Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure is a must-see in Juneau

Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure offers unique and amazing gardens and tours through the Alaska rainforest

Juneau, Alaska, is a magical place. From the incredible mountain and ocean scenery to the abundant wildlife, there is never a lack of things to see or do. The opportunities are endless in Juneau, and if you're searching for the plantlife and wildlife that make it special, Nancy Woizeschke can steer you in the right direction; Woizeschke is president and CEO of the Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure

This incredible place is a must-see for those coming to visit Juneau. It is located about seven miles from downtown Juneau and is a gardener's paradise. Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure began as a stream restoration project and soon became a unique botanical garden set within the protective grasp of the Tongass National Forest. It is classified as a temperate garden, and the unique challenges and opportunities of gardening in southeast Alaska have led to some beautifully creative and sometimes unusual displays. It is owned by Steve Bowhay and his wife, Cindy. Back when this landscaper was starting up his venture, something amazing happened.

During the land rehabilitation process, Bowhay was developing the lower landscaped gardens using a large piece of rented equipment to arrange the masses of soil, roots, plants, trees and rocks dragged down the mountain by a landslide in 1984. In the last few hours of equipment rental, the brand new excavator became damaged while Bowhay was negotiating a large boulder into place. Full of frustration about the large repair bill he was sure to see, Bowhay used the equipment arm to pick up a large tree by the root ball. He swung the excavator arm and slammed the inverted tree into the ground, trunk first. The tree did not splinter and break, but instead stuck into the soft mud upside-down.

Bowhay's temper subsided as he sat in the machine and watched as the roots hung from the root ball like the vines on a petunia basket. It took only moments before Bowhay had a vision of how to recycle the trees cleared from the development of the property: the design is called the Upside-Down Flower Tower. It was recognized in Reader’s Digest as America’s Most Interesting Landmark according to a reader poll in the November 2012 issue.

According to Woizeschke, tourists must not miss the special tours put on by Glacier Garden Rainforest Adventure as well.

"They have the ability to take people up through the rainforest," said Woizeschke. "They go from sea level up to the top of the mountain and take people through the different scenery and landscape changes. The tour is done in a long, covered golf cart, so it's very accessible. From the top, people can get beautiful panoramic scenes."

According to Glacier Gardens, the tour begins in the gardens where you learn about the history of the property and the funny story that led to the innovative Upside-Down Flower Tower planter. Exquisitely designed landscapes complement the bubbling waterfalls, ponds and streams that were brilliantly restored from a storm-damaged environment. Tour participants are treated to spectacular panoramic views of Juneau 580 feet atop Thunder Mountain. The 200-degree view stretches from Taku Inlet and downtown Juneau on the southern end, past the Gastineau Channel, Mendenhall State Game Refuge and Douglas Island immediately in front, and north to the Mendenhall Valley and the magnificent Chilkat Mountains on the horizon.

Mendenhall Glacier

Woizeschke said that Juneau's most popular attraction, and the most easily accessible Alaska glacier, is the mighty and magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, located just 13 miles from downtown Juneau.

Mendenhall is just one of the 38 major glaciers that flow from the Juneau Icefield, an expanse of interconnected glaciers that sit just behind the mountains next to Juneau. The icefield covers more than 1,500 square miles and runs from the Taku River inlet east of town to Skagway, 90 miles to the northwest.

Mount Roberts

"Another great thing to do in Juneau is take the Mount Roberts Tramway up Mount Roberts," Woizeschke said. "It's absolutely incredible. You take the tram all the way from downtown Juneau up 1,800 feet to the top of the mountain. There are numerous hiking trails up there and it's a great place to see the flora and fauna of the region."

If you're looking for wildlife, you have the possibility of seeing everything from humpback whales, orcas and sea lions to bears, elk and marmots.