JNU

Juneau is one of the most expensive places to live or visit and is accessible only by air or water. The median income is ,000, with the highest Internet usage per capita in the nation. The quality of life for the people here is pretty decent in a conservative, Republican, and effectively Anglo state. There are three seasons here: The legislature meets here in the winter period; the tourists storm in from the cruise ships at a estimated daily rate of 10,000, for a population of 30,000 during late spring and the summer; and the quiet period is when the residents have some rest from all the visitors.

Juneau has beautiful natural scenery: Mendenhall Glacier, which is slowly receding, surrounded by mountains and filled with a temperate-climate rain forest; lots of wonderful water views; the city and the state museums; the salmon hatchery; and the Tracy Arm boat tour. Perseverance Theatre has play performances throughout the year.

There's hiking, snow skiing, fishing, kayaking, helicopter tours, and glacier- or whale-watching tours.

It's best to make some good friends and spend some quality time together here.

It's a great place to visit during the warm season (April through October), but the best time is mid-May, before the big tourist season.

Quick Tips:

Weather here rains almost any day of the year, temperature can reach into the 80s in the summer, with freezing temperatures in the winter. Bring a light rain jacket. Sometimes bears wander into town seeking food.

Best Way To Get Around:

Juneau International Hostel provides dormitory-style accommodations for adults for $10/night, plus a chore to help keep prices low and the place clean. Youth 6-17 $5/night when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or else adult rate applies, and children 5 and under are free. A first night's nonrefundable deposit is required. A credit card will incur an additional $2 charge. All lodgers must be out by 9am, without exception. There is a fully equipped kitchen with refrigerator but no freezer, free Internet, free local calls, hot showers, dining room with hardwood floors, laundry facilities, lockers, and bike rack. If you can deal with check-out by 9am, no access till 5pm ,and in before midnight in the summer and 10:30pm in winter, this may be a low-cost option for you. No tobacco smoking or alcohol is permitted on the premises. The location is in downtown Juneau. A taxi from the airport will cost around $20, around $30 from the ferry terminal.

Summer season: May 1-September 15 7am-9am, 5pm-midnight (office is open 5pm-10:30pm)

Winter season: September16-April 30 (closed for 2 weeks during Christmas) 8am-9am, 5pm-10:30pm. Call ahead to check if they'll be open to the public during the off season.

Email: juneauhostel@gci.net

Capital Transit for bus information.

They have a so-called non-smoking section, but the smoke just comes over anyways. There are booths to sit at.

They have live band music, which we were fortunate to miss. I'd rather not have loud music or any kind of high noise level when I eat.

The place was awfully smoky and also felt very redneck. I felt uncomfortable being there after awhile and was relieved to finally leave the establishment.

But my impression wasn't all that good. The food was acceptable but not great. I've heard others raving about it, but it was nothing special - not enough for me to want to come back or recommend it to anyone.

But you be the judge for your own palate.

Credit cards accepted.

My partner ordered the traditional turkey dinner. I, however, didn't want a traditional turkey or ham, as most people would want. They had duck à l'orange on the menu, which I was very interested in, so I ordered it. The duck was excellent and the service was very good. The dessert selections were very good too.

I wouldn't bother with their desserts - they have plastic wrap over individual portions, and I don't know how long they've been kept there. Ask the server if you'll be able to get your order in 15 minutes if you only have 30 minutes to spare, or else just go for something they can prepare for you quickly.

They remodeled the place, took out the salad bar to supposedly improve the throughput of serving more customers in less time. It was an expensive move that, in my opinion, failed.

The service was very slow, and the tables felt too narrow. We were disappointed that they did not offer eggs Benedict. Instead, we ordered their standard basic breakfast with eggs, potatoes and toast. The eggs were fine sunny-side up, but the potatoes were not very flavorful and rather bland. The toast didn't arrive till I was well into my breakfast, but it was tasty and not burned.

We had to get up and flag down a waitperson before we got refills on coffee. The same thing happened when we wanted dessert. Their chocolate mousse is definitely a winner, and the cheesecake with blueberries was good. But their service needs to be vastly improved.

Although the food is plentiful, quality is good to fair, and the music entertainment wasn't very good. What they need is a well-trained chef who will make their food a wonderful experience instead of just so-so. Overall impression, for the money they charge, was that I'd rather spend my money at the other Thane Ord House Salmon Bake, though it's not an all-you-can-eat, you still will be full.

Open May through September, all weather conditions, for lunch and dinner. Adults $32, children $21.

