Juneau

Juneau is on the North American mainland and yet cannot be reached by land. Effectively, the rugged mountains surrounding it make Juneau into an "island" city, reachable only by air or by sea. It is the only state capital that can not be reached by land from the state it serves. Moreover, Juneau is the largest US state capital in area and the only one that borders a foreign country. The economy is based on government, tourism, mining, and fishing.
One of the interesting things about Juneau and Alaska is the effect on public life of being such a geographically large state with an "island" state capital. The state legislature, for instance, takes telephone testimony during its committee hearings. They have a state-wide video conferencing system to facilitate government meetings and deliberations. There are more state employees in Anchorage (600 miles northwest) than in Juneau.

Geography and Climate

The climate in Juneau and the southeast panhandle is best described as a "cooler, wetter version of Seattle." It is a mid-latitude oceanic climate in the southern sections and a subarctic oceanic climate in the northern parts. On an annual basis, this is both the wettest and warmest part of Alaska with milder temperatures in the winter and high precipitation throughout the year. Juneau averages over 50 inches (1,270 mm) of precipitation a year, while other areas receive over 275 inches (6,990 mm). This is also the only region in Alaska in which the average daytime high temperature is above freezing during the winter months.
Average annual rainfall ranges from 55 inches to over 90 inches (1400 to over 2300 mm) depending on location; annual average snowfall is 101 inches (257 cm).
The average high temperature in July is 65°F (18°C), and the average low temperature in January is 20°F (-4°C)

Juneau is Alaska's capital and is on the mainland, but you can't get there by road or rail. Southeast Alaska is sandwiched between the rugged coastal mountain range and the Pacific Ocean. Constructing roads between many of the towns and cities of SE Alaska is prohibitively expensive and sometimes impossible. Only three towns (Haines, Skagway, and Hyder) in the SE Panhandle are connected by a roadway to the lower 48 states (often called "down south"). Access to the rest (including Juneau) is only possible by air or by sea.

By plane

• Juneau International AirportThe airport serves as a regional hub for all air travel, both bush carriers and the regional airline, Alaska Airlines, which provides daily jet service to Anchorage (600 mi northwest) and Seattle (900 mi south). Alaska Airlines also has regularly scheduled flights to Ketchikan, Sitka, Wrangell, and Petersburg with summer service to Gustavus. Smaller airlines that operate regularly scheduled and chartered flights out of Juneau to nearby communities have offices at the airport. The most trusted are Wings of Alaska, Haines Air, and Air Excursions.

By sea

Juneau is a main port for the Alaska Marine Highway, Alaska's ferry system. The ferry runs regularly throughout Southeast Alaska with regular stops in Ketchikan, Petersburg, Wrangel, Sitka, Haines, and Skagway. Small communities, such as Angoon, Hoonah, Tenakee Springs, Pelican, and Kake, get occasional AMHS service. The closest port with a road connection is Haines, about a five-hour ride away from Juneau by regular ferry or a two-hour ride on one of the state's new catamaran ferries. The ferry system is the only way to transport a car to Juneau, short of shipping it up on a barge.
Juneau is a major port of call for cruise ships plying the Inside Passage, which bring several thousand visitors almost every day between May and September. The cruise ships typically dock just south of downtown Juneau in the following docks, listed in order of distance from downtown Juneau, with nearby facilities:

• Sea Drome Dock (SD) -- small ship
• Alaska Steamship Dock (AS) -- large ship -- Library and parking garage
• Cruiseship Terminal (CT) -- large ship -- Visitor Information Center (summer)
• Intermediate Vessel Float (IVF) -- medium ship -- Mt. Roberts tram
• South Franklin Street Dock (FKL) -- large ship
• A J Dock (AJD) -- large ship -- the furthest dock sticking out into the harbor, 1 mile walk around the fuel depot or shuttle to CT and visitor information center

A typical summer day may have four or five cruise ships calling on Juneau, which could bring up to 10,000 visitors for the day. To plan your day, check the cruise ship schedule for Juneau.
Juneau is also the Alaska home port for the luxury yachts of the American Safari Cruises and the small ships of CruiseWest.

