Juneau, Alaska, is a tourist town. More than a million people visited last year, mostly by cruiseship. Most people stay in town just one day and there is a huge industry meant to give them options on what to do while they are here. There are hiking groups (Juneau's geography is spectacular and we have more than 100 trails), biking groups, rafting on the river groups, kayaking on the ocean groups, groups dining al fresco on salmon, You name an activity- it is probably covered.

Juneau, Alaska, is also a creative town full of artists of all sorts, musicians, writers, painters, wildlife experts, photographers (one local has had photos printed in National Geographic), whatever.

Juneau has a largeish Arts and Culture Center (called JACC) across the street from the waterfront and a musician friend and I have been working on coming up with a summertime program that will be to the mutual benefit of travelers and locals.

His ideas begin with JACC, which is largely unused in the daytime. John would like to introduce passengers and performers from the ships to local artists and artisans. Juneau would bring in their CDs, quilts, paintings and sketches and whatever else. People would come in for a few minutes or for hours to rest, munch on goodies, meet locals and go from there.

We know that a good many of these ships' people are also involved with the arts (I myself have played music with travelers in-house and on lawns on sunny days) and he would like to offer the opportunity to jam with each other and/or with locals.

OK- any further ideas? In your view is this something that would be of interest to you? Is there something you, as a traveler, would like to see offered?