Is Juneau, AK really just a little drinking town with a fishing problem?

RAD. Bookmarked! I have been wanting to sneak away to AK for years now, and I feel like this is a perfect excuse.

The Sandbar sounds awesome! What a cool bartender.

When I look at Juneau on a map, I think “total backwater.” Thanks for setting me straight, Ross. I never would have considered a trip there before this.

My sights were set on Anchorage but now I totally want to check out Juneau. Too awesome.

Sounds like a cool little place. I have an affection for small fishing towns, especially ones that have glacier water brews and friendly bars like the Sandbar.

Wow, I’ve never thought about visiting Alaska in the winter, but your trip has intrigued me. Great title – did you buy one of those t-shirts?

I’ve actually been thinking about visiting Alaska a lot lately, now I actually have some good recommendations!

Who would have thought Alaska in the winter would be the place to be? Thanks Ross for the awesome recommendations. I can’t wait to check it out!

Alaska has long been on my hot list. There is mother nature, some great people offering great hospitality, and that fresh air that revives even the most stressed out of folk.

Great tips Ross – definite a destination bookmarked!

Hi Heather, Thanks for the comment. I did not buy one, but I did get a sweet shirt from the Alaskan Brewery

i’ve really wanted to check out alaska forever.

this piece makes it seem like the “low season” is really the time to go.

Sounds exactly the same as Cairo ; )

Seriously though – great piece. Not sure Alaska was even on my radar before, but now I really want to go!

Ive been living up here for about 4 years now, and i thought this article really does Juneau some justice. you definitely found the right spots to hang as an outsider.

I have to agree with juneau res… thanks for touching on some of the places and activities that make this little hamlet a great place to call home.

Wow, sounds like Juneau is a great place to be in the mid winter, lots of incredible snow, unaccessible pow pow peaks, crappy dive bars, with true hard core locals that never go to those bars because they are too busy playing in the mountains and fishing … oh wait I forgot I live here, never mind … I must have a drinking problem…??

This article is great! I’m a born and raised Juneauite and it makes me happy that someone painted us in a great light like this as a winter vacation spot!
But one thing I must say is that The Red Dog has never been considered a “hotspot” for locals, at least as far as my knowledge extends. It’s a tourist destination, which is why it’s only packed in the summer.

Roger that, Erin. It did look that way. I should have made that more clear – “tourist hotspot” is what I meant Are there any other local bars worth checking out?

Thanks for the comment!

I live in Juneau; have for almost 3 years now. Though I appreciate your brief, whirlwind tour guide, I have to say you barely scratched the surface. You never mentioned Auke Bay, or any of the other spectacular sights and places out the road, presumably because you didn’t get any further out than the silly Sandbar. You should do Marlintini’s on a fight night, or Squire’s Rest on tournament night–pool or darts–if you’re truly looking for authentic local color.

Perseverance is recognized nationwide as one of the best small theaters in the country. They have very strong connections with NY, LA, Chicago, Austin, and a bunch of other theater hotbeds. Though there is extensive, top-drawer theater talent locally, we also routinely host artists from all over the world. And that is but one of the theater companies in Juneau. At my last count there were at least 4, not counting the incredible job they do on the high school productions. Then of course, there’s the Juneau Symphony, and the Juneau Opera, both outstanding, as well as the Alaska Folk Festival in April.

All this goes on in the “off season”, i.e., when the tourists and other riff-raff are far, far away. In the summer, locals never venture anywhere near downtown, especially anywhere near the cruise ships. There are over 90 marked and maintained trails throughout the mountains surrounding Juneau, some even wheelchair-accessible, and all of them offering unbelievable sights. And of course, you can always venture “out the road”, all the way to Echo Cove, and the bevy of spectacular, magnificent things to see and do along the Lynn Canal.

The local Audubon Society offers an annual day cruise to Berner’s Bay. Indescribable. And the state ferry system can take you in less than a day to all kinds of amazing places: Pelican, Angoon, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka, etc., etc. In fact, you can ride the entire length of the ferry system for as long as you like. There are berths, showers, kitchens–a floating motel, actually. It’s not the Ritz, but the Ritz doesn’t have this scenery, or destinations.

Skip Anchorage, which anyone in Alaska will tell you is “only 30 minutes from Alaska.” It’s flat, dull, ugly, and FULL of rednecks, especially in the Mat-Su Valley—REAL Palin country.

Come to Juneau and enjoy the winter with the other 30,000 of us. You might not leave. Happens a lot.

Like you, I visited Juneau on my own versus on a cruise ship. I was there during the summer (July 4th weekend) two years ago and absolutely fell in love with the quaint charm of the town and the incredibly friendly locals. It was relatively busy a few of the days as cruise ships rotated in and out, and extra visitors came to enjoy the holiday weekend.

For locals’ hangouts – I preferred Hangar on the Wharf to some of the other downtown bars. Since it was warm, it was great to be outside and watch the float planes land in the channel.

During the summer months, I would highly recommend a day trip to Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier. Since this is an all day trip, many cruise ship passengers cannot take advantage of this tour unless they are in port overnight. Steve and Gary from Adventure Bound Alaska Tours were great and really made the long journey worthwhile. The fjord and waterfalls were spectacular, but I was speechless after seeing the massive icebergs with bald eagles and seals perched upon them. We were rather lucky and had the added bonus of a few humpback and orca whale sightings.

One of my favorite memories of the trip was halibut fishing on Auke Bay. We did not catch a single fish, but I didn’t care – just being out in the middle of the bay with no one else around made it the perfect day. I was lucky enough to go on someone’s private boat – it was literally just the two of us in the perfectly calm waters as the storm clouds cleared and the sun finally peeked through the mountain tops. I had never felt more at peace than I did right then – which was the whole goal of my weekend away there.

Reading your article makes me miss Juneau and leaves me more convinced I need to get back there again soon.

Juneau is a great community for young folks who enjoy the bars, the music, the mountains andthe ocean. You asked about other bars, the Alaskan is a prime spot for locals but there are many more downtown that aren’t dives (and there are a few of those too).

Juneau’s also great for families with excellent community arts, museums, kids activities and a chill, healthy-but-not-toooo-healthy vibe.

C’mon up and check it out.

Having a future father-in-law in Juneau is how it started for me. We came up from NC on Christmas day. My girl and I, along with our local Juneau-in tour guide and his girl, hit up all the local bars you’ve mentioned, and one very important one you didn’t. The Hangar on the Wharf, known around town as “The Hangar,” was by far our favorite watering hole and has the greatest scenery ever, while still sitting at a bar! Hell, we both liked it so much, we got engaged there at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve! Talk about an engagement party! Anyway, point being it’s an awesome place with great flavors and Alaskan brews, and the people are fantastic! A friend of the future in-law was knitting a beanie while we played dice at a table in The Hangar….. I ended up with that beanie and yet another Juneau-ite friend to see when we return! The pizza down the hallway from The Hangar…Pizzeria Roma, absolutely amazing place to stop when you’re done soaking up the suds! From going “out the road” and seeing the Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau’s a captivating place, and this is only a scratch on the surface of my experience there…one that left me saying…”I never should have left!” Here’s to you, Juneau! Cheers!