NCS ranks Juneau No. 7 among America’s best towns to visit in 2026

NCS Travel has named Juneau one among America’s 10 best city to visit in 2026, rating the distant, hard-to-reach Alaska capital No. 7 for its wilderness “wow” issue, wildlife, seafood, and distinctive Alaskan tradition.

By land mass, Juneau is the biggest state capital in the nation, and its distant location — solely accessible by boat, airplane, or being born there — is, by far, probably the most visually placing state in the U.S., in accordance to NCS Travel author David Allen, who highlights the town’s tall peaks that stay snow-capped effectively into summer season, seaplanes buzzing overhead, and native residents which incorporates bears, mountain goats, and whales.

“With its remote location and a terrain that’s worlds away from a typical American town experience, it feels like you need a passport,” Allen wrote. “What you need, though, is an insulated rain jacket.”

Juneau has premium wilderness entry, because it sits contained in the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest, Tongass National Forest, and gives easy accessibility to Mendenhall Glacier, the place guests can hike, kayak, or dogsled close to the ice. Allen additionally highlighted Gold Creek Flume Trail’s Instagram-worthy boardwalk that leads to a waterfall.

The metropolis’s wildlife viewing can also be a serious draw, as there are assured sightings of humpback whales in the summer season.

Juneau’s historical past and tradition with gold rush roots, and recent seafood, particularly Alaskan king crab, additionally make Juneau one among America’s 10 best towns.

To develop the record, NCS thought of tons of of vacation spot throughout the nation earlier than choosing 10 standout towns, primarily based on numerous elements reminiscent of points of interest, food and drinks, arts and tradition, native id, accessibility, proximity to different notable locations, and general customer expertise.

America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2026

1. Sarasota, Florida