First time to ever visit this state. Several reasons to be here. One, it makes the 49th state I have visited. Two, it is the 49th state in which I have spent at least one night. Three, there is a university here that I photographed its campus sign. Four, I wanted to be someplace new and unique for my birthday (a tradition started at age 30 in Boulder CO). And, last, because I knew it would have great scenery. The actual flight time from Seattle is just over two hours. However, on the way to Juneau an hour is gained (and lose it on the way back to Seattle). The two choices to get to Juneau are fly or float.

Some lessons learned too late about planning the visit here. One, I booked the flight before I planned the places to go/see. I intended to take a helicopter ride (on my bucket list) to one of the glaciers. The flight I booked let me arrive in town early on a Sunday and leave in early afternoon the following Monday. So, sure, I can fly to the glacier either Sunday afteroon or Monday morning. WRONG! They do not do helicopter rides on weekends and only in afternoons of weekdays. Also, the month of September, while temperatures are still reasonable (highs in low 50's) and the summer crowds are gone, the month is their rainest of all year. So I had occasional light rain and total overcast sky. That makes for less-than-desired photographs of the incredible scenery around here.

Glacier Highway. That is really the only highway in Juneau. And it ends on the outskirts of the city. In other words, one cannot drive from Juneau to any other city beyond little Thane AK that is southeast of Juneau. I decided I wanted to drive the entire 40-miles-each-way from downtown Juneau (where I was staying in the Prospector Hotel) all the way to the end of the road at Point Bridget State Park. Speed limits vary from 45 to 55. Once get to beginning of the western half of the road, there are no more travel services available. So a full tank of gas is recommended. The scenery all along the highway is spectacular. Trees and water to the south all the way although there are some places where water cannot be seen. Numerous pull off places (some were recommended at the wonderful Visitor Information Center booth near the public library downtown) to see the water. The last 12 miles or so of the road are "not maintained" (as the sign says) but is still decent. The end of the road at the state park is rather ugly and an abrupt circular gravel area. On the way back I stopped at Eagle Beach and the Shrine of St. Theresa as well as several pull-over places along the highway. All are breath-taking sites.

One thing I noticed as the airplane both landed and took off from their small International Airport (six gates) is the numerous seaplanes that are south of Juneau all along the coast. Did not get to see any take off or land.