This memorial for Colonel Archie Van Winkle is near the visitor center in Juneau. Due to the…read moreliberties and freedoms we have in the US, I believe it's important that we recognize and honor those who have served and protected us. The memorial is beautiful with flowers surrounding it and is well preserved.

This stop was part of our cruise excursion. Was very organized, and the employees were welcoming,…read moreenthusiastic, and informative. We were here in early June and sadly there weren't many flowers yet, but we enjoyed the mini tram ride that took us into and through the forest & gardens. The views were spectacular, and we were fortunate to have beautiful weather as the day was warm and sunny.

First of all, this tour was incredibly weird and disorganized. I got this tour as part of a cruise…read moreexcursion. The whole tour was weird. Steve, the owner, basically bought 50 acres of land and HEAVILY altered it. It seems like he just planted flowers and other plants where they didn't belong and started offering extremely dangerous and unsafe tram tours to brag about it. Also, the tour guide was obsessed with trees and dwarf mistletoe. It was incredibly hard to listen to. There are MUCH better things that you can spend your money on other than this. The only nice thing about this place was the visitor center.

What can I say about Juneau that hasn't already been said? We know that it's Alaska's state…read morecapital. That's a given. What I thought was interesting is that you can't actually get to it by roadway. You can drive to Alaska, but at some point you will need to drive your car onto a ferry. Juneau is only accessible by air, or by water. With that said, it's a great city to visit by cruise ship. There's so much to do here for nature lovers and outdoorsy people. There are lots of shops, restaurants, bars, and museums that don't require a tour. The Goldbelt Tram tickets can be purchased in town if you want to explore Mount Roberts. Otherwise, there are tours that can be booked for glaciers, hatcheries, whale watching, dog sledding, fishing, and hiking. There are seaplane tours. We personally had a great time just watching them take off and land in the channel. We didn't get to stay too long. We had a whole morning to explore the city before heading to Dawes Glacier that afternoon. I was shocked that we didn't experience any rain that day. It was a beautiful and sunny day in Juneau. It's a very walkable town that I'd love to visit again.

3.5 stars I came in…read morevia the cruise port. Since my ship was the first of the season (too early by some peoples' opinions), the downtown area wasn't too crowded. I thought downtown is really cute and easy to walk around. There's plenty of gift shops & a ton of jewelry stores. There's a museum nearby that I didn't get to go in. It closes at 4pm. The views are stunning no matter where I looked. Definitely a city worth visiting at least once in a lifetime.

Captain Adrienne and her Deck hand Marlin led us on an epic fishing and whale watching adventure…read more Our hope was to catch king salmon and to see Orcas and Humpbacks. Adrienne and Marlin made it all happen! They are very accommodating and knowledgeable about fishing and about the wildlife. We plan to hire them again in the future!

Absolutely the best experience for the money in Juneau!…read more My wife and I have family connections in Juneau and we visit on a regular basis. One of the things we look forward to the most is a fishing/sightseeing trip with Rum Runner Charters. Captain Chris and crew have always come through for us. My only complaint is that they always seem to position my wife on the side of the boat that has the largest halibut. Oh well. We highly recommend Rum Runner Charters to anyone looking to fully experience the coastal waters of Southeast Alaska.

