Touring Alaska: First Stop-Juneau
Since we spend much of our time traveling to and from Alaska, we thought it would be a great idea to do a blog series about our 49th state. During the more than fifty years that we have been in business, we have made countless trips to the state, however, it never ceases to amaze us how many people we meet who have never visited this incredibly beautiful and diverse state. True, Alaska is cold…..very cold at times and when most people plan a family vacation they think about escaping to warm temperatures. We get that. However, our goal for this blog series is to share just a fraction of the countless wonderful things about the state, you’ll be making plans to visit as soon as possible.
FIRST STOP: JUNEAU
A great, first stop on our tour is the capital city of Juneau. We love Juneau here at Alaska Air Forwarding because there are many similarities to Seattle. Here’s how one publication describes the capitol city (and we have to agree):
“Juneau is many things: a mountain town, a coastal community and the most scenic capital in the US. A natural wonder, wildlife hotspot and cultural jewel, Juneau is rich in history, art, music and Native heritage. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, a shopper’s trove and a food lover’s dream-not just the state capital, but the beating heart of Southeast Alaska.”
We could stop right there, but we won’t. Juneau truly is all this and more. Like Seattle, it’s surrounded by mountains and coastline and tends to have a more temperate climate. There is no limit to outdoor activities that can be enjoyed but there’s also a great cosmopolitan feel to the city with great shopping and fabulous restaurants. One major difference, the population! The city of Seattle is home to more than 700,000 people, while the Seattle-metro area is home to more than 3.5 million. Juneau is much smaller with a population of a little over 32,000.
Juneau was named after its founder, Joe Juneau. It was incorporated as a city in 1900 and was named the capital of Alaska in 1906. The primary industries of the city are government, of course since it’s the capital, but tourism, fishing and mining are also major industries that support the city.
THINGS TO DO IN JUNEAU
One of the star attractions of Juneau, AK is the stunning Mendenhall Glacier. It’s just 13 miles from downtown Juneau and is one of the most easily accessible glaciers in North America. Mendenhall Glacier actually moves and changes with the seasons so what you see in the Spring is different than what you will see in the Fall; so you’ll likely feel the need to make a second trip! Visitors can view the glacier from the Visitor’s Pavilion or hike to it. The favorite hike is Nugget Falls; a large, cascading waterfall that empties into the lake.
Whale watching is another great tourist attraction that Juneau offers. Whale Watching tours are available and in addition to seeing orcas and humpbacks, you’ll catch a glimpse of other wildlife such as bears, eagles and a host of other animals.
If you prefer to keep the touring more local, the downtown area offers museums, shops, an art center and lots of great places to eat.
WHAT ALASKA AIR FORWARDING LOVES ABOUT JUNEAU
Here at Alaska Air Forwarding, we love all of Alaska because, for us, it’s a second home. Over the years of shipping to and from Alaska, we have become very familiar with the entire state and we know it well. What we really love about Juneau is how easily accessible it is to Seattle. Here’s a quick reference to show you what we mean:
When we leave Seattle, we simply fly along the coastline and we’re in Juneau within just a few hours. Our shipping to Juneau requires few logistics because it is so accessible. We can easily ship freight via air, land or sea, thanks to the fact that Juneau is a port city with convenient access to every type of transport needed for moving shipment through the state.
We’ve barely scratched the surface of all that Juneau offers; there’s much more you can check out at Travel Juneau or just start planning your visit. However you choose to spend your time in this capital city, we promise, it won’t disappoint.
We hope you enjoyed our first stop on this Tour of Alaska; come back next month to see where we go next.
