Juneau is a marvellous place in Alaska. It offers abundant wildlife, ocean scenery and amazing mountains. Endless experiences and discoveries are in Juneau, there is never shortage of things to do or see. If you are searching for must-visits in Juneau, here are some:
Tracy Arm Fjord
It is located nearly 45 miles southeast of the state capital of Juneau. Tracy Arm Fjord is one of the most popular stops along the Alaskan sail route.” Fjord” a Nordic term, stands for sharp cliffs surrounding a narrow waterway. About a quarter of its area is covered in ice with outstanding steep cliffs running along its length, normally covered with lush shrubs and trees.
Fjord covers some of Alaska’s biggest glaciers such as the twin Sawyer glaciers which regularly oust massive lumps of ice into the water. This is known as calving and most visitors wait to witness the shredding of ice. During the summer, icebergs float on the water in different sizes and wildlife can be spotted – whales, seals, bears, wolves, mountain goats and seabirds.
Mendenhall Glacier
Mendenhall Glacier is the most well-known glacier in Juneau. The blue ice sheet is 19km long, stretching across the Mendenhall valley, which is located between Auke Bay and Downtown Juneau. The glacier is nearly 2.4km wide and the ice ranges from 400 – 800 feet deep. It flows from Juneau’s southern huge ice-field beginning along the Canada-Alaska border.
Mendenhall Glacier is part of the Tongass National Forest northwest of Juneau and the only glacier accessible by highway throughout the year. A helicopter can also take you over the glacier, giving you an eagle’s-eye view of deep blue crevasses, thriving rainforests, mountain peaks, alpine ridges, ice spires and melt water pools. The glacier’s surface can be explored with the help of highly experienced guides.
Alaska State Museum
The museum has a collection of more than 32,000 ethnographic exhibits, from which nearly 15,000 are dedicated to the natives of Alaska. Some items that reflect the natives include Yupik masks, Athabasca baby belt and Inupiaq parkas. The museum also exhibits Alaska’s relationship with Russia and about Eskimos way of life.
Alaska state museum is a must visit for those who want a deeper understanding of Alaska’s history. It limns important events during the gold-mining era, the Russian-American period and other early historical chapters. An eagle nest diorama on a treetop exhibits the Natural History ramp.
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
It is located between the airport and the downtown area of Juneau. The gardens are a peep into Alaska’s often forgotten rainforests. Due to the opportunities and challenges of gardening in Alaska, it has led to unusual and beautiful creative displays of the temperate garden. Within the garden, visitors enjoy the view of Thunder Mountain with Mendenhall Valley at a distance. A full day excursion could include the Mendenhall Glacier and the gardens as they are nearer to each other.
Mount Roberts Tramway
It is a wonderful place to see the flora and fauna of Juneau. Visitors can take the tram all the way to the top of the 1,800 feet mountain from downtown Juneau. The mountain has several hiking trails on top of it. Wildlife can also be seen from sea lions, humpback whales and orcas to marmots, bears and elk. Go to ESTA online and get your visa to Alaska.
