Soar across Juneau’s wild backcountry as the helicopter dips and turns above stark white glaciers. You seem to be flying so low that the helicopter can almost touch the mountain tops. Helicopters are perfect for sightseeing tours with 180 degree views from their rounded glass windows. Era Helicopters take you on a 40 minute flight over 4 glaciers, then lands to give you an opportunity to enjoy a 20 minute walk on the glacier. For an even bigger thrill, let a professional dog musher take you on a dog sled ride across the snow-capped glacier.
Juneau, Alaska, even the name sounds exciting! Imagine bears actually wander into the city at times. You see eagles and other wildlife. A vacation in Alaska is different from the other states.
The Cold Creek Salmon Bake whisks you away for a “real” Alaskan experience. This is the original outdoor salmon bake, pleasing visitors for over 30 years. It is an ALL YOU CAN EAT buffet of grilled Alaskan salmon, B. B. Q. chicken and ribs with entertainment. During this 1-½ -2 hour tour, you visit the remnants of the Wagner mine, try your luck panning for gold, and walk along Salmon Creek to see Salmon Falls. Their historic gold mining and panning adventure guarintees rthat you will find gold! Learn the history of Juneau’s gold discovery, pan for gold near the site of the original gold strike 1880. Alaska Adventure Tours gives you a sea lion’s view of the glacier while kayaking, or try the Mendenhall Glacier float trip. www.alaskatraveladventures.com/
The Mount Roberts Tramway takes you 1,800 feet above Juneau’s mountains for breathtaking views of the waterfront and city. (888)-461-TRAM. www.goldbelt.com/subsidiaries.html
Juneau offers everything from glaciers to a rainforest. Glacier Gardens rainforest adventure has 50 acres of eerie, beautiful, and unique vistas. Upturned trees act as baskets for hanging gardens. Guided golf cart tour provide views of Thunder Mountain, the Mendenhall Valley, Chilkat Mountains, Gastineau Channel, and downtown Juneau. www.glaciergardens.com
Adventure is so close to you in Alaska. The Auk Nu Tour’s Gustavus ferry sails daily for a scenic 2-½ hour trip to Glacier Bay. Once in Gustavus, you may choose to remain aboard for the Icy Strait Wildlife and Whale Watching Cruise. Many people stay at Glacier Bay Lodge or nearby hotels and take the bush plane back. ( www.auknutours.com/
The entrance appears as though you are going into a mine, but it is really the Thane Ore House Restaurant. Colorful, old western atmosphere and good food make this a fun spot. Lunch- sandwiches & burgers. Dinner- all you can eat sockeye salmon, halibut, B. B. Q. ribs, baked beans, cornbread, salad bar and soft drinks. 20th season.
The Di Sopra Italian Restaurant serves creative, and natural cuisine. Their in-house carved Angus beef is aged 60 days. Pasta, Rack of Lamb Dijon painted with Dijon mustard and Italian bread crumbs, Sicilian fisherman’s stew with fresh clams, prawns, salmon & halibut in a fennel scented broth with fresh tomatoes, garlic, leeks and olive oil, and much more. Just 1 flight up, Di Sopra is adorned with beautiful murals and offers a view of the city. Across from the Alaska State Museum. They also own the Fiddlehead Restaurant downstairs. www.thefiddlehead.com/disopra.html