The one sushi item I ordered, made with eel, tasted alright. The Chinese food isn't authentic, but it's filling. We ordered Mongolian beef, which I heard is the referenced dish for the rest of the Chinese food. It wasn't particularly authentic or spicy hot, rather sweet actually - I liked it anyway though. The other dish we ordered was chicken with broccoli over rice. Again, not authentic. I think they don't use as much salt, which is good, and more sugar or something else sweet.

The place has a sushi bar, the atmosphere isn't really great, service as adequate but not real attentive. Credit cards accepted. Alcohol available.

Lunch: Monday-Friday 10am-3pm. Dinner: Monday-Thursday 3pm-8pm Friday 3pm-9pm Saturday 4pm-9pm.

A complimentary bus will pick you up and drop you off downtown near the tram if you're not driving. Call before you go to make sure they're open - we were disappointed because we drove over there, only to find out they were hosting a private party.

The place inside has a dark look with dark wood, the ceiling is covered with baseball hats, and the table tops look like they were taken off of old cable reels.

Open May through August, lunch 11:30am-4pm, dinner 4-9pm.

Breakwater Inn is one of the finer places to dine in Juneau, with a view of the water if you can grab a table next to the window and candlelit tables in the evening. The food is very good and service is decent. It can be a very nice romantic spot depending on how busy it is.

Their prime rib sandwich is very good, but the steak with barbecue sauce is a little too sweet and strong in taste. The clam chowder is tasty but too salty. It's a favorite dining place for me in Juneau. Reservations are recommended for holidays like Thanksgiving dinner.

Ownership and management of this restaurant has changed and has once served sushi/Japanese food as well as some American food. We ordered their Japanese platter for two for $40 and a small saki. We mentioned about having sushi made with a shrimp tempura, eel, and avocado, and the sushi chef accommodated us. Wasabi, a green paste made of horseradish, is under the raw fish, shashimi. If you don't care for wasabi, mention that when you place your order. The Japanese platter was quite good and filled the both of us up pretty well.

Daily 8am-9pm

Email: breakwaterinn@gci.net

Open during the tourist season: May through September, 11am-10pm.

The place has gone downhill.

Their buffalo burgers are great-tasting, and so are their pork barbecue ribs and their blueberry shake (not too sweet, the way I like), but the barbecue pork sandwich was too sweet on their sauce, so I wouldn't recommend it.

The place is rather small but clean. Their food is well worth a visit. Closed Monday and Tuesday. Call for their current opening hours before going out there. There's outdoor seating weather permitting.

Credit cards accepted.

They have a good view over the water. The best tables are always reserved for the Salvation Army people in the uniforms who come in Sunday afternoons for their meal - they must be regulars.

On Fridays, there's a buffet from 11am to 1pm. There's a small outdoor dining area to take advantage of the good weather.

Call ahead to make sure they're open. It seems that the owner is only semi-serious about the restaurant, because it's not always open.

I recommend the Breakwater Inn for a good meal with a better atmosphere, view if seated by window, and less cost.

Sunday-Thursday 11am-1am, Friday-Saturday 11am-3am.

Wild Spice is a spin-off from Heritage Coffee located in downtown Juneau. You enter, find a table or wait to be seated, line up to the food bar, take a bowl (there is a suggested list of ingredients for dishes, or you create your own), and fill it up with your desired food items. There was beef, pork, chicken (frozen and sliced into thin frozen pieces), scallops, catfish, noodles, rice, vegetables, a list of a dozen sauces, and three spice powders (rated from zero to five) to add on. Shrimp add-ons, drinks (coffee, soda, beer, and wine), and desserts are available.

Take the bowl filled with ingredients to the cashier, pay (ask for chopsticks if you wish), and watch your order as it's cooked on a large round grill, placed on a tray, and served. Take your plate back to your table and enjoy your meal. The atmosphere is spacious, clean, and inviting; the food quality is good; and the service at the counter was pleasant. I'd come here again. Credit cards are accepted and there is street parking.

Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

Credit cards are accepted. There is street parking.

Sunday-Thursday 11am-9:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm.

Dragon Inn has reopened since its downtown location burned down. They've taken over where Chinese Palace once was.

The place looks better since they redid the inside, now with its pink walls and spacious and clean. We went for the lunch specials for under $10, which include either hot-and-sour or eggdrop soup, steamed white or fried rice, and an entrée choice. Some are spicy dishes, such as General Tso's Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, or Mongolian Beef.

There food really gets more interesting once you veer away from just their lunch specials. Their crab meat steamed siu mai wrapped in a wafer thin skin was wonderful, as was their dessert tiramisu, both have a light, delicate taste to be enjoyed slowly with your taste buds. Dinner can get up there in price, depending on what you order. Alcohol is served and credit cards are accepted.

