Louisville is also an easy city to add to a Midwest or Southern road trip. It’s about 90 minutes from Cincinnati, two hours from Indianapolis and three hours from Nashville.

Here’s how I’d spend two days.

DAY 1: OLD LOUISVILLE, DOWNTOWN & NULU

I’d begin somewhere that has nothing to do with bourbon or horse racing: Old Louisville.

This was one of the biggest surprises of my visit. The neighborhood has roughly 1,400 structures, many dating to the 1880s and 1890s, and is considered one of the largest collections of preserved Victorian homes in the country.

Give yourself at least an hour or two to wander. You’ll see everything from Queen Anne homes to Richardsonian Romanesque, Italian Renaissance Revival and Victorian Gothic architecture.

We highly recommend signing up for a tour. We worked with David Domine of Louisville Historic Tours, who is featured in the Photowalks video. The company’s history and architecture walking tours begin near 1300 S. Fourth Street, at Fourth Street and West Ormsby Avenue. (Besides being a tour guide, David is also an author who wrote the acclaimed A Dark Room in Glitter Ball City, which has been adapted into an HBO documentary.)

Make a detour to 6th and Park — 600 W. Park Avenue — for the wonderfully strange Witches’ Tree. Local legend says witches once gathered at this corner, and the location has been associated with occult lore for more than a century. David told us about it as if it were fact, then admitted it was a myth, but a myth with at least a kernel of truth in there.

Stop 2: Head downtown

From Old Louisville, head downtown about 1.5 miles toward Whiskey Row and Louisville’s museum district.

Even if you’ve never swung a baseball bat in your life, it’s hard to miss the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory at 800 W. Main Street. Outside is a gigantic replica of Babe Ruth’s bat weighing 68,000 pounds. It’s one of those wonderfully oversized roadside-attraction-style photo ops.

From there, it’s just a few blocks to the Muhammad Ali Center at 144 N. Sixth Street, devoted not only to Ali’s boxing career but also to his civil rights activism, humanitarian work and philosophy. Ali was born in Louisville, and his presence is felt throughout the city.

If you’re like most visitors, you’ll want to get in a distillery tour on your first day. Louisville’s Whiskey Row is packed with several big-name bourbon experiences, including Old Forester Distilling Co. at 119 W. Main Street, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience at 528 W. Main Street, and Angel’s Envy at 500 E. Main Street.

Stop 3: Lunch

You can’t come to Louisville without at least learning something about bourbon—even if you’re not much of a drinker.

But first you’ll probably want to have lunch. There are all sorts of casual places to hit up on West Main Street. We ate at Patrick O’Shea’s at 123 W. Main Street, which happens to be next door to the Old Forester distillery.

The building dates to roughly 1867–1870 and once housed whiskey businesses. The O’Shea family bought the property in 2006, restored it, and opened Patrick O’Shea’s in 2010 as a traditional Irish pub.

Louisville has become a major starting point for exploring the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, with numerous bourbon experiences available right in the city. One recommendation from our episode was to visit at least two distilleries if you have the time, preferably mixing an older operation with a newer one so you can compare them.

For our Photowalks episode, we visited Angel’s Envy, an urban distillery where you can see the process from mashing and fermentation through distillation and barrel aging.

That’s one of the advantages of using Louisville as your initial Bourbon Trail base: you don’t necessarily have to spend the day driving through rural Kentucky to get a real distillery experience.

And if you do want the full Bourbon Trail experience, Louisville is an excellent place to start before continuing to Bardstown, Elizabethtown, Lawrenceburg and the surrounding Kentucky countryside, some of the small towns we explored in the series.

(Watch the entire series here: https://www.youtube.com/show/VLPLOZcZTcH-TS0?sbp=KgtRVlJjQUNGcEs3SUAB)

Stop 4: Dinner in NuLu

Next, head to NuLu, short for New Louisville.