On foot

Downtown Juneau is compact and very walkable, though above 4th Street it gets very hilly. The downtown streets are on a slanted grid, with Franklin, Seward, and Main Sts running parallel, and with Front, First, Second, Third, Fourth, etc., cutting across. The State Capitol is at Fourth and Main, City Hall is at the foot of Seward and Marine Way, and touristy grazing is along Franklin. Watch for the 20 historical plaques that detail the fascinating history of Juneau.

By bus

The public Capital Transit provides daily bus service for downtown Juneau and vicinity and charges $2.00 for travel in one direction (Oct 2019). The Downtown Transit Center is on Main St and Front St, two blocks northwest of City Hall. Route 3/4 serves the Mendenhall Valley, but can get you no closer than about a mile to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center.
Capital Transit offers a Ride Free Zone that includes the Capitol, the Juneau-Douglas City Museum, the Dimond Courthouse, the hostel, and other locations at the top of the hill.
Car rentals are available at the airport and are necessary if you wish to explore far on your own.
At the cruise ship docks, several bus services offer low-cost rides to the Mendenhall Glacier during the summer visitors season.

• Mighty Great Trips "Blue Glacier Express" is a blue schoolbus that departs every 30 minutes, 9AM to 6:30PM on most summer days ($20 round trip).
• Juneau Tours Glacier Shuttle runs from the cruise ships to the Mendenhall Glacier and back every 30 minutes on most days ($30 round trip).

By taxi

Taxis are an economical alternative. Taxi vans can carry up to 7 passengers and cost about the same as buses for 5 or more. Drivers who want to do tours can often be found in the taxi zones near the Mt. Roberts Tram or the Red Dog Saloon. Metered fares and charter rates are regulated by the city.

• Alaska State Museum

  phone: +1-907-465-2901
  address: 395 Whittier St
  One of Alaska's best exhibits covering the breadth of the state's history, native cultures, wildlife, industry, and art. Approximately a ten-minute walk from the Cruise ship Terminal.

• Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church

  phone: +1-907-586-1023
  address: 326 5th St.
  Tiny ornate octagonal structure that was built by the Tlingits in 1893. When the Russians were still in Sitka 50 years earlier, Father Ivan Veniaminov of the Russian Orthodox Church translated the Bible into Tlingit. Thus this building became southeast Alaska's oldest continuously operating church.

• Alaska State Capitol

  address: 4th Street and Main St
  Completed in 1931 as the territorial capitol, this building does not have the typical imposing architecture of a state capitol. Today this capitol building, remodeled in 2006, houses the State Legislature, the Governor, and the Lieutenant Governor. Extensive exhibit of historic photographs in the hallways. Complimentary 30-minute tours are available from mid-May through mid-September.

• Mendenhall GlacierThis is a massive 1.5-mile-wide glacier calving into its own lake about 13 miles north of downtown Juneau. To get there, you may take a bus or taxi from where the ships dock to the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area. You can pay the driver in cash or buy two tickets at one of the many kiosks on the dock. A taxi ride is about the same cost as a bus if you have 5 or more passengers.

• Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

  phone: +1 907 789-0097
  address: 8510 Mendenhall Loop Rd
  Although you can't get right up to the glacier without a long walk, you can get a great view of it from the visitors center, which is operated by the US Forest Service and is very informative. Photo Point Trail and the salmon, bear and Steep Creek Trail are easy and accessible trails. In August and September, black bears, often with cubs, visit Steep Creek to feed on spawning sockeye (red) salmon. Some trails may be closed then. A series of viewing platforms let the bears walk underneath the many folks watching them fish. No food or soft drinks are allowed in the recreation area, and dogs must be on leash.
  If you want a moderate hike through some beautiful forest, try the East Glacier trail which loops around east of the visitors' center. Follow the trail clockwise to avoid having to climb many steps -- you'll come down those steps at the end of your hike and to keep the best views of the glacier ahead of you, instead of over your shoulder.

