There are so many things to do in Alaska that it can be overwhelming to decide where to begin. An Alaskan cruise is a good start, but even with cruising, there are many ports of call and areas to choose from; how do you know which route to take and what excursions to choose once you get there? We are breaking down the best things to do in Alaska by region to help you decide which tourist attractions are right for you and where to go next.
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Top Things to Do in Alaska
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If you trying to decide what to do during your Alaska trip, you have come to the right place. Are you ready to explore with us? Let’s Go.
Take an Alaskan Cruise
One of the best ways to see Alaska is by cruise ship, as many of its cities and national parks can only be reached by plane or boat.
1. Large Ship Cruise
We have taken two large ship cruises in Alaska and loved them both. Once with Princess Cruises and most recently on the Nieuw Amsterdam with Holland American Cruises lines.
Our most recent trip was this cruise tour, during which we spent two weeks visiting Alaska, British Columbia, and the Yukon. We also spent one week on land, flying from Vancouver to Dawson City and finally to Fairbanks, where we hit the ground to see more of Alaska.
It was then onto the ship, as we took the Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward to enjoy a cruise down the inside passage to British Columbia. We loved this cruise, which showcased the best of Alaska while we enjoyed it in luxury and comfort. Having been to Alaska four times, this route really did cover a lot of the top things to see in Alaska in just two weeks.
2. Take a Small Ship Cruise
We have also taken a small ship cruise in Alaska and it offers a more intimate experience. You won’t be able to do all the “wow” tourist attractions or tours from a small ship cruise, but you do get to places that most don’t see going off the beaten path.
Our Uncruise began in Juneau and was an all-inclusive tour that included kayaking and zodiac tours. We had free hiking tours and even did the Polar Bear Plunge. Food and drinks were included, and we had the chance to really see an unspoiled Alaska that few get to experience. This is an active cruise though, so if you have mobility issues, it is not recommended.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Most cruises stop at Glacier Bay, and for good reason. Covering over 3 million acres, Glacier Bay is home to a wide range of glaciers, deep fjords, mountains, and forests. Accessible only by boat or plane, the park adds to its sense of isolation and pristine natural beauty.
Visitors can explore the park’s wilderness by hiking along its many trails, camping in its backcountry, or taking a guided tour with a ranger to learn more about its natural and cultural history. But most people visit on their cruise, and it is definitely an amazing way to see it. We sat back on our balcony, watching glaciers calve into the sea, plunging into the deep blue waters.
3. Cruise to Hubbard Glacier
The main glacier that large cruise ships see is the Hubbard Glacier. It is one of the most impressive and popular glaciers in Alaska. Located in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, stretching over 76 miles (122 kilometers) from its source in the Yukon Territory to the Gulf of Alaska.
It towers over 300 feet (91 meters) above the water and is over six miles (9.7 kilometers) wide. Ships circle the bay to give passengers unparalleled views of this beauty.
4. Witness Johns Hopkins Glacier
Another glacier we spent a lot of time at was Johns Hopkins Glacier. It is named after Johns Hopkins University, which sponsored an expedition to explore the area in the late 1800s.
The glacier is a tidewater glacier, meaning that it terminates in the ocean. It measures approximately 12 miles (19 kilometers) long and is located at the head of Johns Hopkins Inlet, which is a remote and pristine area of the park.
One of the unique features of Johns Hopkins Glacier is its striking blue color. The glacier is also known for its active calving, which creates a dramatic sight as chunks of ice break off and fall into the ocean.
Denali National Park and Preserve
Our first stop in Alaska is Denali National Park and Preserve. This is a popular tourist destination for pre- or post-Alaskan Cruisers, and you don’t want to miss seeing this massive protected area to spot wildlife and stunning scenery. Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, stands proud above more than six million acres of this national park known for its abundant wildlife and unspoiled land.
5. Fly Over Mount Denali
One of the main highlights of Denali National Park is Denali itself. Also known as Mount McKinley, Denali stands at an impressive height of 20,310 feet (6,190 meters). It is the tallest mountain in North America, and seeing it by air is a must.
