I attended the International Food Blogger’s Conference in 2012 and 2013, and have been wanting to attend again since, but life always got in the way. When it was announced that they’re going to Juneau, Alaska this year, I had to make it work.

My husband and I have taken the Inside Passage Alaskan cruise twice, so Juneau is not a new destination for us, but one that we’ve always wanted to return to. Here are a few highlights from our last visit to Juneau, and what I hope to experience this time around.

On our most recent stop in Juneau, we signed up for Juneau Food Tours’ walking tour of downtown. Kelly “Midgi” Moore was an absolutely delightful guide—funny and informative—and the food was not only everything we hoped for in Alaskan cuisine, but quite unique. My husband and I have a deal that when we travel, every day we have to try a new food. It doesn’t have to be weird (although we do seek out the weird!), and our challenge was satisfied on this tour.

I was late to the game in registering for IFBC this year, but luckily, the Bites & Booze Tour hadn’t filled up yet, so Joe and I are on the roster for that one. I loved the kelp marmalade from Alaskan Knife Works and Gourmet Foods last time, so the kelp salsa has me very intrigued, and I have no idea what an Eagle Fart is, but I’m so game to try it!

Kelp marmalade, pickled green tomatoes, halibut nachos—oh my! So many interesting concoctions, but my husband’s stand out treat was the king crab bisque at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. Now, I know you’re thinking—crab bisque isn’t all that unique, but if you knew Joe, you’d know that he really dislikes crab and lobster and any meat that’s sweet, but this bisque—he was ready to hook up to an IV of it! Well done, Tracy!

For this trip, I’m looking forward to enjoying the fresh air and awe-inspiring Alaskan views, but also the magnificent lineup of restaurants and food purveyors slated to attend the IFB conference. We are lucky in Idaho to be able to purchase Alaska Brewing Company beer in our markets. When we visited last, Midgi from Juneau Food Tours was actually surprised to hear that. The Alaskan Amber is one my favorites, so I’m hoping to try some of their other flavors, like the raspberry wheat and smoked porter!

We were also able to sample Salt on our previous food tour, and I’m equally excited to see what they bring to the Gift Suite and Taste of Juneau event. The chefs at Salt are incredibly innovative and the menu is stellar.

But Juneau isn’t all just about food. If you have the time to venture north to see the Mendenhall Glacier, it’s worth the trip. I saw my first porcupine in the wild there! There are tours where you can actually walk on the glacier, but we’re pretty tame when it comes to travel—no adrenaline-junkies here—so we just admired it from afar. 

Another must-do is the view from the top of the Mount Roberts Tramway. What you can see from there will leave you in awe of Mother Nature herself. It’s the best place to get that all-important birds-eye-view of all that Juneau and Alaska have to offer.

This city’s breathtaking scenery and rich history makes it a place where I will want to return time and again. Juneau—here we come!