• Mendenhall Glacier West Glacier TrailFor the more adventurous, the West Glacier trail which leads directly to the glacier (you can walk on it, but be careful to stay away from crevasses!) and also to a look out. Get off the bus just past the Mendenhall Glacier Campground stop. The stop is called Montana Creek. Walk up the road to the car park at the end (around 2 km) and you will see the trail-head. Stick to the path, maybe dropping down to the lake side to checkout the icebergs and grab some photos. Continue along the path, across several bridges and up some switchbacks with fixed cables. Soon you will come to fork in the path, the left is steep and heads to the lookout, the right goes downhill into some dense vegetation. Shortly into the right-hand trail you will come across a shelter slightly off the track. Continue for several miles along the track, taking care on the slippery rock areas. Eventually you will come to a break in the cliff where it is possible to scramble or climb to the top. Recommend taking crampons if you want to walk on the glacier, stay away from crevasses and don't fall in. There are usually guides walking people out there so watch where they walk. Return the way you arrived, the whole thing should take about 5 hours. Don't forget to sign out when you leave the area.

• Mount Roberts Tramway

  address: 490 South Franklin St.
  There is a tram that runs from the docks in downtown Juneau up Mount Roberts, one of the peaks overlooking the city. At the top is the Mount Roberts Nature Center which features a captive eagle (not as impressive as seeing them from a distance in the wild) and some not-too-difficult scenic hiking trails with interpretive information. The more adventurous hiker can branch off from these trails and continue upward to the summit, where snowfields can be found even in the warmth of summer. It's difficult going in places, but provides some stunning views of the channel and city far below. If you don't want to pay $27 to ride up the tram, you can also hike the whole mountain. The trailhead is on Basin Road and takes about an hour to climb up to the top of the tram. A one way tram ride down the mountain is $5 or free if you eat at the restaurant at the top and show your receipt.

• Alaskan Brewing Company Brewery TourIf you head down to the Alaskan Brewing Company headquarters they will give you a tour/talk and free tasting of some great beer. A good way to end a day of hiking. To get there, jump on the bus and ask the driver which stop to get off at. Walk across the road and turn at the second right.

• Shrine of St Therese

  phone: +1 907 780-6112
  address: Mile 23 Glacier Highway
  This is a Catholic retreat center operated by the Diocese of Juneau, with a small stone chapel on a small island connected by a causeway to the mainland, a very peaceful and scenic location. The three albums of wedding pictures demonstrate the Shrine's popularity as a wedding site. There are extensive gardens, a prayer labyrinth, and a columbarium (memorial site for storing ashes of the deceased) with an outdoor chapel, and a lodge and cabins that are available for rental when they are not being used for Church purposes. Sunday Mass is held in the Shrine Chapel at 1:30PM on Sundays from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The Shrine may be closed occasionally to the public for retreats. Free, but donations are encouraged.

• Chapel By The Lake

  phone: +1 907 789-7592
  address: 11024 Auke Lake Way
  A log cabin church from the 1950s with an amazing view of Auke Lake and Mendenhall Glacier through its picture window.

• Juneau Arts & Humanities Council

  phone: +1 907 586-2787
  address: 350 Whittier St
  Built in 1959 as the National Guard Armory, this building was retired in 2004, and lay empty for several years, until the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly, under Mayor Bruce Botelho, turned the facility over to the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council to manage as the Juneau Arts & Culture Center. It houses a gallery and lobby shop that represent only local artists and artisans. They have a large and diverse selection of jewelry, pottery, glassware, and native arts.

• Juneau-Douglas City Museum

  phone: +1 907 586-3572
  address: 114 W. 4th St.

