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countries around the world quietly listened: “Wilderness is can be easily admired from the expansive visitor center ob-
not only a haven for native plants and animals but it is also servation deck. We wanted to get a closer look and decided
a refuge from society. It is a place to go to hear the wind and to set off on the relatively easy (but very picturesque) Nugget
little else, see the stars and the galaxies, smell the pine trees, Creek Trail, which led us past pristine forest glens, cascading
feel the cold water, and touch the sky and the ground at the waterfalls, and breathtaking glacier views.
same time ….”
A ride on the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tramway is another
Our discovery began in Juneau, hub for all Alaska cruise ship “must do” on a visit to Juneau. Cable cars rise 1,800 feet from
departures, big or small. Blessed by glorious late May weather, the cruise ship dock in downtown to the mountain peak, which
my husband Tony and I spent several pre-cruise days in this offers expansive views of Juneau and the Gastineau Channel.
charming town, which is also the capital of Alaska. Not content to stop here, we hiked up a glorious sub-alpine
meadow path, resplendent with spring flowers, and enjoyed a
We started out with a bang. The day of our arrival, we walked 360-degree view on Juneau and the channel below.
a few blocks from our hotel to the historic Juneau waterfront
and boarded a Wing’s Airways float plane to experience a After our vigorous hike, we enjoyed a fresh seafood dinner on
five-glacier discovery tour. We took off gently from the water the terrace of the tramway’s Timberline Bar & Grill, munching
under azure blue skies and soared over the Tongass National on crab tacos as we gazed out on miles and miles of old forest
Forest (the largest national forest in the United States) and and kept our eyes out for bald eagles gliding from tree to tree.
five majestic glaciers that make up the 1,500-square-mile Ju- We also spent some time meandering through the unique
neau Icefield. Raven Eagle Gift Shop, which is not your typical tourist gift
store, but more of an educational museum experience. Many
I was privileged to see nature in all its wonder like a bird in of the exquisite artifacts for sale are produced by Native local
the sky. I gazed down on magnificent glaciers, fjords, snow- artisans and are one-of-a-kind objects made from indigenous
capped mountains, vernal lakes, and an expanse of wilderness artifacts.
as far as the eye could see. As an added delight, our visit to the
remote Taku Glacier Lodge included not only a freshly-caught Juneau is a picturesque town and we enjoyed leisurely walks
salmon feast, grilled to perfection, but our very first bear through the quaint historic neighborhoods cascading up the
sighting in the Alaskan wilderness. mountainside; savored memorable seafood dinners in the
local dining establishments; enjoyed an eclectic shopping
Our next stop, on land this time, was the Mendenhall Glacier, experience in the diverse stores lining Franklin Street, the
one of the world’s few “urban” and “drive up” glaciers. Located main thoroughfare; and even learned much about the colorful
less than a half hour drive from Juneau, this world wonder history of the region, and its indigenous people, in the Ju-

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