In Douglas, Alaska, they have a heart-warming Independence Day celebration that begins around midnight and then is capped by a parade through the "downtown" area. And of course there is the fun of the Douglas-versus-Juneau firefighter hose races.
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Nice person in Portland, Oregon, and beyond.
As part of the annual Fourth of July festivities in the beautiful town of Douglas (next to Juneau, capital city of Alaska), the volunteer fire department challenges Juneau firefighters to what they call an "olde time" hose race. Teams roll out and connect groups of fire hoses as quickly as they can, in order to douse the opposite team before they douse you. This activity is repeated several times until everyone is happily exhausted. It's all in the name of fun, with a prime objective to also drench the onlookers on this warm summer day.
On June 29, 2016, during my trip through Alaska, we explored the northern end of Douglas Island, across from Juneau. The water and sky were matching shades of bright, light blue. The air was calm and smelled like seaweed (in the best possible way). We drove North Douglas Highway to the end stopping along the way at beaches and overlooks.
On June 30, 2016, four of us walked up the Gold Creek Flume Trail and Basin Road area east of downtown Juneau, Alaska, enjoying the gorgeous rain forest, and then circled back to then ride the Mount Roberts Tramway to watch the golden "hour" light shimmer over Gastineau Channel and the surrounding mountains. (That lovely pre-sunset light in the Alaskan summer can last an impressively long time!) Atop the tramway we followed more trails to have an evening picnic above the city.
On the edge of downtown Douglas, Alaska, in a lush forest with a serene, rocky beach, you can find the remains of the Treadwell gold mine. What once was a thriving hub of miners, horses, and donkeys, is now a lovely hiking trail in which you come across strange metal pipes and machine pieces, concrete walls, and glory holes...
At the north end of Douglas Island near Juneau, Alaska, is Outer Point, where a short trail takes you through forested wetlands to a beach with those classic, breathtaking views that make Alaska so special...