We were fortunate enough to take a scenic flight over the mountain, which offered incredible views and was also a great adventure.
We stepped into a 1966 De Havilland Beaver which is a very small plane and felt like pioneers exploring the Great North! This was probably one of our favorite Alaska experiences; you truly feel like you have reached the last frontier.
It offers stunning views of Mount McKinley’s glaciers as it gives you unparalleled views of the Alaska range. Plus, this is the the most up-close and personal perspective of the mountain, in addition to actually climbing it.
6. Go ATVing
If you are into more motorized sightseeing, ATV tours are on offer in the Denali area too! We went through the TriValleys on ATV and had a rip-roaring time.
7. Go on a Trail Ride
Put yourself in the mind of early settlers and imagine what it must have been like for them riding through the Alaskan Bush by horseback. It takes you through remarkable scenery, and you truly feel as if you’ve gotten away from it all!
8. Visit The Huskey Homestead
If you want to see dog mushing and don’t have a chance to go dogsledding elsewhere in Alaska, pop into the Husky Homestead to meet Iditarod sled dogs. Opened by four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King, this homestead is a year-round training facility for sled dogs. And you may just get the chance to meet the “winningest dog musher in history,” Jeff King himself.
9. Hop on the School Bus Tours
Many visitors who visit Denali hop on a bus to journey deep into the park for wildlife viewing. This tour offers the chance to spy on plenty of Alaska’s wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep. During our two different tours of the park, we managed to see them all!
While visiting Denali National Park, we stayed at Mckinley Park Lodge, just two miles from the park entrance. This accommodation is excellent.
10. Ride the Alaska Railroad – Denali to Anchorage
One of the best ways to explore the wilderness is to get on the Alaska Railroad aboard a dome train. We caught the Alaska Railroad in Denali National Park and Preserve and took it to Anchorage on one trip and to Talkeetna on another.
The Alaska Railroad itself spans 470 miles (750 kilometers) from the coastal city of Seward in the south to the interior city of Fairbanks in the north. When the weather is good, the train passes through some awe-inspiring scenery, from pristine forests to rugged mountains.
Visit Ketchikan
We have been to Ketchikan three times and this is one of our favorite cities in Alaska. It’s a lively frontier city dating back to the Gold Rush. One of the highlights of Ketchikan is the elevated historic boardwalk named Creek Street, which runs along Ketchikan Creek. The street was built in the early 1900s, and at one time, it was the center of Ketchikan’s red-light district.
Stroll along the boardwalk to enjoy the waterfront, watch salmon spawn in the creek, and keep an eye out for bald eagles and sea lions as you wine, dine, and shop in one of the historic wood-framed houses of Creek Street.
11. Watch Bears Eat Salmon
One of the best things to do in Alaska is to watch bears feed on salmon. Ketchikan dubs itself the salmon capital of the world, and where there is salmon, there are bears. The city is situated in the heart of the Tongass National Forest, which is home to several species of salmon and a thriving population of black bears.
There are several bear viewing areas, such as Anan Creek or Traitor’s Cove, and we made our way out to Neets Bay by float plane to see black bears feeding on salmon in their natural habitat.
Neets Bay is a salmon hatchery and a natural place where salmon make their way upstream to spawn. After laying their eggs, the salmon are ripe for the pickings for black bears wanting to fatten up for their winter sleep. If you’ve ever wanted to see black bears fishing, this is the place to do it.
12. Drive Your Own Zodiac
If you are looking for some of the more adventurous things to do in Alaska, a self-drive zodiac tour in Ketchikan was the most fun we had. Leaving downtown, we made our way out to explore the shores while whipping around the harbor in our self-drive zodiacs.
We geared up in complete raingear, learned how to drive the powerful zodiacs, and were let loose to twist and turn our way through the waters in search of whales, bald eagles and other Alaskan wildlife before enjoying a campfire complete with ‘Smores.