This former warehouse district just east of downtown has been revitalized into one of the city’s most walkable areas, filled with local restaurants, shops and galleries.

We ate at the local favorite, Royals Hot Chicken at 736 E. Market Street, whose specialty is Nashville-style hot chicken—tenders and sandwiches ranging from classic fried to increasingly spicy versions, topping out at “Gonzo.” They also do Southern sides, milkshakes and a particularly Kentucky touch: an Ale-8-One bourbon slushie.

Don’t miss!

When I was there I got a call from a friend in California, who asked what I was doing. When I told him I was eating, he asked what the fare was.

“Kentucky fried chicken,” I said.

“You went to Louisville to eat at a chain restaurant?”

“No. I’m eating fried chicken, in Kentucky.”

DAY 2: CAVE HILL CEMETERY & CHURCHILL DOWNS

Stop 1: Cave Hill Cemetery

Yes, I’m recommending a cemetery.

Cave Hill Cemetery is at 701 Baxter Avenue, about four miles from downtown, and is one of those places that’s worth visiting for the landscape and history alone. It’s a classic Victorian garden cemetery with rolling hills, winding roads and elaborate monuments.

Muhammad Ali is buried here beneath a surprisingly simple marker. You’ll also find the grave of Colonel Harland Sanders—the man whose face you know from every bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken—as well as many prominent figures from Louisville’s history.

For photography, Cave Hill is particularly good for architectural details, monuments, trees and long compositions down its winding roads.

Stop 2: Churchill Downs

You don’t have to visit Louisville during Derby week to experience Churchill Downs.

The first Kentucky Derby was held here on May 17, 1875, and the race is now held on the first Saturday in May.

A visit gives you a much better understanding of why horse racing is so deeply connected to Kentucky. There are more than 430 horse farms around the state, and the Derby is as much a Louisville cultural institution as it is a sporting event. (There’s also something about the water, which makes horses’ bones stronger, or at least that’s what they told me.)

The Kentucky Derby Museum at 704 Central Avenue, adjacent to Churchill Downs, is also worth your time. Exhibits cover the horses, jockeys, history of the race and those famously extravagant Derby fashions.

And yes, the hats really are a thing.

What I’d prioritize if you only have one day

If you’ve only got a single day in Louisville, I’d narrow it down to four experiences:

1. Walk Old Louisville for the Victorian homes.

2. Explore NuLu and don’t miss the fried chicken!

3. Get to Cave Hill and explore the amazing headstones and scenery.

4. Walk up and down Whiskey Row and stop into at least one bourbon distillery.

That gives you four very different sides of Louisville without spending your entire day in the car.

And that’s probably my biggest takeaway from Louisville. Come for the bourbon, Derby and baseball bat, but don’t stop there. The Victorian streets, neighborhoods and Louisville history ended up being some of my favorite parts of the city.

And a special shoutout to Nick Mattingly, the founder and CEO of a unique Louisville startup called Switcher Studio, which enables use of old iPhones and iPads and turns them into TV studio gear. Our photo tip segment in this episode is all about Switcher, and we show how it works during the interview.

If you enjoyed our recent four-part Bourbon Trail series, we’ve got a special bonus episode for you as we explore where the trail starts for most folks: Louisville, Kentucky!

Yes, there’s more bourbon in this episode and much more! We’ve got Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby, the final resting spots for Col. Sanders and Muhammed Ali, the Louisville Slugger museum and the biggest bat you’ve ever seen, and best of all, Old Louisville. Take a walk with me and author David Dominé through one of the largest collections of preserved 19th-century Victorian homes in the United States. Plus, we visit a local tech startup, Switcher Studio that will encourage you to never ditch that old phone when you upgrade.

And ICYMI: we’ve got a fun photo contest going on right now for Photowalkers. Read all about it here:

I’m fascinated by the River City for a simple reason: I was born there eons ago—but only lived there for three months. So in June, I finally took the opportunity to go home again and see the town through my Photowalks eyes. With camera in hand, I set out to explore Evansville the way I know best: on foot, one photo at a time.