June, 2025. Alaska State Capitol in Juneau. *Quick. How long does it take to drive from Anchorage…read moreto the Capitol in Juneau? That was actually a trick question. The Capitol city can only be reached by plane or sea (cruise ship, ferry). *How tall is the Capitol dome? That was another trick question. Completed in 1931, the Capitol was originally constructed as a territorial and federal building. Upon becoming the 49th state in 1959, building ownership was transferred to Alaska to serve as the state Capitol. It currently houses the state legislature as well as offices of the governor and lieutenant governor. Due to its original purpose, the building lacks the traditional dome of most other state capitols. Juneau was a port stop on our recent Alaska cruise. My husband and I walked (uphill ) from the cruise terminal to visit the state Capitol building. (Note that there are no public parking lots in the area, and street parking is very limited). In addition to admiring its original (restored) 1931 art deco design, visitors can venture inside to explore historic displays, artworks, photographs, and cultural artifacts celebrating Alaska's rich heritage. Entry to the Capitol was easy, and admission was free. After being screened by security, we were given a Visitor's Guide, with the recommendation to start our self-guided tour on the top (5th) floor. Points of interest there are both the Senate Finance Committee and the House Finance Cmte rooms, as well as historical photographs showcasing the state's judicial divisions. The fourth floor houses Lawmaker's offices. The hallways are lined with historical newspapers highlighting important historic events in Alaska. The 3rd floor houses the offices of the governor and lt. governor. Of note on this floor is a unique map of Alaska crafted from a section of the 48" pipe used to construct the Trans--Alaska pipeline. The Hall of Governor's honors past leadership. The second floor is the central location for legislative activity. There are also artistic tributes that honor Alaska's history and leaders. The first floor accommodates the offices of the Senate President and the Senate Rules Chair. Finally, the ground floor is the unassuming entrance to the Capitol. See a replica of the Liberty Bell, stone-fired murals, ceiling accents, and a bust of Elizabeth Peratrovich, a champion for civil rights. Note that the legislature was not in session on the day that we visited so we had access to all of the committee rooms and non-private spaces. We were pretty much left alone to wander to enjoy the building and its historic and cultural contents. The building is air-conditioned and has plentiful restrooms.

We got off the beaten path when in port in Juneau to see the Alaska State Capitol building. They…read morefree offered tours on the hour you could register for or you could go on a self guided walk around on your own time. With our limited time in port, we opted for the self-guided. They had a cool movie room with the history of the state. They allowed you to view the house and Senate meeting rooms, as well as walk the halls with some interesting memorbilia and artifacts from the state. We saw the governor's office and some other interesting department offices. The marble bathrooms were also open to visitors and very nice and clean. A really interesting free stop if you're in port!

Very accessible Visitor Center with views of the Glacier just a short distance from the bus and…read moreshuttle drop off location. Visitor center has an elevator to the 2nd floor that provides insight, views, and toilets. If in Juneau via a cruise ship you can access the park via both shore excursions and tour operators. No real complications on May 5, on that clear dry day, though 5 cruise ships were in port making the park entrance busy with both tourists and transports. It was a nice way to see a glacier, but the initial park area was crowded, so do not expect to escape from the bustle of tourists unless you explore deeper into the park.

Extraordinary! If you are in Juneau or coming into port from a cruise, you need to come here! I…read moreactually went at the end of April. It was raining, but just bring an umbrella! EXPERIENCE: You must do the Nugget Falls trail. It's flat, easy, and takes you to the waterfall in less than a mile. The waterfall is stunning. You will be very close to the glacier from there! The trail itself is a fairy tale. Greenery, ferns, moss, rocks, and small waterfalls surround you. You will want to stop and take pictures of everything! OVERALL: This is almost an emotional experience. I want to go back one day and I'm so grateful I was able to experience it.

I loved this tour duo. There was so much natural beauty and history along the trail and the big…read morefinish at the glacier. Having three whales leaping in unison took my breath away. The seals finished in second place as they cavorted on the rocks. I have to mention that I signed up for a moderate tour and it was definitely a challenge on the hike to keep up. But Tristan and Sam encouraged me all the way and to their credit and my astonishment, I was able to say I did it!