13. Totem State Historical Park
Ketchikan has many monikers, such as Alaska’s First City and the Salmon Capital of the World. It also has the largest concentration of standing totem poles in the world. You can see a collection of totem poles at Totem Bight State Historical Park just outside of the city or at the Totem Heritage Center, which showcases the living heritage of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian Peoples.
14. Learn about Tlingit Culture
We also learned about the Tlingit People and visited a longhouse at Bartlet Cove. If you don’t get the chance to stop at Bartlet Cove to see the longhouse and totems and listen to storytellers talk about their culture, Totlem State Historical Park is a good spot to visit in Ketchikan. If you visit Anchorage, you can visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving the culture of the indigenous people of Alaska.
Stop in Skagway
Skagway Alaska is another top stop on an Alaskan itinerary with plenty of things to see and do. In Skagway, you’ll find plenty of the best things to do in Alaska with its gold rush heritage and its location along a historic route.
15. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is an area in Skagway dedicated to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898. During this time, thousands of people traveled to the Klondike region of the Yukon in Canada in search of gold. Much of Alaska’s history was built on the gold rush, so taking a stroll through the Skagway Historic District takes you back in time.
If you don’t want to hike, check out the Gold Rush Museum, where you’ll see exhibits from the days of the Gold Rush and artifacts from the trail. In Skagway, there is a visitor center, rail terminal, and plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants.
16. Hike the Chilkoot Trail
The Chilkoot Trail was one of the main routes gold seekers took on their way to the Klondike. People had to carry everything (including the kitchen sink) on their backs and many a fortune hunter perished on this challenging 33-mile-long trail.
You can pick up permits in the town of Skagway. Along the way, you’ll see artifacts left behind by early settlers. They tried to bring everything with them, and for many, it was just too much to handle, so they left their belongings, which can still be seen today on the trail! Don’t worry if you can’t hike the entire route, you can book portions on a day tour.
17. Ride The White Pass Rail
If you are not up for a multi-day hike but want to trace the route of the gold rush, a great day trip is the White Pass Rail. We have taken this train twice, and it is worth the trip as it is one of the most popular railway journeys in the world and the quintessential Alaskan experience.
This historic narrow-gauge railroad runs from Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, in Canada. The railway was built during the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898 and was a crucial transportation route for miners traveling to the gold fields.
Highlights include stopping at the Gold Rush Cemetery to see its famous icons from the Gold Rush days are buried here, including Soapy Smith and Frank Reid, who died in a shootout in Skagway.
There is also a memorial at Black Cross Rock – A 100-ton rock that buried two railroad workers and you’ll stop at Bridal Veil Falls.
18. Get up in the Air
Most visitors skip a flightseeing trip, but they miss out on witnessing spectacular scenery. We’ve taken a few scenic flights over Alaska, and it is worth the splurge. In Skagway, our heli, hike, and rail tour took us over breathtaking glaciers. We then hiked to see the flora and fauna of the national forest before meeting up with the train while hitching a ride back to Skagway. It was the ultimate three tours in one.
Another place to take a helicopter tour is over the Juneau Icefields. It offered up one of the most striking views we’ve ever seen. The 30-minute flight took us over the massive ice fields that have been here for millenniums. Seeing the deep gorges from above truly showed us the power of Mother Nature.
Juneau State Capital
Juneau is a popular tourist destination and one of our favorite cities in Alaska. The state capital is modern, with art galleries and plenty of dining options, but it also takes you back to the Gold Rush days of the 1800s with the swinging red doors of the Red Dog Saloon and colorful facades of shops lining the streets.
Some popular things to do downtown Juneau include visiting the Alaska State Museum and climbing the Mount Roberts Tramway. Besides enjoying time in town, Juneau offers many outdoor adventures like hiking and wildlife spotting, making it one of the must-stop destinations on any Alaskan bucket list.
19. Go Whale Watching
Juneau is one of the premier places in Alaska to go whale-watching. We’ve taken two trips there and saw whales each time. Located near the Inside Passage, Juneau makes for a great base to see humpback whales and other marine life, such as orcas, sea lions, harbor seals, and porpoises.