This itinerary follows the route I took for the Photowalks episode, with plenty of great photo opportunities along the way. If you end up in Evansville, bookmark this for a cheat sheet about what to see and photograph.

Evansville sits on a bend of the Ohio River in southern Indiana, close enough to Kentucky that locals have their own name for the area: Kentuckiana. During the 1800s it was one of the busiest river ports in the Midwest, and the wealth generated by steamboat traffic is still evident in the handsome brick buildings that line Main Street today.

Stop 1: Snap a Photo at the “Greetings from Evansville” Mural

Kick off your morning at the vibrant Greetings from Evansville mural.

Address: 318 Main Street, Evansville, IN 47708

Inspired by the colorful postcards of the 1930s and ‘40s, this massive artwork doubles as a visual checklist for the city’s iconic landmarks. Each letter represents a piece of local pride—from Bosse Field and the Old Courthouse to the local zoo and seasonal festivals.

Stop 2: Stroll the Main Street Historic District

From the mural, head down to Main and Third Streets to begin an architectural photo walk.

Evansville’s history as a booming 19th-century river port means the streets are lined with beautifully preserved brick facades. Continue toward First Street, where you’ll find authentic cobblestone blocks and elegant Victorian homes that have survived for well over a century.

It’s an easy, enjoyable walk that immediately gives you a sense of the city’s history

Stop 3: Marvel at the Old Courthouse

Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
201 NW Fourth Street, Evansville, IN 47708

Just off Main Street stands one of Evansville’s architectural gems.

Spend a few minutes admiring the courthouse’s magnificent dome, which dominates the downtown skyline and photographs beautifully from almost every angle. (Today the courthouse is available as an event space,

Stop 4: Walk the Riverfront

Riverfront Plaza
Riverside Drive, Evansville, IN 47708

Conclude your morning with a stroll along the Ohio River.

Evansville proudly calls itself the “River City,” and this scenic mile-long promenade offers sweeping views across the water into Kentucky. It’s peaceful, photogenic and a reminder of how important the river was in shaping the city’s history.

Stop 5: Lunch at Bru Burger Bar

Bru Burger Bar
222 Sycamore Street
Evansville, IN 47708

When hunger strikes, head to one of Evansville’s coolest adaptive reuse projects.

Bru Burger occupies the beautifully restored former Greyhound Bus Terminal, preserving much of the building’s mid-century character while serving what’s said to be excellent burgers.

Because of that, I skipped the usual Grilled Cheese and got a Patty Melt instead. The fries were incredibly salty, but I complained, and got a new order, salt free, that was just right.

Afternoon: Hollywood History and Ice Cream

Stop 6: Step Back in Time at Bosse Field

Bosse Field
23 Don Mattingly Way
Evansville, IN 47711

https://www.evansvilleotters.com

After lunch, make the short drive to Bosse Field.

Opened in 1915, it’s the third-oldest professional baseball stadium in America after Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. If it looks familiar, that’s because it appeared prominently in A League of Their Own.

Even if there’s no game, it’s worth stopping by to appreciate one of baseball’s great historic parks.

Stop 7: Grab a Retro Ice Cream Cone

Option One: Zesto

102 W. Franklin Street
Evansville, IN 47710

https://www.zestoonfranklin.com

Founded in 1949, Zesto remains one of Evansville’s classic roadside ice cream stands. Order a soft-serve cone with the famous Twinkle Kote topping. (And what’s that, you ask? Try a mixture of crushed peanuts (often shaped as a peanut brittle-style crunch) combined with rainbow or chocolate sprinkles. )

I also loved the Big Top Drive-In, another Evansville institution since the 1940s, if for nothing else than its classic sign.

Big Top Drive-In

1213 W. Maryland Street
Evansville, IN 47710

https://bigtopdrivein.com

My Personal Memory Lane

The second half of my visit became much more personal.

