WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 3 2016

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