27 Best Things to do in Alaska

Anderson

Alaska is home to some of the few remaining untouched wilderness areas in the world, making it an incredible destination for exploration. Its nickname, ‘The Last Frontier’, is fitting considering the wide variety of landscapes, panoramic views, and diverse wildlife it offers.

Situated in the northernmost part of the United States, Alaska is separated from the rest of the country by Canada. The state is predominantly covered with expansive forests, mountain ranges, and glaciers that are mostly located within the frigid Arctic Circle.

Although reaching its numerous national parks and pristine nature spots can be challenging in terms of time and cost, those who do make the journey are rewarded with breathtaking scenery and a true connection with nature.

27. Alaska Raptor Center

Alaska Raptor Center

Situated not too far from the center of Sitka is the Alaska Raptor Center, which is a must-visit attraction in the small city. At this center, you can observe eagles, owls, falcons, and hawks up close in spacious enclosures. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to learn about these remarkable birds of prey.

Since it first opened its doors in 1980, the center’s animal hospital and rehabilitation facility has provided care for approximately one to two hundred injured birds annually. Once the birds have recovered and regained their ability to fly, they are released back into their natural habitat.

However, birds that suffer severe injuries are permanently housed at the center, where approximately two dozen of them currently reside in the aviaries. During your visit, you can attend flying demonstrations and listen to expert lectures and talks to further enhance your understanding of these magnificent creatures.

26. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

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If you can’t go into the wild yourself, the next best option to see amazing creatures in Alaska is visiting a sanctuary. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is just an hour away from Anchorage and is home to a variety of animals in large enclosures.

The center has been taking care of orphaned and injured Alaskan animals since 1993 and tries to release them back into the wild when possible. In the Portage Valley, where the center is located, visitors can see caribou, Canadian lynxes, black bears, wood bison, and bald eagles.

Not only can you observe these animals up close, but you can also learn about their behaviors, natural habitats, and the threats they face. Knowledgeable guides are available to give tours, allowing you to feed some of the animals and learn more about the center’s conservation efforts.

25. Denali National Park

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One of the most amazing attractions in Alaska is Denali National Park. Apart from having the country’s highest peak, the park offers breathtaking landscapes and stunning wildlife. Unlike many other national parks in Alaska, Denali is easily accessible by road from Anchorage, allowing visitors to explore its forests, valleys, rivers, and mountains.

The grandeur of Denali, standing at 20,310 feet, is a sight to behold as it is mostly covered in glistening snow. While only a few brave adventurers manage to reach its summit, most visitors enjoy hiking around the park’s beautiful grounds.

During your stroll along the trails, it’s common to come across evidence of bear and wolf activity or catch a glimpse of caribou and moose in the distance.

24. Glacier Bay National Park

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A short distance southwest of Skagway in Alaska is a breathtaking place called Glacier Bay National Park. To get there, you can take a boat, a plane, or even a kayak. It’s a perfect destination for those who want to be close to nature without any distractions. The main attractions of the park are its enormous glaciers.

Back in 1794, George Vancouver from the HMS Discovery explored this area. Many years later, in the 1990s, a national park was established to protect its beautiful fjords, valleys, and mountains. People who visit this park are lucky because they can see untouched landscapes and wildlife like seals, orcas, and whales swimming in the nearby waters.

Grizzly bears, caribou, and Dall sheep also wander freely in the park, which offers amazing opportunities for activities such as hiking, kayaking, and camping.

23. Hubbard Glacier

Hubbard-Glacier

Although there are some hot springs in Alaska, many areas like the massive Hubbard Glacier are extremely cold and covered in ice. One can take amazing sightseeing cruises and boat trips from Yakutat in the southeast of the state to see the never-ending ice sheets.

The Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America and can be found at the entrance to the Russell Fjord within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. It was first mapped in 1895 and is an impressive 76 miles long. Enormous pieces of ice, as big as ten-storey buildings, regularly break off and fall into the ocean.

The experience of witnessing this is unreal, as you can hear a cracking sound echoing over the water like thunder. The enormous white and blue glacier is a beautiful sight to behold and capture in photographs, no matter the time of day, especially with mini-icebergs and majestic mountains surrounding it.

22. Alaska Native Heritage Center

Alaska-Native-Heritage-Center

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a fascinating and educational place to visit. It is located on the northeastern outskirts of Anchorage and focuses on the history and culture of the state’s indigenous peoples. The center was opened in 1999 to protect and preserve the heritage of eleven significant cultural groups in Alaska.

Surrounded by beautiful woodland, it features six life-sized Native dwellings along the shores of Lake Tiulana. Inside, there are galleries showcasing daily life, special ceremonies, and displays of kayaks, weapons, and artworks. Additionally, the center hosts exciting concerts, dance shows, and storytelling events in its theater.