I stopped at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville—formerly St. Mary’s Hospital—where I was born. Yup, still standing after all these years.

3700 Washington Avenue
Evansville, IN 47750

https://healthcare.ascension.org/locations/indiana/ineva/evansville-ascension-st-vincent-evansville

Then I drove to the house on Walnut Lane where my family lived during my first three months of life.

While I obviously don’t remember living there, standing in front of that house was surprisingly emotional. I found it.

How many people can honestly say the very first home they ever lived in is still alive and well?

A Visit to My Father’s Old TV Station

My father--then known as Jerry Granowsky--moved to Evansville with his then 19-year-old wife Judy from Indianapolis after accepting a job at WFIE-TV.

1115 Mt. Auburn Road
Evansville, IN 47720

https://www.14news.com

It was his first opportunity to move from cameraman to on-air television personality.

Years later, I discovered recordings of him talking about those early days. He hosted cowboy shows, introduced movies, and often had to fill thirty minutes of airtime simply by talking into the camera.

He always said Evansville taught him how to think on his feet. Eventually he became a radio executive in New York before returning to television in San Francisco with the travel series Bay Area Backroads.

Looking back, it’s pretty obvious where I inherited my love of travel television.

The station is still there. I wish I’d asked if I could come inside.

One Last Surprise

It was in Evansville that our family became the Grahams.

When my father arrived at WFIE, management told him that Granowsky would be too difficult for viewers to pronounce.

“How about Graham?” his boss suggested.

My father agreed.

Just like that, Jeffrey Alan Granowsky became Jeffrey Alan Graham.

Years later, when I began my journalism career, I decided “Jeff Graham” sounded a little too ordinary for a newspaper byline. So I expanded it to Jefferson Graham.

Don’t you think it has a better ring?

Meanwhile, all year long, people kept asking how I planned to celebrate my birthday. They didn’t believe me when I said I’d be celebrating by going home to Indiana.

As it turned out, Photowalks sponsor Best Western had sent me on a Midwest road trip that began in northern Indiana, continued through Indianapolis and French Lick, and ended in Louisville and the Bourbon Trail. Evansville wasn’t originally on the itinerary.

But how could I pass within an hour of the city where my life began and not stop?

I’m glad I did and I sure can’t wait to come back!

(FYI: The Graham family also has a rich history in Indianapolis, which I will be exploring on an upcoming episode of Photowalks, coming soon.)

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Now that you’ve watched the latest Photowalks episode, in beautiful Juneau, Alaska, as promised, I have the written companion for you, with more info, links and photos. How to best navigate an Alaskan adventure? I’ve got some ideas for you here.

Start here: most visitors arrive by cruise ship, sailing north from Seattle or Vancouver through Alaska’s spectacular Inside Passage, with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Sitka and other coastal towns. It’s an effortless way to experience Alaska. Your hotel moves with you, meals are included, unpacking happens just once, and every morning brings another incredible destination.

But there’s a trade-off.

You’re on the ship’s schedule—not your own.

The average cruise passenger spends only about five hours exploring Juneau before it’s time to head back aboard. That’s enough time to stroll historic Franklin Street, browse a few souvenir shops, grab lunch and perhaps squeeze in a whale watch or bus ride to the stunning Mendenhall Glacier. It’s a nice introduction.

But come on, you came all the way to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, the capital of Alaska and only spent five hours there?

That’s not how I’d want to do it.

During two episodes of Photowalks TV, my wife Ruth and I spent several days exploring Juneau beyond the cruise crowds. We flew from LAX to Juneau (with a stop in Seattle), rented a car and explored. We discovered historic neighborhoods, flew over glaciers in a floatplane, landed on an icefield by helicopter, searched for humpback whales, photographed bears along a lonely road, hiked through the Tongass National Forest and found restaurants we’d happily visit again.

This guide follows that same journey.

