"Big State, Little Capitol" a Juneau Travel Page by emilienoelle

Juneau is the capitol of Alaska, and although it the biggest state in the U.S., Juneau is a small, quaint-looking little town. It is located on Alaska's Inside Passage, sometimes known as Alaska's Panhandle, which is the small strip of land and islands sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Canada's Yukon Territory.

There are no roads leading to Juneau. It is surrounded completely by water on one side and vast mountains on the other, so the only way to get to the city is by boat or float plane. It is also a popular stop for cruise ships.

Speaking of cruise ships, Juneau is pretty much full of them on a daily basis during the summer. Many of the shops in the downtown area are owned by Holland America and other cruise ship companies, and many other of the city's stores and restaurants are there to cater to their passengers.

On the one hand this is sort of disconcerting, because it takes away a lot from the charm of the place, but on the other it is good for the city's people and its economy because it provides jobs and a steady flow of tax revenue.

If you can get away from the cruise ship dock and the shops and restaurants immediately near it, you will find the real city after walking just a few blocks. There is a sense of the frontier in the air there. You get the feeling that you are on the edge on another world, another time as you pass by places like the Alaskan Hotel, in business since the days of the Gold Rush, or see signs hanging in shop windows warning about wolves and bears roaming the streets.

Also--not like I needed to say this, but--it's cold there! Even in the summer you'll need a jacket and probably a rain coat, as it rains there nearly every day.