21. Alaska SeaLife Center

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If you’re looking to get out of the cold and take shelter for a while, the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward is a great choice. Located next to Resurrection Bay, it is home to a wide variety of incredible Alaskan marine animals, including mammals, fish, and birds.

Founded in 1998, the center is focused on studying, rehabilitating, and protecting the marine ecosystems of the state. Inside the modern facility, visitors can explore tanks filled with playful otters, seals, and puffins. Interactive exhibits and informative displays provide knowledge about Alaska’s freezing Arctic waters.

However, the highlight of the center is the touch tank, designed to resemble a rocky coast, where you can gently pet starfish, sea anemones, and small hermit crabs.

20. Homer Spit

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The Homer Spit is a beautiful place to explore. It is located in Kachemak Bay and can be easily reached from the small city with the same name. The Homer Spit is known for having the longest road into ocean waters, stretching for 4.5 miles.

Driving along this narrow strip of land is a joy because of the stunning view of the shimmering waters and majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance. In addition to the scenic beauty, visitors can also visit shops, seafood restaurants, and lively saloons.

If you’re interested in fishing, you can arrange exciting trips from the Homer Boat Harbor, where you might even spot seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and sometimes even whales in the bay.

19. Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park

Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park

The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Skagway, Alaska is an important part of Alaska’s history. It includes the historic downtown of the small city and also has trails and mountain passes. There is another unit of the park located in Seattle, Washington.

In the late 1890s, gold was discovered in Canada’s Yukon Territory and many people went there to try to find their own fortune. Skagway was the closest port, so the town’s population grew rapidly with new stores, saloons, and offices. Some of these buildings, like Jeff Smith’s Parlor and the Mascot Saloon, are still standing today.

In addition to exploring the old buildings and railway depot, visitors can also experience the same mountain trails that the prospectors used. These historic sites give us a glimpse into what life was like during the Klondike Gold Rush.

18. Totem Bight State Historical Park

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Just north of Ketchikan, there is an amazing place called Totem Bight State Historical Park. It is home to many tall totem poles and provides valuable information about the history, culture, and art of Alaska’s Native Americans. The park used to be a fishing camp for local tribes and is now surrounded by a lush rainforest.

Within the park, you can find fourteen Tlingit and Haida totem poles hidden among the greenery. These totem poles are intricately carved with detailed figures of animals, humans, and spirits, and they share ancient indigenous stories and teachings.

Additionally, there is a reconstructed traditional clan house, informative panels, and a gift store available in the park. You can also enjoy stunning views of the coastline from the park’s beach.

17. Museum of the North, Fairbanks

Museum-of-the-North-Fairbanks

If you are interested in learning about the history, culture, and nature of the state, then you should definitely visit the Museum of the North. It is located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and has a modern building. The museum has a huge collection of about 2.5 million artifacts and specimens.

Inside, you will find fascinating exhibits and items on display. The galleries are bright and open, and they showcase not only Alaskan art from thousands of years ago but also preserved bison, mammoths, and dinosaurs.

Some parts of the museum focus on natural wonders and Native culture, while others explore the state’s beginnings, Russian fur traders, and the Klondike Gold Rush. Once you have explored the ancient artifacts and read the informative texts accompanying them, you can take a break for a coffee or check out the gift shop.

16. Chena Hot Springs

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If you’re looking for a relaxing place after exploring Alaska, Chena Hot Springs is a great option. It’s a small resort located in the mountains with indoor pools, hot tubs, and outdoor bathing areas that offer beautiful views of nature. People have been going to these hot springs for more than a hundred years.

Over time, cabins, campgrounds, a hotel, and an impressive Aurora Ice Museum filled with ice sculptures have been built. During the summer, you can enjoy almost 24-hour daylight, and in winter, you might even catch a glimpse of the magical aurora borealis.

Besides bathing in the warm waters, you can also go hiking, biking, and dogsledding in the surrounding valleys, hills, and forests.

15. Watch the Northern Lights

the Northern Lights

Alaska, being located far up north, is considered one of the top destinations in the world to witness the mesmerizing natural wonder of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis. This enchanting display of swirling lights can be experienced all over the state, almost any time of the year.

Fairbanks, situated under the ‘Aurora Oval’ and experiencing long hours of darkness during winter, is particularly popular among people who wish to see the captivating colors, shapes, and swirls of the Northern Lights.

There are dedicated tours, activities, and accommodations designed specifically to provide the best opportunity to witness the polar lights illuminating the night sky. Additionally, visitors can also marvel at the shimmering lights on the outskirts of Anchorage and other cities in Alaska.

To enhance your chances of encountering this awe-inspiring phenomenon, it is recommended to visit secluded areas away from city lights. The peak season to see the Northern Lights is from August to March.