Gear!

Did I pack the big cameras for the Alaskan adventure? I did not. Since I’m such a proponent of mobile photography, I just brought three iPhones with me. Did I miss the Sony RX10IV when I encounted the young bear munching on dandelions on “the other road.” I did indeed. But with the iPhone 17 Pro’s 8X telephoto did just fine. That was the only situation where I said to myself, “Gee. I wish I had the big camera.” The rest of the time was landscape shots, peering out the window of a helicopter and float plane, meeting people on Franklin Street, and a big camera would not have made a big difference.

Plus, my bag was way lighter and my back appreciated not having to drag a heavy camera.

I also packed a drone (which I could only use on the “other road” far from town, because we were always too close to the airport), Selfie Stick, Rode Wireless Micro microphones, lots of cables, chargers, power banks and a tripod.

LISTEN TO PODCAST!

Why Juneau Is So Different

Juneau has one distinction no other American capital can claim: you can’t drive to get there.

There are no highways connecting Juneau to the rest of Alaska or Canada. Every visitor arrives by airplane or boat.

Despite that isolation, Juneau is Alaska’s capital, most visited city in the state and one of the busiest ports in the Inside Passage. During the summer season, as many as 16,000 cruise passengers can arrive in a single day—remarkable for a city whose year-round population is just over 30,000.

How Many Days Do You Need?

Five Hours (Cruise Stop)

You’ll have enough time for:

• Franklin Street

• Whale statue at Overstreet Park

• Lunch

• Shopping

or

• Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls hike

• Return to ship

Trying to do both is pretty unheard of.

Two Days

Now we’re talking.

With two full days you can comfortably add:

• Historic downtown

• Whale watching

• Mendenhall Glacier/Nugget Falls

• Great restaurants

Three Days (My Recommendation)

Three days gives you time for Juneau’s signature experiences:

• Floatplane to Taku Glacier Lodge

• Helicopter glacier landing

• Whale watching

• Rainforest hiking

• Spending time Downtown and meeting locals. (You can save money and just do this bullet—that was my most memorable.)

Where We Stayed

Aviator Suites

www.aviatorsuiteshoteljuneau.com

If you’re flying into Juneau, this may be the most convenient hotel in town.

It’s directly across from the airport—you can literally walk there in a few minutes—but unlike most airport hotels, it’s surrounded by forest trails and mountain scenery.

Early morning flight? Late-night arrival? Great location.

Also Recommended

Best Western Grandma’s Feather Bed

2358 Mendenhall Loop Road

https://www.bestwestern.com

One of Juneau’s most popular locally operated hotels is a log cabin in the woods. We would have stayed there (Best Western sponsors Photowalks after all,) but it was sold out. Important to note: accomodations in the key months of June and July aren’t easy to come by. Book ahead.

Day One: Historic Downtown Juneau

If you’re arriving on a cruise ship, this is where your adventure begins.

Most ships dock within walking distance of Franklin Street, Juneau’s historic main street and the heart of downtown. At the bottom of the street is the huge Taku store (550 S. Franklin Street, Juneau, AK 99801,) where you can see local fish catches processed, buy souvenirs or catch a bite at the Twisted Fish Company restaurant next door.

From here, you can start your Franklin Street walk, where you will find an enormous number of high end jewelry stores. Keep walking, and you’ll start to also encounter mom and pop shops selling local goods and the infamous Red Dog Saloon (278 S. Franklin Street.).

Originally established during Juneau’s gold mining era, the saloon became a gathering place for miners, prospectors and travelers. Today, the Red Dog is exactly what visitors hope an old Alaska saloon will be, with swinging wooden doors, sawdust-covered floors and walls covered with taxidermy, mining memorabilia, antique firearms and old photographs.

The menu leans toward hearty Alaska pub fare, including burgers, sandwiches, seafood and chowder, along with Alaska craft beers and cocktails. You may not want to eat there, but you’ll want to see go in and take a peek.

