Juneau, Alaska. credit:www.flickr.com/photos/dalem

Juneau is an amazing place to go in the fall for a fabulous Alaska vacation.  Juneau is also a favorite port of call for cruise ships.  Juneau is located the base of Mount Juneau.  It is across fro Douglas Island.  You will see the mountains in the Juneau ice field.  This is a large mass of ice which consists of almost 30 glaciers.  Two of these glaciers are the Lemon Creek Glacier and the well known Mendenhall Glacier.

You can visit the Alaska State Capitol which is housed in the old Federal and Territorial Building that was built in 1931.  The four huge pillars at the front of the building are made of Alaskan marble.

Then in Juneau you can visit the DIPAC’S McCauley Salmon Hatchery.   This visitor’s center has much to off a visitor.  You will see a 5,000 gallon aquarium, brown bear and bald eagle on display.  The aquarium has over 150 varieties of local marine life.  You will get to see sea anemones, star fish, tanner crabs and sea cucumbers in other tanks.  You can also take a tour of the hatchery.  Children love to go here.

You can take a guided tour of the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure.  It is made up of 50 acres of rainforest.  There are walk paths that will take you to ponds, waterfalls and gardens.  You will have beautiful views of Mendenhall Valley from here.

Another great thing to do in Juneau is take the Juneau Gold Mine Tour.  You will visit the Alaska Gastineau Mill which was the world’s larges gold producing mill.  The Alaska Gastineau Mill was built in 1913.  You will see the mill ruins.  You will walk through a rain forest and up to Mount Roberts.  You will see old mining equipment.  Your guide will tell you about the different mining methods.  You will go into a 360 foot tunnel.  You will see demonstrations of hard rock mining.  You can pan for gold and you can keep any gold that you find.  The tour lasts about 3 ½ hours.

Another great thing to do is check out Mount Roberts Tramway.  Your tour will start in downtown Juneau.  You will take a ride thorough the rainforest to 1,800 feet up Mount Roberts.  You can visit Raven Eagle Gifts.  You will watch Native artists work on wood and silver.  They also make dolls, clothing and do beading.  They carve large cedar logs into totem poles.  There are many hiking trails that start at the Nature Center.  You must take time to have lunch or dinner at the Timberline Bar and Grill.  You can enjoy local beer and a crab dinner.

Another thing to do in Juneau is go fishing.  The fishing is great from May to October.  The most popular fish are king, Coho and pink salmon.  Halibut fishing is also good.  There is an abundance of Dungeness crab if you prefer.

Juneau has so many things to do in the fall you will have to come back for another visit.