JUNEAU
CAPITAL OF ALASKA
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or stunning scenery, Juneau is hard to beat. In addition to the area’s many waterways and lush rain forests on the surrounding mountain sides, there are high mountain lakes and the 1,500 square-mile Juneau ice fields, the 5th largest in the world. This Ice field is home to several glaciers including the Mendenhall and the Taku Glaciers. Juneau isn’t a place for sightseers alone; excellent gift shops, theatres, musical events and plays can all be found here. Juneau has no shortage of bars and restaurants, including the famous Red Dog Saloon. There are now more churches than bars in Juneau, and three of them must be rated as world class from the visitors standpoint. The Russian Orthodox Church downtown is a house of worship unlike anything most visitors have ever seen. The Chapel by the Lake, on Auke Lake, just 12 miles northwest of downtown, has a spectacular “living stained glass” window view of the lake, the forests, the mountains and Mendenhall Glacier. Finally, the Shrine of St. Thérèse , 23 miles from downtown on Glacier Highway, has a unique island setting and a notable history.
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Inside Passage
Juneau is also famous for Mendenhall Glacier, a “drive to” glacier that sprawls for some 13 miles before showing its ice face across Mendenhall Lake. There are great views of the glacier from the U.S. Forest Service Visitor Center. Several trails provide access to stunning overlooks of the glacier, the lake and the valley beyond. Juneau is a jumping-off place for trips to many nearby attractions: Famed Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is a quick 30 minute flight, Admiralty Island is within sight of Auke Bay, and a number of Forest Service cabins are close to Juneau. There are several Native villages nearby that are served by daily air service. The Alaska Marine Highway System connects with all of Southeast Alaska, Whittier, Prince Rupert, BC as well as Bellingham, Washington. When all is said and done, however, it is likely to be Juneau’s first impression that will be the most lasting—a picture book community nestled along the base of the mountains with winding streets, totem poles, brightly painted store fronts, and more than 32,000 friendly people who wouldn’t want to live anywhere else in the world! Bell’s Travel Guides