As you continue up the street, historic brick buildings climb the hillside beneath towering mountains, colorful storefronts line the sidewalks and floatplanes buzz overhead every few minutes and as you look up, notice that staircases that go up seemingly forever. Down on the ground, you’ll find local gift shops, galleries, coffee shops and lots of Alaska-made products.

In the episode, we introduced you to Jonathan Swinton, a local photographer who exhibits his work at the Juneau Artists Gallery (175 S. Franklin Street.) Jonathan took us to his favorite photo spot in Juneau—the haunting ruins of the Treadwell Gold Mine on Douglas Island—and explained the 19th-century photographic printing process that gives his images their distinctive deep-blue appearance, called cyanotypes.

Breakfast or lunch at The Rookery Café

111 Seward Street (Right off Franklin)

If you ask locals where to eat breakfast or lunch one answer comes up repeatedly:

The Rookery.

There’s usually a wait, but trust us, It’s worth it. We actually ate here three times while filming because we enjoyed it that much. (Ruth said off camera that if she had her choice, she’d eat there every day.)

Their fluffy scrambled eggs, roasted potatoes and excellent coffee make this one of Juneau’s standout breakfast spots.

Alaska State Capitol

Address: 120 Fourth Street, Juneau, AK 99801

Admission: Free

Right up the street from the Rookery is a capital building unlike any other you might expect to see–minus the huge dome that you usually see in capital buildings.

The Alaska State Capitol is surprisingly modest—a four-story granite building completed in 1931 when Alaska was still a U.S. territory. Inside are the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and state legislators, along with historical displays and artwork celebrating Alaska’s Native cultures, wildlife and landscapes–and those are cool to see. If you take one of the free tours of the building, you’ll pick up a lot of interesting history about the 49th state.

Sealaska Heritage Institute & Walter Soboleff Building

Address: 105 S. Seward Street

Just down the street from the capital and Rookery is this little museum. If you really want to understand Southeast Alaska—not just admire its scenery—this is a great place to begin.

The Sealaska Heritage Institute is dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultures of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian peoples, whose history in Southeast Alaska stretches back thousands of years.

Unlike many museums that focus primarily on the past, the Sealaska Heritage Institute emphasizes that Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures are vibrant and thriving today. Visitors can learn about traditional carving, weaving, storytelling, language preservation and contemporary Native art, offering a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritage you’ll encounter throughout Juneau.

Overstreet Park & the Giant Whale Statue

Address: 301 Egan Drive, Juneau, AK 99801

As you leave the Sealaska Museum, you cross the street to the waterfront, and continue walking, in the same direction as you head to Overstreet Park and the huge whale statue, an image you’ll see on every postcard. It’s about a 15-minute walk–if you don’t want to stroll, you can always take public transportation.

Located just east of the downtown cruise docks, the sculpture honors the humpbacks that migrate to Southeast Alaska every summer to feed in the rich waters of the Inside Passage.

Make sure to stick around long enough to see the water from the fountain turned of, which makes for a more pleasing photo.

Speaking of photos, my favorite images from Juneau are directly behind the whale–namely those colorful, giant totem poles.

Day Two: Gold Rush History, Floatplanes and Glaciers

Stop 1: Treadwell Mine Historic Trail

Address: Sandy Beach Recreation Area, Douglas, AK 99824

Only a five-minute drive from downtown, you’ll find one of Juneau’s most fascinating historic sites—and one that surprisingly few cruise passengers ever see.

The Treadwell Mine was once the largest gold mine in the world. Beginning in the 1880s, more than 2,000 workers extracted over three million ounces of gold here. At its peak, this wasn’t simply a mine—it was an entire company town complete with homes, schools, stores and churches. That is, until 1917, when the mine collapsed into the water.

Today, all that’s left are haunting concrete foundations, rusting machinery and enormous walls slowly being reclaimed by the forest.