Juneau also offers the unique opportunity to see humpback whales’ bubble-net feeding. This is a hunting technique where a group of whales swims in a circle while blowing bubbles, which creates a wall of bubbles that trap the fish. The whales then swim up through the middle of the bubble net, opening their mouths to scoop up the fish. It is an unforgettable experience.
Tours in Juneau typically operate from May through September, with the peak season from June to August. During this time, humpback whales migrate to the area to feed on the abundant plankton and fish in the waters around Juneau.
20. Hike to the Mendenhall Glacier
One of the most popular attractions in Alaska is located just outside of Juneau. The Mendenhall Glacier is one of Alaska’s most accessible glaciers, located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau. There are several ways to experience this 13-mile arm of the Juneau Icefields, which covers an area of over 1,500 square miles. It is one of the largest ice fields in the world, and the Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most visited glaciers in the world.
From The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, you can choose from several hiking trails for glacier views. You can take a canoe trip to get up close to the glacier and the roaring nugget falls or you can book a tour to enjoy one of the most unique tourist attractions, the Mendenhall Glacier is the ice caves. We also so plenty of wildlife along the trail from bears to salmon and deer.
We took a guided hike tour along the trail of history to witness just how far the glacier has retreated over the years, and on the trail, we saw salmon spawning and a black bear.
21. Walk On Eagle Beach
Bald Eagles may be difficult to spot in other parts of the world, but in Juneau, they hang out on the beach, sit on totem poles and soar through the air. It is fair to say that when visiting Juneau, you’ll see plenty of bald eagles.
The best place to see bald eagles is Eagle Beach. So many bald eagles frequent the beach that it was named after them. It’s located just north of Juneau and is a vast beach with driftwood scattered through the sand.
Fairbanks
Many Alaskan land adventures begin in Fairbanks, and we flew into Fairbanks from the Yukon while taking an overland tour through Alaska (twice!). Fairbanks is also the premier destination to see the northern lights and where you have the best chance to really experience the midnight sun.
Fairbanks is a picturesque town on the river with great dining options. As the starting point of the Yukon Quest, it also has a great free dog mushing museum. Bouchard’s International Dog Mushing and Sled Museum shows the history and culture of dog sled racing in Alaska.
22. See the Northern Lights
If you want to see the dancing lights of the Aurora Borealis, Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights.
Aurora Season is from late August to early April. During the winter season, visitors can witness the beautiful light show of the Aurora Borealis in the night sky. The nights are long and dark during the winter months, allowing visitors to see the Northern Lights even at midday.
23. Experience the Midnight Sun
However, most people visit Fairbanks in the summer, and during the summer months, you can enjoy the opposite of the northern lights, the midnight sun. It is the city that never sleeps in the summertime as you can be outside at midnight with the sun seeming like it is high noon. Chances of seeing the northern lights in summer are nearly impossible, so if you really want to see the Aurora Boreals, this is not the time to visit Alaska.
24. Alaska Museum of the North
There are plenty of things to keep you occupied in Fairbanks, and one of the first places to stop is The University of Alaska Museum of the North, the state’s only research and teaching museum.
The museum’s collections include more than 1.4 million artifacts and specimens, ranging from fossils and minerals to historical objects and contemporary art. One of the museum’s most famous exhibits is the Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old steppe bison found in Fairbanks in 1979. The bison’s remains are among the best-preserved specimens of its kind in the world.
25. Stay at the Chena Hot Springs
The Chena Hot Springs are natural hot springs located an hour from Fairbanks and a top destination in Alaska. Many travelers spend a night or two before or after their Alaskan adventure. The resort also features a hotel, cabins, and camping sites, making it a great destination for overnight stays in both summer and winter.
One of the main tourist attractions at Chena Hot Springs is the Aurora Ice Museum, which is made entirely of ice and snow. The museum features beautiful ice sculptures and an ice bar where visitors can enjoy drinks served in ice-glass glasses making for one of the most unique Alaskan experiences.
If you stay in the winter season, it offers viewing tours of the aurora borealis, dog sledding tours, ice sculpting, and, of course, bathing in its mineral-rich hot springs.
