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What an amazing Alaska Podshow Podcast!
This had to be one of the best adventures I’ve taken, and Juneau is an incredible place. Since 1906 this has been the Capital of Alaska, so the history and culture is rich in Juneau – Sharing this part of Alaska was tops when Governor Sarah Palin joined us on a short hike up to her office in the capital!
See back in 1880 two guys Joe Juneau and Dick Harris were led by a Tlingit chief named Kowee to local gold reserves at Snow Slide Gulch. Juneau would never be the same as stampedes of miners soon led to the formation of a mining camp. In 1906, this camp had grown and evolved into a district government and capital of Alaska. A little known fact is that Juneau was first named Harrisburg after Dick Harris, but Joe Juneau - as a result of some very effective political arm-twisting at a miners’ meeting in 1881 - won forever the name of Alaska’s capital city.
So many today have mixed opinions about Juneau. Some complain because the rainfall averages some 50+ inches each year, but that’s typical for southeast Alaska! It’s the history, people, and adventures that are accessible in and around Juneau that make it one of my top spots. In my opinion and in few words – Juneau is not to be missed. Go!
Here’s some links in making that happen for you.
Alaska Airlines
www.alaskaair.com
As of this post today, they’re offering the “Constituent Fare”, which is available to Alaskans in order to encourage them to visit their State Capital.
Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau
www.traveljuneau.com
Naturally a great resource in helping make your trip all it can be!
Local Activities in Juneau!
Juneau’s CVB has put together an amazing list of great things to do. Here’s my favorite for Hiking, Biking & Walking! www.tinyurl.com/2dy7bp
Princess Cruises
www.princess.com
Traveling up the inside passage? Princess Cruises offers shore excursions while at port in Juneau. You’ll get to explore the Mendenhall Glacier, Temperate Rainforest, Juneau Underground, Mining, and the Tram ride is not to be missed either. Naturally my suggestions here are during summer travel season, but any of these are available to you on foot as well!
Enjoy!
Scott
February 20th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Scotty:
Very nice, Juneau never looked so inviting……just a little too heavy with the Heritage, but that is just my humble opinion. Then again, if I lived in Juneau, I’d probably drink Heritage…..oh wait, there is another option…..Alaskan Amber!
February 20th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
I enjoyed the show and thought “How fun to walk to work with the Governer!”, and to call her by her first name! Do you have connections or what?! Gov. Palin seems very nice.
I live near (8 miles) my state’s capital city, Little Rock, Arkansas, and have not gone into every point of interest. I haven’t visited the Clinton Presidential library as yet. It’s funny how you take the most interesting places of your state for granted!
Keep on hiking and touring, I’m enjoying from Arkansas. I’ll be seeing Alaska for myself in June!
February 21st, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Wow Scott! Once again, an amazing show. Very cool to see Gov Palin on, she’s down to earth and shaking things up, and that’s not only what we need in Alaska, but the United States as well.. Cheers! Laura
February 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
Juneau ROCKS! Thanks for showing what my hometown is like. Rain, friendly people, awesome coffee and being able to chat with the Gov. of Alaska. I wanted to see more though! I hope you were able to get out and hike in spite of rain. Did you go up the Tram to Mt. Roberts? Not sure what you would have been able to see if it was raining but still, nice place to be. How about hiking the Flume? I’m glad you were finally able to get there after living in AK your whole life. =) What’s next, Ketchikan? Sitka? No, how about Petersburg? Now that’s a place to visit for sure. Come down at the end of May first part of June and you can come out to our cabin, we’ll be there then. We’ve got lots of room (extra cabin) so you can stay there as long as you’d like. =)
As always Scott, I enjoyed the show. Keep up the amazing job you do.
Your loyal fan,
Jen
February 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Hi Scott! I finally had a chance to watch your Juneau shoot. I wonder if you might answer something for me (are there others who might have the same question?) When you were in Sarah Palin’s office, there was a banner with a star in her window. I know that her son is in the army. Is he currently in Iraq? Thanks! Looking forward to the Iditarod!!
Lou Ann
(P.S. I also think that a show from PETERSBURG would be FABULOUS!!)
February 25th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Hey thanks everyone for the great comments!
@ Perry Merkel: Looks like we have to do a show at Cafe Del Mundo then eh? Will you have us?
@ Terri: I was hoping that this in a way would inspire people to visit their own Capital, and interact with local government. Juneau was inspiring, and more accessible than most might think. I get the location issue - especially for those in rural Alaska! I will say though… If you have serious business to attend, the doors really are open down there!
@ Laura: Great hearing from you first of all! OH YEAH GOV. PALIN IS GREAT!!!
@ Jen: Ah for sure! Even I want to explore fantastic Southeast Alaska. I’m hoping we’ll all get to go there this summer… As for Juneau, there are so many places I wish we could have had time to share on the show, but time was not on our side. A fun fact to this Juneau show: We had only 20 minutes with the GOV! I think we took 30
Be sure though, I can’t wait to share my adventures of Southeast and introduce that part of Alaska with you all!
@ Lou Ann: Yes! Sarah Palin’s son is serving in Iraq. She’s proud of him and his pictures are everywhere… hard for any Mom I’m sure… As a parent, I could not imagine my own son going to War. Yet, another Southeast request!
Cheers and look forward to another show going up tonight!
Scott
February 29th, 2008 at 1:53 am
I haven’t gotten the chance to look at all videos you have done yet but from what I have seen, its fantastic how involved you get with exploring and showing the best points of the state of Alaska. It’s neat. I could remember all the studying I did on Alaska when I was in high school.I wish I had paid more attention back then though.:)