2nd STOP--JUNEAU, AK/Whale Watching and Salmon Bake

Juneau is the capital of Alaska and has been since 1906 when it was moved from
Sitka.  The only way legislators can arrive in Juneau is either by sea or air.  We drove by Sara Palin's old Governor's Mansion and the Capitol Building.  An interesting fact--downtown Juneau sits at sea level, with tides averaging 16 feet.      

Ted on Alaska's Capitol Building steps

Downtown Juneau

Red Dog Saloon--Oldest manmade tourist attraction in Juneau--founded during Juneau's mining era!

Juneau’s shore excursion included departing in a boat from Auke Bay Harbor, cruising through water surrounded by Alaska’s majestic scenery and sighting numerous Humpback whales playfully spouting and then slapping their tails on the water’s surface, Stellar Sea Lions piled tightly on a buoy and eagles flying majestically overhead. 

The whale watching party!

Humpback whales migrate to the waters near Junea for their summer feeding rounds. 

Stellar sea lions lying lazily on a buoy.

This was the extent of our whale watching, but we saw this picture many times!  There were a lot of whales in the water.

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After our fun whale watching experience, we were dropped off at Gold Creek for a delicious fresh alder-smoked salmon bake cooked on an open barbeque with lots of side dishes in the woods that made you feel like you were eating in a mining camp.  We walked up the creek where we saw an old boarded-up mine, rusty mining equipment and a beautiful waterfall.   Some of us even tried mining for gold!?!

Fresh alder-smoked salmon!!!

Everything tasted so delicious!

After eating our meal, we walked down to this beautiful waterfall on Gold Creek.

Chilkoot Mine--an old boarded-up mine

Alaska's first big gold strike was actually discovered in Juneau in 1880 in Gold Creek.

Alaskan husky dog at the salmon bake at the mining camp at Gold Creek!