Our fourth day in Juneau, Alaska was jam packed with educational outreach and nature exploration! Not only did we give performances and workshops in three local schools, but we finally hit the open road and explored the Alaskan wilderness.
Our day started in downtown Juneau at Harborview Elementary school, where we gave an interactive performance for young students centered upon introducing our instruments (by putting them together while we performed our first number), and playing games based on melody and opening up the students' ears. We then drove 15 minutes outside of downtown to Auk Bay and delivered the workshop for Auk Bay Elementary school students.
After the elementary schools, we made our way back into downtown Juneau and gave a performance and clinic for the students of Floyd Dryden Middle School where we met the quartet of great jazz saxophonist, Dominick Farinacci, who performed just after us.
With our school visits all wrapped up for the day, we had the rest of the day wide open to explore and enjoy Juneau. When we first told our friends and family we were visiting Juneau, absolutely everyone we talked to said we had to visit the Mendenhall Glacier. We called up our hospitality host Courtney, who met us at the glacier with her miniature Australian Shepherd, Gus, and gave us a local's tour of the magnificent landscape.
The glacier was by far the most amazing landscape the five of us have ever seen. After spending several hours hiking around the glacier and the waterfall, we headed back into town for free beer tastings at the Alaskan Brewing Co. Brews included a hoppy jalapeño IPA, smooth raspberry wheat, and a fruity amber ale to rival most Michigan micro brews. We were especially excited to learn that Alaskan Brewing Company will be bringing their beer to Michigan this coming year! For our last dinner in Juneau, we splurged and went to a local seafood resturant called The Hanger. We ordered Alaskan crab legs that were 15+ inches in length. So fresh and so good.
What was our favorite part of Alaska today?
Tim: The Glacier!!!!! It was a larger than life experience.
Ryan: The massive crab leg.
Matt: Sampling the Alaskan Brewery Co. double IPA accompanied by smoked salmon jerky. (Don't tell my doctor I ate all that sodium.)
Andrew: I had to do it. I had to jump in the waterfall near the glacier. It was so incredibly cold, but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity I had to take advantage of.
Kari: The glacier was incredible, but I was so happy we had Gus the dog there with us. He ran up and down the waterfront and was not afraid to swim in the cold glacier water to fetch his tennis ball.
Visit our Flickr Page to see all of the photos from our Alaska Adventure so far. We'll be adding tons of photos to this online album every day were in Alaska.