Anchorage or Juneau for the weekend?
 

Have the opportunity to spend a weekend next month (tail end of a business trip) in either Juneau or Anchorage. Any opinions as to which would be the better choice?

I would pick Anchorage. I found Juneau to be a depressing area, and Anchorage offers more things to do.

I'm also looking for info about these destinations. Can anyone recommend some fun things to do in Juneau? This board seems to have lots of info about other Alaska destinations, but not so much for the capitol. Is it even worth a visit?

There is a walikng tour you can do. You can get the walking tour pamphlet free in any hotel. There is a history museum and the Mendenhall Glacier is a must.

Fly to Cordova, Alaska...ERA AViation usually has a "web special" for the weekend. Visit the "Million Dollar Bridge", Childs Glacier, the only glacier that you can drive right up to to view! And visit "just for the Halibut Inn B&B" Visit www.cordovachamber.com !!<BR>

Actually the web special that I am referring to is from Anchorage - Cordova- Anchorage. Alaska Airlines also has specials during weekends that is definitely worth checking into.

I would avoid Juneau at this time of the year, unless you want to be milling about with the thousands of cruise ship tourists that inundate <BR>Juneau streets each day in summer.

Oh my gosh, what a completely diff perspective i'm going to offer. Ok, if u're going just for a weekend then Juneau is perfect, coz Anchorage city itself doesn't hv much to do/see and most interesting places are atleast a 3 hr drive away one-way.<BR><BR>Also, i'm a nature freak, and i was completely awed by the amazing temperate rainforest setting of Juneau. Mendenhall Glacier is gorgeous, the visitor center so interesting, especially the movie of glacier formations and a 3.4 mile hike thru the rainforest.<BR><BR>Another cool thing was to go to the top of Mt roberts. Agreed the tramway is a rip-off [almost $22 per person rnd trip], but the alternative is to hike to the top of the Mtn [apparently not a very tough hike and interesting views along the way], and take the tram only to come down - that costs just $5 pp. Also, once u get to the top, there r some awesome and easy trails to hike along, from where u get the most breathtaking view of the Gastineau channel and Juneau town below, and the surrounding mtns, plus u see wild life too - we saw a Black bear for example.<BR><BR>Juneau town is small and very pretty, almost like being in the Swiss alps. We went in July during the 4th weekend, and didn't really feel the adverse effect of the cruise boats. Anchorage in contrast, has a very cheesy and tourist-trappy downtown, and much larger crowds than Juneau. <BR><BR>So i feel that Juneau's perfect for a weekend as u can spend a whole day near Mendenhall Glacier and hike if u like to, the 2nd day on top of Mt Roberts and in the downtown. By all means avoid Glacier Gardens - just another tourist trap with a indoor greenhouse with gorgeous tuberous begonias hanging in pots, but the golf cart ride thru the forest to the top is blase, and a rip-off for the amt they charge. <BR><BR>So there's my 2 cents - now the ball's in your court :-).

Hi, We just got back fro our first trip to Alaska. I haven't been to Juneau, but we did spend a little time in Anchorage.I didn't see to much of great interest here. We took in the Native Heritage Center and thought it was a bit to expensive for what it had.The best thing we show in Anchorage was a show at " Mr. whitekey's Fly By Night Club". That was very funny. If you go to Anchorage rent a car and drive out the Seward highway to Portage Glacier.It is a beautiful drive and not to far away.We took the Cruise out to the Glacier. Takes about an hour to do the cruse and was nice if you haven't seen to many other Glaciers.