Whenever I tell people I live in Juneau, Alaska full-time, one of the questions that I get is: even during the winter? I can imagine their minds are filled with images of sled dogs, sub-zero degree temperatures and ice fishing. Ironically, the winter temperatures in Juneau often do not feel as cold as the winters that I experienced in Chicago, sitting right next to Lake Michigan and the frozen breeze that rolled from the lake to on-land.

Alaska remains one of the best destinations for winter discovery, adventure and fun! While temperatures are frigid and the darkness can make the season feel long, the state boasts incredible opportunities. Here are 6 activities for you to experience during the Winter in Alaska.

There is so much adventure and exploration to be had when visiting the Southeast Alaska port towns! Adventuring and wandering through the towns is exciting in and of itself - stopping in tiny stores that offer goods such as fudge, souvenirs and locally handcrafted items. There’s always a few dining options as well in case you love trying new tastes along your journey. While I love staying shoreside and exploring merchants right next to the ocean, I also like diving into the adventure that can be unlocked through guided experiences.

What I find tough to do is narrow down exactly what experiences I want to have in the area. So in this blog post, my goal is to help you by sharing the best experiences I have had in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. I am starting with these three towns because to date, these three locations have the most infrastructure built which enables more visitors.

I took a direct flight from Juneau to Anchorage (just about 90 mins) on Alaska Airlines and rented a car. The drive from Anchorage to Valdez is about 5 1/2 hours one way so I decided to overnight in Anchorage and then head to Valdez the next morning.

Before getting on the road in the early hours, I grabbed a coffee and breakfast in Eagle Creek and started along the AK-1 highway. As predicted (from reading many other blogs), the views were spectacular. If you have someone who is willing to go with you and split the driving, I would highly recommend. Not because the drive is so long but because the views are so great that you will not want to be focused on the road.

As the cooler air arrives in Juneau, Alaska, I can sense the urgency of the sun setting. Each day the darkness lingers a bit longer, the sunshine feels less intense and the wildlife seems to know winter is coming.

Unlike the east coast, the tree leaf colors tend to be yellow instead of the brilliant reds and oranges. The boats in the harbor have slowed down, many of them will stay put for the rest of the season instead of cruising back and forth. The cruise ships and tourists have slowed and the seasonal restaurants are now closed.

How Snow Impacts Photographing Eagles - In my opinion, photographing eagles during the winter is harder than the summer and here’s why. The Bald Eagle has a white head, which makes it harder for my camera to focus on against a white, snowy backdrop. There’s also less light during these months. Not only are the days shorter in length (right now I believe the sunrise is around 8:30 am and the sunset is around 3:00 pm) but the amount of light that is available throughout the daytime is often hidden amidst swirling snowflakes and clouds.