14. Inside Passage

Inside-Passage

The Inside Passage is a popular route for cruise ships and other boats. It is protected from the Pacific Ocean by many islands. The scenery along the route is beautiful, with stunning views of Alaska’s coastline and lots of opportunities to see wildlife.

The passage stretches for over 500 miles in Alaska, and even goes as far south as Puget Sound in Washington state. You can enjoy peaceful cruising while taking in the amazing mountains, islands, fjords, and glaciers. Along the way, you can also visit different towns and national parks, where you can go hiking, kayaking, and exploring.

13. Seward

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Seward is a small port city located in a beautiful area. It is surrounded by sparkling waters and snow-capped mountains and is situated at the head of Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula. The town was founded in 1903 as the endpoint of the Alaska Railroad that extended to the ocean.

It is now known as the ‘Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park’. Seward has the advantage of being the only deep-water, ice-free port in the state, which makes it easily accessible for transport. Visitors can enjoy sport fishing trips and sightseeing cruises from its harbor.

In addition to its natural beauty and the nearby national park, you can also explore the sheltered waters by kayak or sailboat. Seward is also home to charming local shops and restaurants where you can dine after exploring the mountains, fjords, and glaciers in the area.

12. Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center

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The Anchorage Museum is similar to the Museum of the North and offers interesting information about Alaska’s art, history, lands, and peoples. It is located in the center of the city and has many artifacts and exhibits in the modern Rasmuson Center. It opened in 1968 and has grown to become the largest and most respected museum in the state.

The galleries are beautifully designed and showcase thousands of objects, art pieces, and specimens, with historic photos on the walls. Some parts of the museum focus on the gold rush and WWII, while others explore Native Alaskans, statehood, and Russian exploration.

Additionally, the museum has a fascinating planetarium and a fun Imaginarium Discovery Center for visitors to enjoy.

11. Creek Street, Ketchikan

Creek Street, Ketchikan

Creek Street in Ketchikan, the southernmost city in the state, is a popular area to explore. It used to be a rowdy red-light district, but now it is filled with arts and crafts shops, local cafes, and a few small restaurants.

The buildings and boardwalks are built on stilts above the water, creating a unique and well-preserved historical attraction. The colorful houses and breathtaking surrounding scenery provide beautiful photo opportunities. Located close to the city center and cruise ship terminals, Creek Street offers a lively atmosphere for shopping and dining.

Visitors can also learn about its history through informative plaques, and if lucky, they might see salmon jumping up its falls.

10. Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race

Iditarod-Trail-Sled-Dog-Race

The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a very challenging event that has been happening every year since 1973. It takes place in Alaska and involves mushers and their teams of huskies racing to reach the finish line first. The race lasts around one to two weeks and the winners become well-known in the local community.

The race starts in Anchorage and ends in Nome, which is about 938 miles away in the northwest part of the state. Along the way, the teams pass through forests, mountains, ridges, rivers, and even sea ice. The race has helped bring back recreational mushing and is a significant winter event in Alaska. Visitors can watch the start of the race in Anchorage or visit a small museum in Wasilla.

9. Sitka National Historical Park

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Sitka National Historical Park is a wonderful place that combines art, history, and nature. It is located just south of Sitka and has beautiful trails, tall totem poles, and a restored Russian Bishop’s House near Crescent Bay.

Interestingly, the park also preserves the site where a battle occurred between Russian fur traders and the local Tlingit Indians. Visitors can enjoy walking on the peaceful trails, admiring the impressive totem poles, and also learn about Russia’s involvement in Alaska at the 1842 Bishop’s House.

This house is one of the few remaining examples of Russian colonial architecture in North America and has exhibits about the orthodox church and Russian America. On the other hand, the park’s cultural center focuses on the indigenous peoples of Sitka and Southeastern Alaska, providing insights into their rich culture and history.

8. Katmai National Park

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Katmai National Park is known for its large population of brown bears and the salmon they eat. It is located at the base of the Alaskan Peninsula and can only be reached by air taxi from Anchorage, Homer, and King Salmon. The journey to the park offers breathtaking views of volcanoes along the coastline.

One of the must-visit places in the park is the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, which is filled with fumaroles, craters, and deep chasms caused by lava. The park’s main attraction, however, is the brown bears. During the summer, you can see them fishing for salmon near the Brooks Falls viewing platform.

It’s a unique sight, and you might also spot moose, coyotes, and bald eagles throughout the park, making for great photo opportunities.

7. Chugach State Park

Chugach State Park

Chugach State Park, located near Anchorage, is a stunning natural area that offers easy access for visitors. Within a short 20-minute drive, you can immerse yourself in the park’s captivating scenery while indulging in activities like hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

The park, established in 1970, gets its name from the impressive Chugach mountain range that stretches through it. This range features roaring rivers, glistening glaciers, and sprawling valleys, complemented by vast forests and alpine meadows. On occasion, you may even spot bears, moose, and wolves in the park’s remote corners.