Lunch: Monday-Friday 11am-3pm, Dinner: daily 4pm-9:30pm.

On another visit, sweet & sour sauce was provided and when I requested tempura dipping sauce, the staff person said to use the sweet & sour sauce or the soy sauce already on the table, or whatever I want to do. This statement just gives Chinese and Japanese food a bad name, mixing and matching and either ignorant or worst don't care. The tempura batter was too thick. I asked our waitress about the dragon roll that I didn't want it spicy, she said it's not spicy and it came very spicy, I complained and it was taken off the bill, but it shouldn't have been made spicy when I requested it up front.

The overall quality isn't bad, atmosphere is good, service is rather poor attitude for presenting sweet & sour sauce with the shrimp tempura and the response to a request for tempura dipping sauce. Street parking and credit cards are accepted.

Monday-Friday 11am-9:30pm, Saturday-Sunday 12pm-9:30pm

Sweet Dream is a place to dine on Vietnamese cuisine, Japanese udon noodle soup, bubble tea, iced teas, smoothies served in 16 oz. or 24 oz., desserts, and sweets imported from Japan. Wifi access is available.

There’s a large selection of Japanese anime DVDs for rental, or inquire about a special order if what you want is not in their library, and they screen a new selection or series weekly on Saturday from 8:30pm to 10pm for free.

Japanese Club meets weekly Wednesday from 8pm to 9pm and is open to anyone.

The environment and atmosphere is warm, inviting, and personal for a fairly cozy setting. We ordered a Mini bahn mi (chicken or beef), a 6-inch sandwich filled with chicken, carrots, and daikon radish marinated in a special sauce with cilantro and chili peppers, $5.95. The roll was stale. We also had the Goi Ga, $9.50 (Vietnamese chicken or shrimp salad). We asked for the cilantro and chili peppers to be left out, but they was there. The shrimp, cabbage, carrots, and mint, tossed with a homemade vinegar dressing and sweet-and-sour fish sauce, made for a tasty dish, but I didn’t think it was worth the price.

Credit cards accepted, parking available. Monday-Thursday 11:30am-7:30pm, Friday-Saturday 11:30am-8:30pm, Sunday 12pm-5pm.

Southeast Waffle Company is located by Auke Bay, with their rather good tasting waffles. Their omelet waffle was particularly very good with their basic recipe yielding fluffy, light waffles. Their triple berry waffle was good. They have options to add like maple syrup. One waffle wasn't enough to fill us up.

Students come here to eat and use their free wi-fi for customers. Credit cards accepted. There's a loyalty card to get stamped, one side is for a free waffle, the other side is for a free coffee.

Hours of service: Monday-Friday 6am-midnight, Saturday 7am-midnight, Sunday 12-10pm.

PO Box 22152, Juneau, AK 99802-2152
Telephone: (907) 463-FEST(3378)

Email: info@jazzandclassics.org

Alaskan & Proud has a salad bar where you can get your salad for lunch, and they usually have two kinds of soup. You can buy whole-bean coffee and grind it yourself. I even found a sugar-free chocolate cake that tastes okay but is still too high in carbohydrates for diabetics.

It's expensive to eat in Juneau, even when just shopping for produce.

Hours: 6am-10pm
Phone: (907) 586-3101

Phone: (907) 789-0173

Qualifying membership starts at $45/year.

Phone: (907) 780-6768

Spirited Away is an amazingly good animated film that won the 2002 Academy Award for best animated film.

Showtimes Thursday-Sunday, admission is $9, popcorn is $1.

Phone: (907) 586-2875

Store Hours are 7am to 11pm.

Phone: (907) 789-6500

Pharmacy: (907) 789-6533

Summer hours (mid-May to mid-September): Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm; Sat-Sun, 10am-5pm.

Winter hours (mid-September to mid-May): Fri-Sat, 12pm-4pm; and by appointment.

Telephone: (907) 586-3572

Curator: Mary Pat Wyatt

Open May through September, 9am-6pm daily.

There's a queue lining up for the opportunity to go inside. Go early on, when most of the people are still at work, and you won't have to wait.

I know of no other governor who has done this.

Telephone: (907) 586-2159

Phone: (907) 586-3140.

The whole company has amazing talent that changes your perspective of the stage. Their production "UP" performance strikes right into your desire to pursue your dreams while also being pulled back into the practical realities of earning a living. These folks work hard to provide entertainment through thought-provoking arts performances.

They're always in need of funding, as well as all sorts of stuff for their props on stage.