• Sealaska Heritage Institute

  phone: +1 907 586-9114
  address: 105 S Seward St

• Wickersham State Historic Site

  phone: +1 907 586-9001
  address: 213 7th St

The most popular activities in Juneau for visitors are shopping, flight seeing, charter fishing, visiting the Mendendhall Glacier, and hiking. Be aware that Juneau is very spread-out. It is broken into sections. There is "Downtown", and "The Valley" (where the Mendenhall Glacier, Mendenhall Mall, a skate park, and most of the residential are located). The distance between the two is a good 15 minutes.
Of the cruiseship tour options, an air tour leaves the biggest impression—especially if the weather is clear. Behind Juneau lies the Juneau Icefield. Helicopter and floatplane tours are available. The most popular floatplane tour is with Wings Airways to the Taku Lodge. Most of the helicopter tours include a stop landing on the glacier. Trips are fairly expensive (about $200 per person and up, depending on the length of the excursion), but a remarkable experience that many consider well worth the price. Alternatively, get a group together and charter a small airplane tour. These will generally be less expensive (you pay by the hour) and allows you to customize your experience. Ward Air is highly regarded, but Wings of Alaska and other carriers offer charter flights.
Be sure to go for a hike while in Juneau. There are over 90 hiking trails in the area (many very steep). A few lead to rental cabins available from the US Forest Service or State of Alaska parks. If you want a guide, Gastineau Guiding offers guided hikes on many popular trails and combines some hikes with whale watching or kayaking.

• Alaska Canopy Adventures

  ,

• Alaska Zipline Adventures

  - located in Juneau

• Perseverance Theatre

  phone: +1 907 463-TIXS
  address: 914 Third St, Douglas

Juneau, like many towns dominated by the cruiseship industry, is ripe with jewelry, t-shirt, and trinket shops. On busy cruiseship days you can watch as thousands of cruisers in matching track outfits ply the shopping district to get trinkets for their grandchildren and jewelry for themselves.
There are a few locally owned stores that attract locals and tourists - look for a sign in shop windows that says "This store is owned by an Alaskan family."

• William Spear Design

  address: Franklin Street
  For awesome pins.

• Peer Amid BeadsA bead store that also carries art (mainly carvings) done by local artists. Also has a large collection of anime.

• Aurora Projekt

  address: South Franklin
  Has customizable gifts for travelers who don't want a boring, touristy-looking T-shirt.

• The Alaskan BreweryAlso has good Alaska based products that are popular with locals and tourists alike. There is a large gift shop downtown on South Franklin that also offers a shuttle to the brewery.

• Kindred Post

  address: 145 S Franklin St
  Contract postal station selling curated gifts including some made by local artists

• Trickster Company

  address: 224 Front St
  Selling art and design work by contemporary Alaska Native artists

Groceries

• Rainbow Foods

  phone: +1 907 586-6476
  address: 224 4th St
  Natural food store in Downtown Juneau. Decent produce, awesome weekday deli, and Thursday night dinners. Prices are not so bad considering everything comes in by jet or boat.

• Juneau Foodland IGA

  phone: +1 907 586-3101
  address: 615 W Willoughby Ave
  Sells deli and Filipino food made on premises. Convenient for other items you may need that you don't want to spend an arm and a leg on at Rainbow Foods. Foodland Pharmacy is an extension of Ron's Apothecary Shoppe.

• Fred Meyer's Grocery

  address: 8181 Glacier Hwy
  Part of the Kroger chain. Contains a Starbucks cafe.

• Super Bear IGA

  phone: +1 907 789-0173
  address: 9103 Mendenhall Mall Road Juneau, Alaska
  Shares the same weekly ads as Foodland IGA.

• Safeway

  phone: +1 907 523-2000
  address: 3033 Vintage Blvd

• Breeze In

  address: Mendenhall Valley, Lemon Creek, and Douglas
  Bakery, quick mart with wine, beer and liquor.

• Costco

  address: 5225 Commercial Blvd
  Not convenient for cruise ship passengers, but if you're making an extended stay around Southeast Alaska, may be worth stocking up here. Membership required.

Restaurants

• Breakwater Inn

  phone: +1 907 586-6303
  address: 1711 Glacier Ave
  Better for drinks. Not a very relaxing atmosphere during the summer, and the food isn't that great. An order of bread will get you a sandwich roll from Costco with some cheese on it.

• Canton House

  phone: +1 907 789-5075
  address: 8585 Old Dairy Rd
  One of the best, most consistent restaurants in town.

• Chan's Thai Kitchen

  address: 11806 Glacier Highway
  Far from downtown and slow, but serves great Thai food.

