ships and passengers as they pulled into the Port…read moreof Juneau. The statue was put up in 1992 so that she could once again be the Official Greeter of Juneau

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!

During a recent Alaskan cruise, my wife & I walked here from our ship. It's about a mile from the…read moredock, along the water, so it's a very scenic saunter. When you get here, you will want to wait for the fountains to sprout. Then, when you take your picture in front of the fountain, it looks like the whale is breaching behind you. Fool your friends and family! Seriously, the fountains will go for a while, so all the tourists will have their chance to take the photo.

If you are in Juneau on a cruise or even otherwise make sure to make a pit stop here. It's walking…read moredistance from the cruise port and kids will love it. The fountains spout water around the life sized bronze whale and even from inside it every few minutes, so make sure to wait around incase you arrive when the fountains are not open. There are some totem poles around the small park surrounding the whale as well.

Juneau is the state Capital and the only way to get here is by boat or plane. That is why it is a…read moremust stop destination for every cruise ship coming to Alaska. Thankfully, the cruise ships dock close to the historic downtown. You can literally walk off the ship and right into the action. The day we arrived it was pouring down rain. Since we did not have any excursions planned here, we decided to stay on the ship. Sadly, this is the only port we missed because of weather.

We had a great experience here despite being berthed at AJ Dock, or the shipping container side of…read morethe port. It's about a mile walk, or a 4 minute shuttle ride to Downtown Juneau. This is when priority disembarkation comes in handy. Take advantage of it when given access. The complimentary bus drops you off near the Goldbelt Tram. This is the tour meet up point as well. It's all very organized. A tour isn't really needed if you just want to walk around this capital city. It's very walkable. The seawalk and park along the waterfront is very chill considering all the cruise ships docked there. It didn't feel overcrowded because it's an actual city (with a government) versus a "cruise destination" built for tourism. It's a great port of call! Everyone has a different experience. I love that our cruise ship was docked further away. It was so cool watching the seaplanes land and take off in the channel. We returned to the ship earlier just so that we could soak in these views from our balcony. We also wanted to prevent being in a long line to board the ship. It turned out to be a beautiful & sunny day in Juneau.

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.

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.

Nice little library in the downtown area of Juneau. There is free wifi which is great if you do not…read morehave data. There is a section for kids and it's cordoned off. Adults can only enter if they are bringing children to the area. That's really good for safety measures and peace of mind for other parents or guardians. There are tables and chairs lining the windows which offer a view of the mountains and downtown. There's also an "Internet cafe" which is a room where you can make calls or talk in it. It was pretty quiet when we were there so I'm not sure if anyone would actually want strangers to overhear your private conversations in there. Washroom is also clean here.

The Juneau Public Libraries are a department of the City and Borough of Juneau. The Juneau Public…read moreLibraries have three branches: the downtown Juneau Public Library (located atop the Marine Parking Garage on the waterfront), the Mendenhall Valley Public Library (located in Dimond Park) and the Douglas Public Library (located in the Douglas Community Building, a shared facility with the Fire Department). Library staff offices are located at the downtown branch. The Juneau Public Libraries are members of the Alaska Library Catalog, a consortium of 87 public, academic, special, and school libraries that serves 92% of the population of Alaska and shares 3.2 million library materials.  A card obtained at any of these facilities will allow you to check out materials at all facilities.  Several, such as the Sealaska Heritage Institute and Alaska State Historical Collections, are non-circulating research libraries.