Juneau: The Capital City Of Alaska

Juneau is the capital city of Alaska, located in the state's Southeastern region.

Juneau, Alaska's capital is the third largest city in the state. Like Alaska, Juneau is full of contrasts, a sophisticated cosmopolitan city in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. Nestled at the base of towering mountains overlooking the Gastineau Channel, the community's rich culture and history is displayed throughout the town and in several local museums.

Travelers can hike miles of scenic trails through temperate rainforest, tidal beaches and up mountains capped by alpine meadows. The area's stunning beauty is best viewed from the air and sea. Helicopters and fixed-wing air craft whisk visitors up to the spectacular Juneau Icefield. While fleets of marine vessels stand ready to provide personal encounters with Southeast Alaska abundant aquatic wildlife. View the Mendenhall Glacier, the state's top attraction. Its impressive face is roughly 100 feet high and 1.5 mile wide. The U.S. Forest Service observatory provides visitors with rare insight to glacial movements.

Because of Juneau location, the area offers convenient access to Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm Fjord, the Taku River, Admiralty Island & Pack Creek Bear Preserve, as well as a host of secluded wilderness resorts.

Whether it's the serenity of an alpine meadow or the thrill of witnessing a breaching whale, adventure runs wild in Juneau.

One of the interesting things about Juneau and Alaska is the effect on public life of being such a geographically large state. 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.

Accessible only by sea or air, Alaska's 'Gateway to the Glaciers' is the state's scenic capital situated among spectacular mountains on the shores of the Gastineau Channel. The city of Juneau is however not as wild and uncultured as one would expect of such a remote destination. It affords all the pleasures of a large city, while also offering an abundance of activities and natural escapes for outdoor enthusiasts in its backyard. In 1880 the city swarmed with gold prospectors, but today it is the cruise ship passengers who pack the streets every summer, enjoying the shopping, dining and picturesque surroundings. Juneau's attractions include the Mt Roberts Tram and the Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska's most visited glacier due to its easy access and proximity to the city. Glacier Bay National Park is one of the country's more dramatic regions and is also accessible from Juneau, by boat or plane. Helicopter rides, fishing, whale-watching, hiking and kayaking are popular activities in which to fully appreciate the vast wilderness surrounding Juneau.

Juneau is Alaska's capital, but you still can't get there by road! Because of its location on the rugged southeastern Alaskan coastline, there are no roads connecting Juneau to other cities. Access is only by air or by sea. Cruise ships plying the Inside Passage bring thousands of visitors to Juneau almost every day between May and September.