Juneau

Juneau, the capital of Alaska, is the most unusual state capital in the United States — a city accessible only by boat or plane (no road connects it to the rest of the state), surrounded by the Tongass National Forest and the enormous Mendenhall Glacier, with towering mountains rising directly from the water. Its position at the head of the Inside Passage makes it a stop for virtually every Alaska cruise ship. Mendenhall Glacier, 18km from downtown, is the city's most spectacular natural feature — a 20-km-long active glacier terminating in a glacial lake, with excellent trails for viewing it from multiple perspectives including a steep hike to the glacier face. The glacier has retreated significantly in recent decades due to climate change — current views are dramatically different from those of 20 years ago. The Alaska State Museum has an excellent collection of Alaska Native art and artefacts. Mount Roberts Tramway gives aerial views of the city, the mountains and the Inside Passage. Brown bears are present in the surrounding wilderness; whale watching tours on the Inside Passage are excellent (humpbacks, orcas, Steller sea lions). Tracy Arm Fjord (accessible by day boat) offers spectacular blue-ice glacier calving. The city's bars and restaurants reflect its unique position — excellent Alaskan seafood, craft beer. Juneau receives the highest rainfall of any Alaskan city. Visit May–September for the best conditions and to coincide with the Midnight Sun.