• Douglas Café

  phone: +1 907 364-3307
  address: 913 3rd Street, Douglas

• El Sombrero

  phone: +1 907 586-6770
  address: 157 S. Franklin St
  Try the halibut fajitas or the halibut fajita salad. A Juneau institution for 30 years. No hot sauce (aside from Tabasco) or liquor available.

• Seongs SushiSmall and crowded but has good sushi and sashimi.

• The Hangar (On the Wharf)

  phone: +1 907 586-5018
  address: 2 Marine Way
  Great place to sit at the bar and gaze at the view. It also has a good selection of food. The Halibut Taco is good as are the burgers and soups. It hosts a mixture of locals and tourists. On warmer days you can sit outside on the deck overlooking the float planes (can get noisy though).

• The Hot Bite

  phone: +1 907 790-2483
  address: Boat Harbor, Auke Bay

• The Island Pub

  phone: +1 907 364-1595
  address: 1102 2nd Street, Douglas
  Has good pizzas and sandwiches, a good vibe, and a stunning view of the channel looking back towards Juneau. Sometimes you can catch a local bluegrass or jazz band there.

• The Twisted FishAlso a good bet for food but it caters to tourists (closed in the winter). Not cheap but not outrageous either. A bit loud for quiet conversation.

• Zen

  address: 431 W Willoughby Ave
  Rather pricey but has truly fantastic Asian fusion cuisine. Serene atmosphere, not too touristy.

• Suwanna Cafe

  phone: +1 907 789-1250
  address: Jordan Creek Mall atrium
  Suwanna Cafe is run by two Thai sisters and their momma. Open M-F only for lunch, they have great summer rolls that are like a salad in an uncooked rice wrap, great Thai curries, wonderful Satay, and Pad Thai, along with Thai iced tea. Great lunch for under $10!

• TLC: A Taste of Local Culture for Visitors

  phone: +1 907 586-2787
  Offered by the Juneau Arts & Humanities Council, an opportunity to enjoy a home-cooked meal with real Alaskans in their home, and support the arts at the same time. Contact them at or call them at to arrange your dinner.

• Tracy's Crab ShackOffers great king crab legs and crab cakes. Their bisque is to die for.

• Pel MeniPel Meni serves authentic Russian Dumplings. There is no menu as Pel Meni dumplings are all they serve. it's small and not the fanciest place in the world, but it is a must visit while in Juneau. Only $6 per order. A local favorite because it's cheap, quick, delicious, and open after bar-closing hours.

• Twilight Cafe

  phone: +1 907 523-1044
  address: 324 Willoughby Ave
  Full espresso bar and Filipino food. The Chicken Adobo and Pork Adobo are great, and they also have other Filipino soups and stews. When it's not raining, you can sit under the trees on the deck in back and eat your lunch or drink your latte. Open for coffee around 9AM, for lunch from 10AM until food's gone.

• The Rookery Cafe

  address: 111 Seward St
  By day a cafe serving Stumptown coffee, pastries, and lunch items. At night transforms into a bistro with a rotating menu, often featuring Alaskan seafood

• The Taqueria

  address: 245 Marine Way
  Taco restaurant with wine on tap. Outdoor seating available on nicer days

• Salt

  address: 200 Seward St
  Upscale restaurant featuring Alaskan seafood

• In Bocca Al LupoItalian restaurant with wood fired pizza and homemade pasta. Specials often feature Alaskan seafood

By far the most popular with locals is the Alaskan Bar (South Franklin Street) to hang out with locals, listen to music (Thursday is open mic night) and drink an Alaskan (beer) with an Alaskan in the Alaskan. A bit rough looking but a great hangout.

• The HangarSit and watch the float planes takeoff and the cruise ships come and go. During daylight hours in the tourist season, when the floatplanes are constantly arriving and taking off next door, either sit inside or plan to leave with a headache and a hoarse throat. When tourist season is over, sit outside and enjoy the relative solitude.

• The Triangle BarLooks like somewhere you wouldn't want to go, but sometimes it fills the bill, especially during legislative season when the lobbyists, lawyers and aides can be found there.