Email info@perseverancetheatre.org.

After about half an hour watching a dance performance, I'd had enough.

The Institute is always in need of sponsorship, as it costs $250,000 for Celebration 2004. If you're interested in more information: (907) 463-4844.

Temsco Helicopters provides tours of about an hour; they fly you to the Mendenhall Glacier and have you walk while you're freezing if not dressed warmly. Snow boots and rain gear are provided if needed. It's a nice view, but not worth the money for this tour. You can get almost as good a view at Mendenhall Glacier/Visitor Center. Weather conditions may delay and/or cancel tours.

Four Seasons Tours is billed as a five-hour tour on a catamaran. The people in the office were hectic and disorganized.

The boat left late, waiting for another busload of passengers, and then started to leave, but went back to dock for some more late passengers. A limited number of binoculars were provided for use on the tour by turning in your photo ID. Tea, coffee, and sugar-free hot chocolate were provided for free; bottled water and snacks were for sale.

There are three decks: the bottom deck is completely enclosed with drinks/snacks, restrooms, deck two is enclosed with the back open, and deck three is mostly open for the best view, unobscured behind glass.

The boat stopped as we looked for whale tails. It was unimpressive looking for some whale tails. It was annoying - the boat kept turning to the front of the last viewing when the boat should have just stayed still. Then attention was given to sea lions on a buoy when there weren't any whale tails. Followed by the little tiny white dots in the distance, which are the heads of the white bald eagles. Lecture information was provided about humpback whales, which was educational, informative, interesting.

We stopped for lunch at their private Orca Point Lodge for a salmon bake (salmon was burnt on the bottom), also including chicken, salads, corn on cob, and lemon cake. Complimentary lemonade and iced tea were also offered. The lodge was nice after walking the floating planks to the lodge, but the restrooms were very limited capacity, so there was a long wait. The boat would give a signal 10 minutes before leaving, and everyone needed to be back onboard before 1pm to leave.

Whale-watching is an iffy proposition. I liked the water views, and the lodge was nice. But it's expensive, and the whale-watching portion itself was disappointing for me on this particular trip. Results vary depending on the time of the season. I went when it was still fairly early in the season. I've heard it has been spectacular, depending on on the luck of the draw. The staff tries hard, but I find this experience not particularly great overall when whale watching is their push for the money.

The Tracy Arms tour of the glaciers would be more interesting scenery for a longer tour for about the same cost, but no lunch included in the price.

May-September: 8am-6:30pm

Daily admission: $3 for the visitor center itself. There's no charge outside the center.

October-April: Thursday-Sunday, 10am-4pm

Free admission to visitor center.

Phone: (907) 789-0097

Capital Transit stops 1.5 miles from the visitor center.

Summer (mid-May through mid-September): 8:30am-5:30pm, closed holidays.

Admission: $5

Winter (mid-September through mid-May): Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm, closed holidays.

Admission: $3

Under 18 years old: free admission

Telephone: (907) 465-2901 Fax : (907) 465-2976

There's Macaulay Salmon Shop, with complimentary coffee and a free sample of the salmon dip.

Email Salmon Shop. Phone orders: (877) 463-CHUM(2486) or email order.

Email dipactur@pobox.alaska.net; admission $3.

Phone: (907) 463-4810

Phone: (907) 586-3627

Phone: (907) 586-5018

Telephone: (907) 586-4055

Phone: (907) 789-9191

Telephone: (907) 586-4146

Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday-Sunday 12pm-5pm

Phone: (907) 586-5249

The atmosphere is now quite nice, with wood floors, nice tables and chairs, new bar and kitchen facilities. The view into the bay is marred by its foreground of a tar rooftop.

The service was fair. I ordered a ginger ale, which they make from scratch, and it was very nice. Wine by the glass is available for five dollars.

We ordered bruschetta for an appetizer. They offer appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, desserts (apple pie pizza, strawberry chocolate pizza.)

Sunday to Thursday pub 4pm-10pm, bar 4pm-1am; Friday-Saturday pub 4pm-1am, bar 4pm-3am; may close earlier if no customers

Phone: (907) 364-1595

Service is available close by to Mendenhall Glacier, a 1.5-mile walk in each direction. Note when the last transit is going back.

Monday to Saturday 7am to 11:30pm and Sunday 9am to 6:30pm
Express service hourly Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm
No service New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, or Christmas Day

Fares are $1.50 for adults,$1 for those under 18, and $1.80 for express adult tickets. Have the exact fare, as no change given. Children five and under accompanied by an adult are free. Transfers between bus routes shown on the schedule are free.

Telephone: (907) 789-6901