Rather than feeling abandoned, this is one of the great walks, and photo expeditions. Highly recommended.

Wings Airways Floatplane Adventure

Address: 2 Marine Way, Juneau, AK 99801

Approximate Cost: $450–550 per person

If you have the time and can swing it financially, a floatplane adventure should be on your radar. Sign up to soar over the waters and see five different glaciers from up in the skies, and then land at a remote island where a BBQ feast awaits you. How cool does that sound? You will end up at…

Taku Glacier Lodge

Built more than a century ago, Taku Glacier Lodge feels wonderfully unchanged and the setting alone is worth the trip. Guests are given about two hours to explore before flying back to Juneau.

Part of that time will be feasting on:

• Wild Alaska salmon

• Fresh sourdough bread

• Homemade baked beans

• Reindeer sausage

• Cooked apples

• Peach-cinnamon scones

Now that you’ve seen the glacier from above, when you return to Juneau, hop in the car and take a drive to the city’s no. 1 tourist spot, the only glacier you can drive over to.

Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center

6000 Glacier Spur Road
Distance from downtown: 13 miles (20–25 minutes)

The Mendenhall Glacier stretches roughly 13 miles from the Juneau Icefield into Mendenhall Lake, creating one of the easiest glaciers in Alaska to experience.

Unlike many glaciers that require long hikes or expensive flights, Mendenhall is accessible by road, making it one of Southeast Alaska’s most popular attractions.

If you’re arriving by cruise ship, dozens of buses make the trip throughout the day. Independent travelers can drive, take a taxi, rideshare or use seasonal shuttle services.

Before heading outside, spend a few minutes inside the visitor center.

The large viewing windows provide your first panoramic look at the glacier, and spotting scopes let you study details that are impossible to see with the naked eye. We also appreciated the short film documenting how dramatically Mendenhall has changed over the past several decades. Since the 1980s, the glacier has retreated roughly a mile—a sobering reminder that this landscape is constantly evolving.

Nugget Falls Trail

The paved trail to Nugget Falls may be the easiest great hike in Alaska, one with an incredible payoff.

As you walk beside Mendenhall Lake, the glacier slowly grows larger with every step until finally you reach one of the most spectacular waterfalls in the state. Nugget Falls plunges nearly 380 feet beside the glacier into the lake below. It’s pretty spectacular.

Worth the Splurge?

Coastal Helicopters Glacier Landing

Address: 8407 Airport Boulevard, Juneau, AK 99801

Typical Price: Around $400–500 per person

Here’s another way to see the glaciers, by landing on one.

Within minutes of leaving Juneau, our helicopter crossed snow-covered peaks before touching down on Herbert Glacier, a vast landscape of blue ice, meltwater streams and sculpted ridges.

Standing there felt like stepping onto another planet. Our pilot explained in the episode that while glaciers can sometimes be reached on foot after hours—or days—of climbing, helicopters make this extraordinary landscape accessible in just fifteen minutes.

The Drive Locals Simply Call “Out the Road”

One of my favorite discoveries in Juneau wasn’t a famous attraction, it was “out the road,” officially called Glacier Highway, but everyone knows exactly what you’re talking about when you say you’re driving “out the road.”

Starting in downtown Juneau, the highway winds north for roughly forty-five miles before ending abruptly at a simple sign. We took the drive because we were told we might see wildlife out there, and our friend wasn’t kidding. We did see several black bears at the side of the road, with one munching on dandelions besides the shoulder.

Another wandered into the woods moments after we arrived.

Photowalks TV Episodes

Watch the companion videos:

• Part 1: Juneau, Alaska: What Cruise Passengers Never See

• Part 2: Juneau Beyond the Cruise Ship: Glaciers, Whales & Bears (Debuting 9/13/26)

For more travel inspiration, smartphone photography tips, and behind-the-scenes stories from the road, visit PhotowalksTV.com and subscribe to the free weekly newsletter.

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