Due to its convenient proximity to the city, locals and tourists flock to the park to enjoy camping, climbing, and skiing in the mountains. In addition, Chugach State Park boasts beautiful lakes, a scenic coastline, and the renowned Flattop Mountain, the most climbed peak in Alaska standing at 3,510 feet high.

6. Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum

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The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks is a popular attraction that houses a wonderful collection of vintage cars. Inside the museum, you will find nearly one hundred cars from before World War II, and they are accompanied by interesting facts, photographs, and fashion pieces from that time period.

The museum first opened its doors to the public in 2009, and it offers a visual journey where visitors can learn about the history and development of automobiles. One of the most intriguing aspects of the museum is the well-presented displays about the difficulties of driving in Alaska’s harsh conditions and unforgiving weather.

However, the main reason why people come to the museum is to see its early race cars, elegant classics, and restored horseless carriages.

What makes it even more special is that some of these cars are still driven outside each year, and to add authenticity, the drivers wear clothing that reflects the fashion trends of when the cars were originally made.

5. Gates of the Arctic National Park

Gates of the Arctic National Park

In the remote north of Alaska sits the vast and icy Gates of the Arctic National Park. Alongside safeguarding large areas of the rugged Brooks Range, it includes expansive valleys, fast-flowing rivers, and gleaming glaciers.

It’s a wonderfully wild and untouched place, making it the least visited national park in the US. Only the most resilient adventurers venture into its scenic expanses, reachable solely by air taxi. Completely situated above the Arctic Circle, the park lacks established roads, trails, campsites, or supply points.

However, those who make the journey are rewarded with breathtaking landscapes and abundant nature at every turn. Adding to the unique experience are the magnificent caribou, wolves, and grizzly bears that occasionally grace visitors with their presence.

4. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

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The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is a large park located in the south-center of Alaska. It is filled with beautiful natural landscapes including mountains, forests, marshes, canyons, and glaciers. It is actually the largest national park in Alaska and the entire United States.

The park is centered around the Wrangell Range, with parts of the St. Elias and Chugach Mountains also found within its boundaries. There are nine tall mountains in the park, with the highest being Mount Saint Elias at 18,008 feet.

The park also extends towards the Gulf of Alaska, where you can see glaciers, ice sheets, and snow fields along the rocky coastline. If you visit the park, you can enjoy activities like hiking, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and camping. It is also a popular destination for hunting and wildlife viewing, as bears, wolves, caribou, and moose can be seen roaming around.

3. Mendenhall Glacier

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Just north of the capital city of Juneau, you will discover the breathtaking Mendenhall Glacier, a vast expanse of ice. It is nestled in Tongass National Forest, encompassing a massive valley surrounded by stunning, bare mountains and lush green forests.

Stretching over thirteen miles, this glacier connects the enormous Juneau Icefield to the serene Mendenhall Lake. Unfortunately, due to climate change and warmer temperatures, the glacier is currently shrinking, with large chunks breaking off and falling into the water below.

At the visitor center, guests can gain insights about the glacier and capture its beauty through photographs from various viewing platforms along the lake. Additionally, there are several fantastic hiking trails nearby, with Nugget Falls being another notable attraction in the area.

2. Kenai Fjords National Park

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Just southwest of Seward in Alaska, you’ll find the stunning Kenai Fjords National Park. This park is known for its breathtaking scenery, with its coastline, fjords, and mountains providing endless opportunities for adventure.

The park is a geological wonderland, with massive glaciers, valleys, and rock formations that cover a significant portion of the Kenai Peninsula. The Harding Icefield, one of the largest in the United States, is a dominant feature of the park, surrounded by strips of forests and vegetation.

When exploring the park, visitors can expect to see a variety of incredible wildlife, including bears, wolves, otters, sea lions, and whales. In addition to enjoying sightseeing cruises and helicopter rides, there are also opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and camping in the park.

1. Alaska Railroad

Alaska Railroad

One great way to explore Alaska’s beautiful landscapes is by taking a trip on the Alaska Railroad. This impressive train route stretches for 470 miles, starting from Fairbanks and going all the way to Seward on the southern coast.

The construction of this route took twenty years to complete and was a remarkable achievement in engineering when it opened in 1923. The train passes through magnificent mountains, valleys, and stunning shorelines, offering breathtaking views of waterfalls and gigantic glaciers.

Although some travelers choose to experience the entire route, many people opt for shorter sections around Anchorage. The astonishing scenery, nature, and vistas along the Alaska Railroad make it one of the world’s most incredible train journeys.

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