26. Visit Santa Clause at the North Pole
If you like all things Christmas, you’ll love to stop at Santa Claus House at the North Pole, Alaska. Having a central location along the Richardson Highway, it’s a popular stop for tour busses to get out and stretch their legs, pick up some Christmas ornaments, and grab a photo of the world’s largest fiberglass Santa Claus statue, which stands at 42 feet tall.
27. Pan for Gold at Gold Dredge 8
I don’t care how kitschy it sounds, but in Alaska, one of the must-do things is to try your hand at panning for gold! We didn’t really want to do this tour, but it when we made our way out to Dredge 8 near Fairbanks, we thoroughly enjoyed our journey through Alaska’s history.
After stopping to learn about Alaska’s oil history at the trans-Alaska Pipeline, we boarded a train and enjoyed a relaxing ride through the different stations where people reenacted how early prospectors mined for gold.
Alaska was built on the gold industry, and it’s cool to see an old Gold Mine and the equipment they used to strike it rich. Plus, in the end, everyone has a chance to try their hand at panning for gold, and each person is guaranteed to find a nugget or two that you can take home with you as a souvenir!
28. Take a Riverboat Cruise
The Riverboat Cruise on the Chena River is a staple of things to do in Alaska. Founded by Jim Binkley in 1950, it has become an institution showing visitors the way of life along the river.
From watching demonstrations by the Athabascan people showing us how they dry and hang salmon to viewing sled dog demonstrations. It may be summer, but sled dogs still love to run, so they hook them up to wheels and treat them to their daily workout!
Anchorage
The largest city in Alaska has a lot going on. Anchorage, the transportation hub of Alaska, is often the starting or ending point of Alakan tours and cruises.
Located in the heart of the Chugach Mountains on a branch of the Cook Inlet, Anchorage offers abundant outdoor adventures, from hiking in Chugach State Park to dining at one of its outstanding restaurants.
29. Alaska Native Heritage Center i
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a must-stop on an Alaskan visit. Established in 1989, it celebrates the culture of the indigenous Alaskan Peoples.
It has both indoor and outdoor exhibits featuring artwork and artifacts. These include life-sized traditional dwellings with a traditional dance circle and a theatre. Visitors can participate in cultural programs, storytelling sessions, guided tours, and sample traditional food.
30. Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords was a national monument and then became a national park designed to protect the area’s misty fjords, rainforest, and wildlife. Today, the Kenai Peninsula is a beloved part of the local Anchorage community, as it’s just a two-hour drive outside the city.
Make sure to visit the Kenai Fjords Visitor Centre in Seward before you head out to learn about trail conditions and the Kenai Peninsula before you head into the park. And don’t miss seeing Exit Glacier, located just 10 minutes from Seward. It is one of Alaska’s most accessible roadside glaciers.
Seward
Speaking of Seward, The Iditarod National Historic Trail is a trail system in Alaska that spans over 2,000 miles from Seward, Alaska to Nome, Alaska. The trail is named after the Iditarod River and was once used as a transportation route by Native Alaskans and later by gold miners during the Alaska Gold Rush.
31. Iditarod Trail
The trail gained worldwide recognition in 1925 when a diphtheria outbreak threatened the town of Nome, and a team of sled dogs and mushers raced over 600 miles to deliver the life-saving serum to the town. That event is commemorated each year with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race but tourists and locals alike can use the trail for hiking and cross-country skiers.
Take a Road Trip
We love road trips, and driving in Alaska is an adventure unto itself. It is a rare place to drive along deserted roads with abundant wildlife spotting through spectacular scenery.
32. Drive the Seward Scenic Highway
Dave and I took the train from Anchorage to Seward, but my parents drove the Seward Highway. This picturesque stretch of highway runs from Anchorage to Seward, and there are plenty of things to see along the way. We even saw it from the train as we looked out at the stunning views of the Chugach Mountains.
When driving, you can stop at Chugach State Park to enjoy parts of its 500,000-acre wilderness area. Portage Glacier is another popular stop, as it is just a short drive from the Seward Scenic Highway. However, the star glacier is Exit Glacier, which can be accessed via a short hike.
