September 9-11, 2017
The first day and a half of the cruise was on open high seas from Seattle to Juneau. It found many passengers feeling out of sorts with motion sickness in rougher waters. Day 3 reaching the Inside Passage, the waters smoothed out and the first port of call arrived at Juneau. Having a set of hiking poles along really helped maintain balance for my sea legs thank goodness.
One of the best ways to explore a new place for us is to walk—to meander up and down the main drag, sleepy streets or undiscovered back alleys.
Avoiding the souvenir shops along the waterfront pier and Main Street we opted to do a self-guided walk about on our own to see the State Capital building. We were surprised to find that the Alaska State Capital is open for the public to walk around. Visitors are able to see the senators' and representatives' offices and the respective meeting chambers. There are historical photos on each of the fivefloor hallway walls worth seeing for the curiosity. The Capital is just a short walk from the pier and it is literally right in the middle of town. Not much to see as it is a working office building but worth the time to swing by and see on your way to other museums such as the State Museum or Governor’s mansion nearby.
Popping in at the Native Indian Cultural Center featured artifacts of the Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian native tribes.
Because of its ideal location between the base of Mount Juneau and the Gastineau Channel, the Southeastern Alaskan city of Juneau has been the home of Native American fisherman, European fur traders, and American gold prospectors.
Now a free-spirited state capital, Juneau tends to be the perfect base for a journey into the gorgeous Alaskan wilderness, whether it's for fishing, kayaking, and dog sledding in the National Parks, whale-watching at Icy Strait, or glacier hiking at the Juneau Ice field. However, the only way to get to Juneau is by plane, ferry or ship, there are no roads leading to this coastal port town. Everything comes by a barge or ferry so cargo containers line the pier.
