Travel Juneau

28/01/2025

‼️‼️‼️It's heeeeerrrrre!‼️‼️‼️

Our 2025 visitors' guide is hot off the press, and is the perfect tool for planning a Juneau adventure!

Get your physical or digital copy FOR FREE here: https://www.traveljuneau.com/discover-juneau/request-a-travel-guide/

📷: Juneau Tours and Whale Watch

27/01/2025

🥳 We are so thrilled! University of Alaska Southeast Professor X̱’unei Lance Twitchell is nominated for an Emmy Award!

Dr. Twitchell is a writer and advisor for the animated PBS Kids program Molly of Denali, nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for the third annual Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards. The awards ceremonies are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on March 15, 2025. Molly of Denali is the first nationally-distributed children’s show in the United States to feature a lead character who is Alaska Native.

We'll be tuning in and rooting for the Molly of Denali team! 🥰

UAS Professor X̱’unei Lance Twitchell Nominated for Emmy Award

The University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) proudly announces that Professor X̱’unei Lance Twitchell has been nominated for an Emmy award. Dr. Twitchell is a writer and advisor for the animated PBS Kids program Molly of Denali, nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for the third annual Children’s & Family Emmy® Awards. The awards ceremonies are scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on March 15, 2025. Molly of Denali is the first nationally-distributed children’s show in the United States to feature a lead character who is Alaska Native.

Twitchell remarked, “The Indigenous writers on Molly of Denali are the most talented, brave, and loving group of creatives I have ever had the honor to work with. We have collaborated with non-Indigenous writers and many different peoples in production and administrative capacities to continue to create Molly of Denali. It has been life-changing to see an Indigenous woman as the lead character in a national series that has global reach. The many legacies of generations of Indigenous storytellers flow through the hands of the Indigenous storytellers today, and it is wonderful to see that groups like the Emmy Awards and PBS are including Indigenous voices and stories. As Molly says, ‘Mahsi’choo, letʼs go!’”

Alison Staudinger, Interim Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, noted, "I couldn’t be more thrilled to see 'Molly of Denali' and Dr. Twitchell receive an Emmy nomination for such an important—and honestly, really fun—episode. Tackling the Native American mascot controversy in a way that is accessible for kids is no small feat, but this show does it with heart and basketball. It’s a great reminder of how storytelling can spark meaningful conversations and inspire change.”

X’unei Lance Twitchell, PhD, is a Professor of Alaska Native Languages, one pathway offered through UAS Indigenous Studies: https://uas.alaska.edu/apply/programs/alaska-native-northwest-coast.html

Learn more about course offerings by visiting www.uas.alaska.edu or by speaking to an advisor at 907-796-6100.

24/01/2025

What to Wear: Juneau edition!

We get asked this question a lot. "What should I wear when I visit Juneau in January?" ➡️ Rule #1? Layer up! ⬅️

We recommend planning wearing/packing:

👕T-shirts (both short- and long-sleeved, but try to avoid cotton!)
👖Long, medium-weight pants (hiking pants are great)
🩲Lightweight, non-cotton base layers
🥾Hard-soled walking shoes or hiking boots
🧦Thick, non-cotton socks (bring lots! They'll probably get wet)
🧢Warm hat/beanie/toque
🧤Gloves or mittens (ones with touchscreen fingertips are a very practical option)
👚Warm, mid-layer fleece or thick sweatshirt
🧥Winter coat (preferably waterproof)
☔Raincoat (or a poncho in a pinch)
🕶️Sunglasses (yes, even in January!)

With these items of clothing, you'll be able to layer up for every possible kind of weather (from rain to snow to sunshine - we've got it all!) when you visit Juneau in January.

📷: via Instagram

24/01/2025

Four local Indigenous artists (Sam, Lee, Jill, and Levi) are sharing what it means to be an Alaska Native artisan by providing insight into their individual gifts and talents. The artists strive to connect their work to the land, sea, and environments in which Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian People have lived since time immemorial.

Jill is a beader and showcases beautiful Alaska Native designs in various beaded applications. She grew up in the village of Hoonah and is a beader, weaver, and Tlingit language teacher. She also embraces the annual salmon harvest.

You can see more of Jill's story here >>>

Jill is a beader and showcases beautiful Alaska Native designs in various beaded applications.Juneau, Alaska is the Northwest Coast Capital of the World. A s...

22/01/2025

Are you making plans to visit Juneau and want to do all glaciers, all the time during your stay? Well, lucky you, because we've worked out the PERFECT ➡️5 day⬅️ itinerary for Glacierpalooza!

Day 1: Mendenhall Glacier - Hike the Trail of Time and see the recession of this mighty glacier. Visit the cultural ambassadors and learn about Alaska Native people's relationship with the land. Hike out to Nugget Falls. Grab lunch and then go whale watching in the afternoon. Eagle and Herbert Glaciers are often visible from the whale watching grounds. Returning from the harbor, stop by Brotherhood Bridge for a view of the Mendenhall glacier one final time.

Day 2: Tracy Arm Day Cruise - Enjoy a day boat trip to Tracy Arm Fjord and marvel at the mountains carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. Watch for wildlife and listen for the thunder of calving glaciers.

Day 3: Glacier Trek/Flightseeing/Dogsledding - Several companies offer varying opportunities for trekking, walking, and dogsledding upon various glaciers.