Absolutely Outstanding! One of the Best Excursions We've Ever Taken!…read more If you're visiting Juneau, this is the excursion to book! Our Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour with Gastineau Guiding was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. It was easily one of the best shore excursions we've ever experienced. Our guide, Collin Taylor, was exceptional. He was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and made the entire day so much fun. Throughout the tour, he shared fascinating information about Juneau, Alaska's wildlife, humpback whales, the Mendenhall Glacier, and even photography. His passion for Alaska was contagious. Our captain, Ron, was equally outstanding. He and Collin knew exactly where to find the whales, and they delivered! We saw at least a dozen humpback whales, including adults and a calf. We watched countless whale blows, multiple tail flukes, and even witnessed a breach in the distance. As a bonus, we got incredibly close to a group of sea lions relaxing on a navigation buoy. The Mendenhall Glacier portion of the tour was just as impressive. The hike through the rainforest was beautiful, and Collin explained how the glacier has retreated over the years and how an entirely new forest has grown in its place. It gave us a whole new appreciation for the landscape. We came away with some incredible photos and unforgettable memories. The icing on the cake is that Collin is also a professional photographer and shares his photos with the group afterward. That allowed us to stay in the moment while knowing we'd still have amazing professional-quality memories to take home. Five stars without hesitation. Gastineau Guiding exceeded every expectation, and if you can, request Collin Taylor. You won't regret it!

Juneau - an animal house kind of town. I talked to people from the west side of Chicago that say…read morewalking around in Chicago makes them feel safer than walking around downtown Juneau at night (which is like 6 months out of the year). Lots of rain, privileged people, shipping takes twice as long (if the grocery barges don't come in - ooh forget it), and beyond terrible drivers. Surprisingly, the restaurants are pretty good and there's always fresh seafood and good fishing. (Prices are $$, so be prepared to pay $6 for two apples or $7 for a five dollar footlong). In the winter? Good luck finding something to do (that's how I started writing reviews anyways, for those that were curious. Do the touristy things). The glacier is great. Pretty unique things- northern lights, reindeer corn dogs, ice caves. I encourage everyone that thinks Alaska is great to spend during the summertime to spend a week during the winter when half of the touristy shops and restaurants are closed (I actually don't mind the tourists, it adds a whole new perspective). You'll hate it when you get there, but you won't be ready to leave. And, you can't beat when the sun actually does come out (the rumor that sunglasses are illegal is not true). I just wish I had gotten the chance to ride in a helicopter that takes you to the top of the glacier to dog sled...

The quaint part is quite close to the ports where the cruise ships dock. As expected, very…read moretouristy, but makes for a fun day if you are into shopping. The Mendenhall Glacier (magnificent) is really close and viewable from a visitors center and you can see salmon in the river at a little view point close by the glacier. Those are things you should not miss. If you feel brave and want to save money, you can do all this without a tour guide.

I swear - it's just a coincidence that I'm writing this review on Election Day 2008…read more In early August, a few weeks before the vice presidential picks were announced we visited the Inside Passage of Alaska on a cruise. I wanted to see everything there was to see in Juneau (so I was done in 2 minutes! *rim shot* I'll be here all night) so I walked all around the downtown. There are three "big" tourist attractions - St. Nicholas Church (the oldest wooden church left - meaning it hasn't been burnt to a crisp - in Alaska), the Capitol building (easily the fugliest I've ever seen), and the Governor's Manse. (Note: We liked Juneau so much that we half-kidded about moving here because it was so beautiful, but a place of tourist landmarks it is not.) Anyway, I hiked up the hills of downtown Juneau to the Governor's Mansion. I was struck by the fact that I could walk right up to the house and there was no security at all. According to Wikipedia, Sarah Palin doesn't live here, which makes me wonder where she think she can do better in Juneau. As far as I can tell from looking online there are no tours and you can't go inside. The house itself is a pretty little mansion, with "only" six bedrooms) and isn't really outstanding in any way. Don't go out of your way to see it. However, if you want a pretty little walk up into the hills next to Downtown Juneau, go here.

I was here for a reception and it was very nice. There are a lot of historic pieces on display…read more There is an entry area with a coat check which is convenient. There is a hall way that leads to the dining area and off to the left is a living room, sitting room and smaller room where they were serving drinks. While they aren't typically open for food and drinks, it still is a nice historic spot and if the governor and first lady are there, they are very down to earth and welcoming. I don't believe they are open for tours but I have also been by it in the summer and enjoyed seeing the outside with the flowers and landscaping. It's not far from downtown-an easy walk. May not be somewhere to go out of your way to see but if you want to take a walk, nice to walk by.