Juneau is the Capitol of Alaska and is home to a population of approximately 32,000 people. The City of Juneau sits below the Juneau Icefield which consists of 30 glaciers including the well known Mendenhall Glacier. Juneau is a beautiful city to visit almost any time of year although like many other parts of Alaska, Juneau is much busier during the summer months. Juneau is a main stopping point for cruise ships and these ships bring in close to one million visitors to Juneau each year.
Things to do in Juneau, Alaska
The Mendenhall Glacier
The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Juneau. The glacier is located about 12 miles from downtown Juneau and getting there is relatively easy with tour bus, rental car, taxi and other modes of transportation. The glacier itself is a magnificent site and the visitor center is located within one half mile of the glacier. The forest service workers provide conservation education programs for children and adults.
The Juneau Icefield
The Juneau Icefield lies in the coastal mountain range above the City of Juneau. The icefield is a huge accumulation of ice and snow that is estimated to be from 800 to 4,500 feet deep. The icefield feeds the glaciers (including the Mendenhall Glacier) and contribute to their movement. By far the best way to view the icefield is from a helicopter. There are tours available and depending on which tour you choose, you may even be able to land on the icefield and do some exploration of the area after your landing.
Whale Watching in Juneau
Whale Watching is a favorite activity of visitors to Alaska. There are whale watching tours that depart from Juneau on a regular basis. Some of the tours guarantee that you will see a whale on your tour and in addition you will have the opportunity to also see seals, sea lions, bald eagles and other wildlife while you are whale watching. Two of the more common whales that you may encounter are humpback whale and orca.
Kayak Fishing in Juneau
Kayak fishing in Juneau is a great way to experience the outdoors, get a little exercise and do some fishing. Kayak fishing tours are offered by tour companies that operate in the city of Juneau. These kayak fishing expeditions give you access to areas that would be impossible to fish on a large fishing boat. You are provided a kayak, a light rod, tackle and bait. The guide that accompanies you will show you how to paddle and fish at the same time and they will take you to areas where other fishermen have been successful in the past. You will most likely be fishing for halibut, rockfish and salmon during your trip and you will be able to purchase a fishing license at the same place you book your tour.
Skiing and Snowboarding in Juneau
The Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau has everything the Skiing and Snowboarding enthusiast needs to hit the slopes. Located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau Eaglecrest is easily accessible. You can drive to Eaglecrest or take one of the Eaglecrest Snow Buses that picks up passengers all around Juneau. The Eaglecrest snowsports school teaches both snowboarding and skiing. The lessons are available for one, two or five hour private lessons. For those of you who already know how to ski Eaglecrest has 34 Alpine Runs, 3 double chairlifts and one surface lift. The difficulty of the slopes are divided as 20% Novice Slopes, 40% Intermediate Slopes and 40% Expert Slopes.
