Exploring Alaska (Part Three)

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and an extremely interesting place to visit.  Even though it is located on the mainland of the Alaskan Panhandle it is, essentially, an island.  You cannot reach Juneau by car from anywhere else in the United States or Canada.  All goods and visitors have to come by air or by sea (or in our case, a cruise).  Its climate, much like Ketchikan, is milder than you would think.  Average high temperature during the winter is 23 degrees and is often above freezing.  Juneau also receives a large amount of precipitation (AKA liquid sunshine!) each year varying between 55 and 92 inches per year.

One of the main attractions in Juneau is Mendenhall Glacier.  This beautiful glacier is receding in both length and height.  This is not true of all glaciers in Alaska.  The glaciers seem to ebb and flow in varying degrees and at different times.  Mendenhall is receding but others are advancing!  There are many different ways to explore this glacier.  By far the easiest is to visit the visitor’s center.  From the visitor’s center you can get a spectacular view of the glacier and gain more knowledge about the history of the glacier and the surrounding area.  There is also a short hike that will take you over to a waterfall on the right hand side that gives you a different perspective and another great view. 

If you actually want to touch the glacier or hike out on it, this option is available too!  There is a hike you can take which starts on the opposite side of Lake Mendenhall from the visitor’s center.  For the most part this hike is moderate and clearly marked but the final push to the glacier requires a bit of scrambling and the path is difficult to find.  Unless you are extremely adept at finding your own way and scrambling over boulders, it is best to take one of the guided hikes and or glacier experiences where they land on the glacier and guide you around.  These can be quite pricey but if it’s on your bucket list to hike a glacier, it’s well worth the expense.

Whale watching is another popular activity in Juneau.  One word of caution about this particular excursion, they will take you out no matter what!  If the seas are rough, they will go and you are not guaranteed to see any whales.  These are wild creatures that do not hold to a specific schedule, just general trends.  When we were there the conditions were perfect and those who went on this excursion hit the mother lode!  They were blessed with calm seas and plenty of whales.  This is not always the case.

If the weather is clear you should take the opportunity to ride the tram to the top of Mount Roberts.  The tram is located by the docks and within easy walking distance of most of the cruise ships.  The views from the top of Mt. Roberts are quite breathtaking.  Take the time to walk the trails which lead you to several view points and have interesting points of interest along the way.  Some of my favorite photographs were taken at the top of this Mountain.  If the weather is not clear the mountain is socked in with clouds and the views not so special.

Juneau is a rare gem and an interesting place to visit.  The people are friendly and the city has great a personality!  If you don’t want to go on an excursion, there are plenty of shops and interesting places to visit not far from the docks.  I have only covered a few of the fantastic things you can do in Juneau you can ask your travel agent for more!