Things to Do in Juneau Alaska
Downtown Juneau becomes more than a little touristy with all the cruise ships at port in the summer months. The following list offers suggestions by a local when exploring Alaska's capital city.
The best cafes in town include The Rookery, at 111 Seward Street (click here for a great map of Downtown Juneau), and B's Bakery and Bistro. For espresso and a modern atmosphere, definitely head to The Rookery. For a delicious tea selection and always-changing cupcakes, go to B's at 230 2nd Street
Some interesting, less touristy stores downtown include Peer Amid Beads, Alaska General Store, Rainbow Foods and Foggy Mountain. Peer Amid Beads on Seward Street offers an amazing selection of beads to gratify one's artistic desires. From small glass beads to colorful ceramic ones and beautiful stones, Juneau's bead shop is surely one of the best in the state! The store also has a wide variety of unique knick-knacks and local artistry.
The Alaska General Store is a small boutique located on Front Street downtown. Here you will encounter modern clothing as well as vintage jewelry. Fashionable clothing shops are not numerous in Juneau. If you're looking to gear up for some outdoor sports, head to Foggy Mountain for a selection of top brands Arc'Teryx, Mountain Hardwear and Patagonia. Rainbow Foods, Juneau's natural food store, is just around the corner as well.
If you have a few days in Juneau, going to a movie at the Nickelodeon is a perfect activity for a rainy night. The little movie theatre is comfy, charming and plays a wide range of independent, international and local films.
A few other places worth exploring downtown include the Alaska State Museum, where there is a collection of historical artifacts and natural history displays. The museum is small and a bit outdated, but it's better than nothing. If you continue to walk up Calhoun north of downtown, you will cross the Governor's Mansion. The mansion is modest, but lies on a hill above the city. You can walk right up to its doors, and is occupied only when the governor is in town. Continuing along Calhoun you will eventually find yourself stumbling through Evergreen Cemetery where many of Juneau's historical figures are buried. Historical inhabitants include Richard Harris and Joe Juneau, the two co-founders of the city.
While downtown Juneau is small, the mentioned gems make it an interesting and vibrant capital city.