Alaska is a unique and magical place with one-of-a-kind experiences. In summer, visitors enjoy dog sledding on a glacier, seeing the “Big Five,” and flightseeing over Denali. If you’re seeking the best Alaska attractions to leave your dollars, you’ve come to the right place.
While some unique Alaska experiences come with sticker shock, it’s important to remember that these encounters are often exclusive to this region.
While most people travel to Alaska by cruise ship, others travel by air and road. The state offers fantastic hotel stays, and your memorable journey will leave you wanting more.
So, get ready to embark on your Alaska adventure. Grab your wallet and start preparing for these bucket list activities.
The Arctic Circle
Visiting the Arctic Circle from Fairbanks or Anchorage, Alaska, is an exciting adventure. The Arctic Circle is about 200 miles from Fairbanks. Travelers can reach it by driving the Dalton Highway. Guided tours or flight services provide access, as the road conditions do not warant a self-drive.
The best time to visit is during summer when the weather is milder and the days are long. If you visit Alaska in June, you’ll experience 24 hours of daylight during the summer solstice as the sun never sets.
Arctic Circle Tours
- The Original Arctic Circle Tour from Fairbanks to mile 115.
- Winter Arctic Circle Tour With Aurora Viewing this mobile tour looks for the best aurora borealis viewing locations during the Arctic Circle tour.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is the epitome of unspoiled wilderness. The national park encompasses six million acres, highlighted by the 20,310-foot Denali (Mt. McKinley) mountain. This massive peak is the tallest mountain in North America.
This magnificent preserve has endless forests, awe-inspiring glaciers, tundra, and plenty of wildlife. Most come to see the “Big Five” – caribou, grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, and moose. We were lucky enough to see all but wolves.
There is only one road in and out of Denali. Beyond the 15 first miles, only buses and cars that have won the “Road Lottery” can travel its route.
Mendenhall Glacier
Travelers to Alaska flock to Mendenhall Glacier due to its easy access from Juneau. Visitors to the Mendenhall Glacier Park can view a waterfall and glacier or hike one of its many trails.
From the east side of Mendenhall Lake, visitors don’t have access to the ice. Joining a “Glacier Paddle & Trek” avoids the crowds and offers a unique Alaskan adventure. Upon reaching the glacier, spend up to two hours exploring the ice as an experienced guide surveys for ice caves.
Alternatively, take a Mendenhall float trip to experience a different perspective of the park. We enjoyed this excursion and the serene float down the Mendenhall River.
The Klondike Highway
The Klondike Highway offers a breathtaking view of mountain passes, glacial lakes, and picturesque waterfalls. It stretches from the coastal town of Skagway, Alaska, to Dawson City in British Columbia. If you love road trips, this Alaska self-driving route is a must, and one we thoroughly enjoyed.
If you’re visiting Skagway via a cruise ship, renting a vehicle and driving to Emerald Lake in the Yukon is highly recommended. However, since you’re crossing a border, you will need a passport.
Remnants of the Gold Rush era, the Yukon Suspension Bridge, and the Carcross Desert beg for exploration. Although Emerald Lake is the highlight for many, we loved the Tormented Valley scenery on the road trip.
Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park is acclaimed for its breathtaking natural beauty. The UNESCO World Heritage Site encompasses vast wilderness featuring stunning fjords, temperate rainforests, and remarkable tidewater glaciers.
If you’re not visiting by cruise ship, you can travel there on a small boat tour, which provides a scenic way to experience Alaska. Visitors can observe both tidewater and valley glaciers, some calving icebergs into the bay’s frigid waters.
The area is a haven for wildlife, including humpback whales, sea otters, seals, and numerous bird species. Tours from Juneau often last about a day, with several options available. Many include a boat tour through the icy waters, providing an opportunity to witness glaciers up close.
Traveling from Juneau to the park usually takes 4-5 hours by boat or 30 minutes by air. The trip is followed by a full day of exploration, making it unforgettable in one of the world’s most pristine environments.
Brooks Falls
Alaska’s grizzlies, brown bears, and Kodiak bears are the largest, most elusive, and most dangerous wildlife creatures in Alaska.
While there are many places to see them, nothing compares to visiting Brooks Falls. Located in Katmai National Park, it’s renowned for its spectacular salmon runs and the iconic brown bears that gather to fish.
The unique ecosystem of Brooks Falls provides a rich habitat for diverse wildlife and is a favorite amongst avid photographers.
A floatplane or water taxi is required to reach the remote area, which is expensive. If this bucket list attraction is out of reach, live webcams stream the action from Brooks Falls in the summer months. July through September are prime viewing times.
Icy Strait Point ZipRider
Adrenaline junkies can experience the world’s longest ZipRider at Icy Strait Point. Riders race side-by-side, reaching speeds over 60 mph. Starting high in the treetops, they travel on one of six 5,330-foot lines, descending 1,330 feet while enjoying views of Hoonah.
A gondola ride, one of Alaska’s best, takes participants to the mountain’s peak, followed by a trail to the zip line platform. The Alaska attraction is suitable for all ages, as long as they have a sense of adventure.
The one-minute ride offers spectacular views, so a GoPro or securely fastened phone is essential. Those not up for the ride can watch from a viewing platform.
Kenai Fjords
Kenai Fjords, located in south-central Alaska, encompasses 600,000 acres of pristine wilderness. It’s a destination known for its dramatic landscapes and rich biodiversity.
This unique region offers breathtaking landscapes and diverse wildlife. Wildlife tours may include sightings of sea otters, whales, seals, and photogenic puffins. Two primary types of puffins are found here: the Horned Puffin and the Tufted Puffin.