• Island PubIn Douglas (see the Eat section above).

• Squire's RestOut in Auke Bay for a rustic experience.

• Alaskan BreweryDrop into the brewery to sample the brews.

  Shuttle bus available from downtown, also reachable by public bus (Anka Street stop)

• The NarrowsCraft cocktail bar with large whisky selection and beer on tap

• Amalga DistilleryMicro distillery with tasting room featuring gin and tonics on tap

• Barnaby Brewing CompanyMicro brewery with tasting room

• Red Dog Saloon

  phone: +1 907 463-3658
  address: 278 S Franklin St

• Juneau International Hostel

  phone: +1 907 586-9559
  address: 614 Harris St
  Lockout from 9AM-5PM daily. Guests are assigned a daily job. Walking distance to downtown. Curfew at 10:30PM (winter) or 11PM (summer). Five night maximum stay.

• Goldbelt Hotel Juneau

  phone: +1 907 586-6900
  address: 51 Egan Dr

• Westmark Baranof Hotel

  phone: +1 907 586-2660
  address: 127 N Franklin St

• Prospector Hotel

  phone: +1 907 789-5005
  address: 375 Whittier St

• Best Western Country Lane Inn

  phone: +1 907 586-3737
  address: 9300 Glacier Hwy

• Best Western Grandma's Feather Bed

  phone: +1 907 789-5566
  address: 2358 Mendenhall Loop Rd

• Extended Stay Deluxe

  phone: +1 907 790-6435
  address: 1800 Shell Simmons Dr

• Beachside Villa Luxury Inn

  phone: +1 907 463-5531
  address: 3120 Douglas Hwy
  This is one of Juneau's extremely rare waterfront inns. Beachside Villa has views of Mt. Juneau and Mt. Roberts as well as the city lights and cruise ships, watercraft and Alaskan wildlife on the water. Sometimes you can see whales out in the harbor. The rooms are nice and have fresh nice coffee, tea and cocoa in the rooms.

• The Driftwood Lodge

  phone: +1 907 364-1595
  address: 435 Willoughby Ave
  In downtown Juneau. You will also find a restaurant, a liquor store and a deli nearby.

• Juneau Travelodge Hotel

  phone: +1 907 789-9700
  address: 9200 Glacier Highway
  24-hour complimentary shuttle to airport and ferry terminal, indoor heated pool, meeting rooms, on-site Mexican restaurant ("Mi Casa").

Internet

• Juneau Public Library

  phone: +1 907 586-5249
  address: 292 Marine Way
  Internet terminals and free wifi. All users are welcome; ask for a WiFi Instruction slip at the circulation desk. Look for network "Free_Library_Wireless". Printers are not available via the wireless connection; if you need to print, save to a USB drive and use one of the public workstations to print.

Juneau is in a temperate rain forest, so complaining about the rain will probably warrant a few eye rolls, or flat-out rudeness.

Juneau is a great place to base for a camping vacation or cruise tour. It's the gateway to the Admiralty Island National Monument and the Tracy Arm/Ford's Terror Wilderness Area. Both areas are popular with kayakers.

• The U.S. Forest Service operates two campgrounds on the Juneau road system, one at Auke Bay Recreation Area at the site of Juneau's original Tlingit village, and one located on Mendenhall Lake near Mendenhall Glacier.
• If you don't want to tent camp, there are a number of public use cabins in the Juneau area, some on trails accessible from the Juneau road system. Those located in state parks are operated by Alaska State Parks, and those located in Tongass National Forest are operated by the U.S. Forest Service. They are often fully booked for weekends and holidays early in the year, but it's possible to find cabins available on weekdays.
• Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glacier and Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier are two spectacular deep-water fjords with active tidewater glaciers at their termini (Dawes, a compound glacier, is about 20 stories high and a mile across). The mouth of these sister fjords (Tracy is the north arm and Endicott the south arm) is about 50 miles south of Juneau, off Stephens Passage east of Admiralty Island, and both fjords/glaciers are accessible by cruise ship big and small. Small vessel day cruises operate daily in the summer.