3 Best Sights in Juneau, the Inside Passage, and Southeast Alaska, Alaska

Constructed as part of a long-range waterfront improvement plan, Juneau's Seawalk currently exists in two unconnected segments, both of which offer opportunities to explore local art, culture, and history. The southern portion, which includes the Juneau Visitor Center and a colorful mural of Tlingit civil rights hero Elizabeth Peratrovich, runs from the end of South Franklin Street to Marine Park. Keep an eye out for the statue of Patsy Ann, a beloved local dog known for greeting ships in the 1930s. Once you hit Marine Park, continue down Egan Drive to reach the northern section of the Seawalk, an elevated walkway along the shore offering beautiful views of Gastineau Channel and Douglas Island. All along both sections of the Seawalk is the impressive Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail), a series of totem poles carved by regional Indigenous artists and erected in 2023 by Sealaska Heritage. The 12 unique poles honor and recognize local tribes and clans; read the detailed signage at the base of each pole to learn about the significance of the figures represented. At the end of the Seawalk, in Overstreet Park near the Juneau-Douglas Bridge, Juneau's iconic bronze sculpture of a life-size, breaching humpback whale rises above a fountain, providing the perfect backdrop for photos and an opportunity to rest up for the walk back.

If the crowds become overwhelming, and you have access to a vehicle, consider a visit to the Shrine of St. Thérèse, "out the road"—it's a peaceful site that's perfect for quiet contemplation. Built in the 1930s, this beautiful stone church and its 15 stations of the cross are the only structures on a serene tiny island accessible via a 400-foot-long pedestrian causeway. Visitors enjoy the Merciful Love Labyrinth, the black-granite Columbarium, and the floral gardens along the Good Shepherd Rosary Trail. Sunday services are held at 1:30 pm from Memorial Day through Labor Day. For those wishing to explore the area for more than a few hours, the shrine offers a lodge and four rental cabins that run the gamut from rustic to resplendent. A round-trip taxi ride may cost $60 or more.

A Tlingit war canoe sits beside this brick building officially named Harrigan Centennial Hall. Check out the museum's collection of Tlingit, Victorian-era, and Alaska-purchase historical artifacts, including spruce-root basketry, nautical instruments, and mining tools.