Juneau for Everyone

Mendenhall was my first experience face to the face of a glacier. Blue ice, trapped rocks from a thousand years ago and silt meeting freshwater. A few minutes from Juneau and well worth the trip.

Mt. Roberts Tramway. Not for those scared of heights but what a wonderful view and a relaxing way to unwind while hiking the trails at the top. Keep an eye out for wildlife and make sure the kids visit the nature center.

After shopping or just to unwind and have some fun stop in at the Red Dog Saloon for a good time- not recommended for children.

Quick Tips:

Rain jackets are a must and layered clothing a good idea. We visited during the last week of August and 1st week of Sept. and between temperatures in the 40s F. ( colder on boats or near glaciers) plus ongoing rain and wind we were grateful to be dressed warmly and our hooded waterproof jackets were our best travel gear.

Good comfortable shoes are needed.

Best Way To Get Around:

Start your visit at the Park Center. There are exhibits and films that explain the history of Mendenhall and the making of glaciers. Park service representatives are more than willing to answer questions.

It's an easy 1/4 mile hike down to the glacier lake itself where Mendenhall is closest. I was stunned at visitors who asked if they should bother going down! The view at the entrance is certainly stunning but not to be willing to hike a few more yards? Amazing.

We were lucky enough to come when the cloud cover lifted. The clouds drift in and out and we were told that shortly before we arrived the glacier had been fogged in, another good reason to allow yourself a few hours.

Mendenhall is a 12 mile long flowing river of ice that spans more than a mile in width. Flowing? Well slowly. It is a retreating glacier at this time moving at about 15-50 meters a year.

The compacted glacial ice creates a blue color. Believe it or not the best time to see the blue of glaciers is when it's overcast so there is a benefit to those gray rainy days.

I'd never seen a glacier before, it was spectacular.

If you have a little time left over you can wander to the parking area second away from Mendenhall. If you are lucky you'll see some bears pulling a salmon lunch out of the creek.

At the top you have your choices of watching a film about the Tlingit Natives, eating at the restaurant and guided or independent hiking. There are also gift shops with an emphasis on native crafts. Make sure to stop at the nature center to learn about the environment and wildlife on the mountain.

We only saw a hoary marmot during our hike but then- we'd never seen one before so add it to the fun.

For the serious hiker you can hike one way and take the tram the other but this is definately not for the day tripper. Even the mild trails are relatively challenging as they are muddy and require climbing on slippery steps at times.

We really enjoyed the many wildflowers which are so abundant in Alaska.

What a view! Plan to spend the day or at least several hours.

The Red Dog you will be told is currently at its third "original" location smack along the water front. Overcrowded with "frontier" atmosphere and loads of silliness it is place to kick back and have a good time. The staff do their best to make sure that's what happens.

The atmosphere is friendly and fun but not for those without a willingness to jump in and participate or at least maintain a good sense of humor and be offended by a bit of the ribald. Given that warning it's not the place to bring your kids.

We stopped for a beer, had three and still hated to leave. Thousands of business cards decorate one area where visitors can add to the collection. This is a place to share a table and strike up a conversation with strangers or sing along with the bawdy lyrics and chanties.

The honky tonk piano playing is excellent, the jokes and songs corny. The beer great after a day of wandering and sightseeing. Prices aren't outrageous and the entertainment is worth every penny.

Be sure to stop in.

With so much rainy weather and gray skies I could accept that residents might long to add color to their lives through flowering plants but that's not the whole story. When I remarked upon my surprise to a native Alaskan he explained that Alaska has great expanses of rain forest and greenery florishes here the same way it does it the tropics.

At a Native American Center I spent time with a guide who explained the uses of plants surrounding us as part of the native culture. From medicine to dyes to hallucinagins and windproofing homes the native plants of Alaska were needed for maintaining their way of life.