Day 4: Day Cruise to Glacier Bay - Stunning journey to Glacier Bay National Park. See whales, sea otters, puffins, and (of course!) many glaciers.

Day 5: Wings Airways/Taku Glacier Lodge - 5-glacier flightseeing on the way to a 100-year-old lodge where you will enjoy a salmon bake, delicious ginger cookies, and (if you are lucky 😐😛🙃) a bear may make an appearance.

📷: NorthStar Helicopters, , and .f via Instagram

22/01/2025

Congratulations! This is affirmation of how important it is to empower our local Indigenous Peoples.

🎉 Goldbelt Heritage Foundation is honored to be a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant! 🎉
This award is part of nearly $37 million in funding to support the arts nationwide, and we’re thrilled to use it to continue celebrating and preserving the Lingít culture and heritage.
This grant will allow us to expand our cultural programming, including youth workshops, community art projects, and initiatives that honor and share the stories of our people. Stay tuned for more updates and photos as we bring these projects to life!
A huge Gunalchéesh to the NEA for believing in the power of art to connect and inspire. Learn more about this incredible grant and its nationwide impact below!
⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇⬇
https://www.arts.gov/news/press-releases/2025/national-endowment-arts-supports-arts-nearly-368-million-funding-nationwide

20/01/2025

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the United States. Dr. King was a powerful and dedicated civil rights activist who recognized the need for equality across all races and supported Native American rights.

Thank you, Dr. King, for always standing up for equality.

📷: via Instagram

18/01/2025

Four local Indigenous artists (Sam, Lee, Jill, Levi) are sharing what it means to be an Alaska Native artisan by providing insight into their individual gifts and talents. The artists strive to connect their work to the land, sea, and environments in which Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian People have lived since time immemorial.

Levi is a ravenstail weaver living in Juneau Alaska. Ravenstail weaving is one of the oldest weaving art forms in Southeast Alaska, originally using mountain goat fiber for thread. Levi feels most connected to the community when he sees the many cultural and art forms displayed in and around Juneau.

You can see more of Levi's story here >>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWGcUd4j5jc

17/01/2025

It's that time of year! Frosty and chilly and foggy and cold... and WONDERFUL ❄️☃️🌨️🏔️! Raise your 🖐️ if you enjoy Juneau during the winter months!

📷: via Instagram

16/01/2025

"January is here, with eyes that keenly glow, a frost-mailed warrior striding a shadowy steed of snow." - Edgar Fawcett

15/01/2025

Yes! Juneau *IS* a kid-friendly town! There are so many fun things to do with youngsters of all ages and abilities:

🚸waterfront walks
🚸soaring above the city on Goldbelt Tram
🚸visiting local museums and mines
🚸miles of hiking trails
🚸watching the salmon at DIPAC's Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
🚸loads of kid-approved foods at local restaurants
🚸and so, so much more!

Juneau really is *THAT* place. You can read more here: https://www.traveljuneau.com/blog/post/things-do-with-kids/

📷: .photography via Instagram

14/01/2025

A cool job opportunity 📣 Come work with us!

Be our Visitor Services Coordinator! Please click the link below for all the details ⬇️:

Looking for a job in tourism in Alaska? See what's available at Travel Juneau.

13/01/2025

🙌🙌🙌Plan your Juneau vacation with our new 2025 visitors' guide! 🙌🙌🙌

Get your physical or digital copy FOR FREE here: https://www.traveljuneau.com/discover-juneau/request-a-travel-guide/

📷: via Instagram

10/01/2025

Sometimes, a glacier walk can create fantastic photographic moments. Want your own awesome glacier pic?

Here's a bunch of outstanding local companies that can help you plan this once-in-a-lifetime experience: https://www.traveljuneau.com/things-to-do/glacier-sightseeing/glacier-tours/

📷: via Instagram

10/01/2025

Four local Alaska Native artists (Sam, Lee, Jill, and Levi) are sharing what it means to be an Alaska Native artisan by providing insight into their individual gifts and talents. The artists strive to connect their work to the land, sea, and environments in which Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian People have lived since time immemorial.

Lee is a multi-disciplinary Tlingit artist living and creating in Juneau, Alaska. He is most connected to the land when conducting subsistence activities for elders and families in his community. His current work features wood and metal mediums.

You can see more of Lee's story here ➡️

Lee is a multi-disciplinary Tlingit artist living and creating in Juneau, Alaska.Juneau, Alaska is the Northwest Coast Capital of the World. A series of vign...

09/01/2025

The North American porcupine is one of the largest rodents in Alaska, second only to the beaver. And yes! There are porcupines here!

Juneau provides natural habitats for porcupines in wooded areas, since these prickly critters often hang out in trees and snack on bark. Have you ever seen a porcupine in the wild?

📷: via Instagram

05/01/2025

Today is National Bird Day and according to , there are over 300 hundred different bird species in Juneau! WHAT?!?! 😮😮😮

It's true! The Audubon Society lists the following as most common to see around the Juneau area:

🐦Common Ravens
🐦Northwestern Crows
🐦Bald Eagles
🐦(Surf and White-Winged) Scoters
🐦Marbled Murrelets
🐦Gulls (Glaucous-winged, Herring, Mew, and Bonaparte)
🐦(Varied, Hermit, Swainson) thrushes
🐦Chestnut-Backed Chickadee
🐦Pacific Wren
🐦Oregon Junco
🐦and Steller’s Jay

📷: , , via Instagram