Head to Resurrection Peninsula, Chiswell Islands, or Emerald Cove to see the puffins. Both species display captivating appearances and behaviors.
Many tourists choose the summer months for visitation when puffins are most active. The sight of puffins flying, swimming, and interacting with each other is a highlight of any trip to the Kenai Fjords.
Tours often depart from Seward, Alaska, the gateway to the park’s breathtaking glaciers and wildlife. Experienced guides lead boat tours, allowing visitors to observe puffins in their natural habitat.
Ready to book your Kenai Fjord tour?
- Kenai Fjords Half Day Wildlife Tour – a 4-hour excursion for those short on time.
- Full Day Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise – enjoy a lunch while wildlife spotting and seeing tidewater glaciers in Aialik Bay.
Exit Glacier
Alaska offers many exhilarating hiking trails, some near the cruise ports. However, if you’re spending time around Seward, one hike you must do is the trail to Exit Glacier.
The trailhead starts at the Kenai Fjords National Park’s nature center near Seward, which is easily accessible by car. Entering the park is complimentary, but parking may incur a small fee. The trail itself varies in difficulty, offering something for everyone.
The well-marked 1.5-mile round trip to the Glacier Overlook is a moderate trek. If you’re looking for something more challenging, the 8.2-mile round trip Harding Icefield Trail will not disappoint. It’s considered strenuous, with an elevation gain of around 3,000 feet.
The best time to hike is from late spring to early fall, as the trail may be covered in snow or icy during other parts of the year. Check local weather and trail conditions before embarking on the hike.
The Chilkoot Trail
The Chilkoot Trail is a 33-mile route that travels the same path as the Gold Rush prospectors from the late 1800s. It runs from Dyea on the Alaskan coast to Bennett Lake in British Columbia, Canada.
The US National Parks Service and Parks Canada maintain the trail. You can hike sections or complete the entire route. Hiking the whole trail is only recommended for experienced trekkers who need a permit and a reservation.
Depending on your hiking ability, expect to spend 3 to 5 days to complete it. Hikers can only camp in designated areas: four on the US side and five in Canada.
Alternatively, you can hike the Chilkoot Trail by taking the Chilkoot Trail Float Tour from Skagway, which gives you a snippet of the prospectors’ route.
Misty Fjords National Monument
Misty Fjords National Monument is a breathtaking expanse of wilderness located in southeastern Alaska. This bucket list worthy destination is known for its dramatic landscapes and rich biodiversity.
This stunning area, established in 1978, encompasses over two million acres of pristine wilderness. It features towering cliffs, deep fjords, and lush rainforests and is a sanctuary for various wildlife species.
There are three ways to reach the fjord: cruise ship, small boat tour, or floatplane. The latter is the quickest but also more expensive. We took the boat tour and were captivated by the area’s beauty and stunning waterfalls.
Misty Fjords National Monument tours
- Flightseeing Misty Fjords – enjoy a 1-hour scenic plane excursion from Ketchikan.
- Misty Fjords Private Boat Charter – this 6-passenger vessel allows for private exploration at your own pace.
The Alaska Railroad
Riding the Alaska Railroad offers a unique and breathtaking way to experience the stunning landscapes of the Last Frontier. Spanning over 500 miles, the railroad connects the coastal cities of Whittier and Seward to Anchorage, Denali, and Fairbanks.
The Alaska Railroad has luxurious domed cars that offer unparalleled views of the passing landscape. The cars feature comfortable seating, dining sections, and large windows.
Travelers can also enjoy rail journeys on the McKinley Explorer and Princess Rail from Seward and Whittier to Denali National Park.
Aurora Borealis
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, is one of nature’s most breathtaking phenomena, and Alaska is one of the best places to view it.
During winter, Alaska’s long, dark nights provide optimal conditions for viewing the aurora borealis. The interplay of solar winds with the Earth’s magnetic field creates a stunning visual display seen from Fairbanks to the remote wilderness.
Many hotels offer wake-up calls when the aurora appears, or guests can select from several northern lights tours that vary from hours to multiple days.
We’ve enjoyed seeing the ethereal dance of greens, purples, and pinks across the night sky. A tripod and DSLR camera with a slow shutter speed helps capture the dancing hues.
There is no guarantee that the aurora borealis will display its beautiful colors. However, the chase of seeing them can be compared to the paparazzi trying to get the next shot of a superstar.
Hubbard Glacier
Hubbard Glacier, nicknamed “the galloping glacier,” is one of North America’s most active and dynamic glaciers. Stretching over 76 miles long and 7 miles wide, it is renowned for its striking blue ice and massive calving events.
Hubbard is in Disenchantment Bay, and we’ve visited many times by cruise ship. Unlike many glaciers in Alaska, this one is advancing.
When visiting Hubbard Glacier, several must-see features highlight its grandeur. The glacier’s calving events, where chunks of ice break off and crash into the water, provide an awe-inspiring display of nature’s power.
Additionally, the surrounding scenery, including rugged mountains and diverse wildlife, makes it a top destination for photographers. On our many trips, we’ve seen whales in the bay, sea lions on nearby rocks, and many harbor seals on icebergs.
Other Must-Do’s In Alaska
While we all have different things on our bucket lists, there is something to appease everyone in Alaska. Whether your Alaska experiences include wildlife, flying, or something more mellow, these adventures will linger with you forever.
If you’re lucky enough to enjoy the beauty of Alaska more than once, there are numerous more experiences to enjoy. Here is a list of other interesting Alaska places and experiences.
- Panning for gold.
- Dog sledding on a glacier.
- Take part in a polar bear swim.
- Go glacier trekking.