33. Alaska Highway
Driving the Alaska Highway is one of the great road trips in the world. Also known as the Alcan Highway, the Alaska Highway is a 1,390-mile (2,237 km) long highway from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction in Alaska. You’ll have the chance to drive through mountain passes and over the tundra in search of brown bears, moose, caribou, and bison from the road. The Alaska highway takes you through one of the most remote parts of North America.
If you are looking for a drive that crosses the Arctic Circle when visiting Alaksa as we did in Yukon’s Dempster Highway, you’ll need to make your way to the Dalton Highway.
Go Off the Beaten Path
Alaska is the largest state in North America, and it houses the highest mountain in the country. While most people take an Alaskan cruise, it can be visited independently as well. If you have more time, go off the beaten path.
34. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
Now, we come to the largest national park in the United States, at 13.2 million acres, larger than the entire country of Switzerland. The three largest national parks in the USA are all actually located in Alaska. The second largest is the Gates of the Arctic National Park, and the third largest is Denali National Park.
35. Take a Zodiac Tour at Dawes Glacier
Our zodiac tour took us close to Dawes Glacier, where we visited waterfalls, tasted fresh glacier ice, rode the waves from a calving glacier, and had the chance to sneak closer to the glaciers for a more intimate look at the ice. There are other tours to the Hubbard Glacier where you can hike to its nearby ridges to see panoramic views of the glacier.
36. Go Kayaking
Kayaking in Alaska is a bucket list experience. When taking a small ship cruise, we had the chance to get on kayaks almost daily. It is a far more intimate way to take in the Alaskan beauty. By silently paddling through the icy waters, we kept our eyes out for whales, and otters while enjoying our natural surroundings.
37. Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve
If you really want to get off the beaten path in Alaska, one of the best things to do is to visit the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. It is one of the few national parks in the United States that is completely undeveloped, with no roads or trails.
Gates of the Arctic is located entirely north of the Arctic Circle and is an incredible place to spy caribou, grizzly bears, and even musk ox. You can book guided adventures from river rafting and dogsledding to mountaineering and hiking.
I know Alaska is a huge state with many adventures to be had, but hopefully, this will inspire you to go back again and again. Whether seeing the northern lights in winter or the midnight sun in summer, Alaska is the last frontier. I know we are ready for our next trip! Did you enjoy all the things we suggested to do in Alaska?
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Alaska is in my bucket list now thanks for the article.
Thanks for sharing your lovely experience and information about Alaska. Really loved it.
A 1-1/2 hour flight from Talkeetna to view McKinley (renamed Denali later), Mt. Foraker, and Mt. Hunter was the finale on our first of three cruises to Alaska. We were very fortunate to have good weather, as McKinley is only visible about 10% of the time. I took over 200 photos during the flight, changing rolls of 35mm FILM then.
We cruised one way northbound on the Crown Princess, which was a much smaller ship in 1998 than the current Crown Princess. Highlights of the cruise scenery included the Lynn Canal, Glacier Bay, the College Fjord, and Prince William Sound. These sights were spectacular but we are very glad to have spent the money for the flight seeing trip.
wow amazing blog. beautiful nature photos you shared with us.fantastic article. i read and enjoyed a lot.thank you so much for sharing.
Wow! I feel so inspired now.
Loved your blog!
I really want to visit Alaska, thank you for sharing your great experience to us.,. I hope I can go there too…and will definitely try these things.
Scintillating….I am stunned by the captures.
What an amazing experience one can have there. Loved it.
Never heard the word “Scintillating” before.
Meaning: “scin·til·lat·ing
/?sin(t)l??diNG/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
sparkling or shining brightly.”
I had to Google it to find out what it meant. 🙂
Hi There!
Thanks a lot for sharing brief information about Alaska. Really it inspire to visit Alaska and attend all of these activities mentioned above.
Appreciate it.
This post really inspires people to consider going to Alaska. Great photos and details. Thank you Dave & Deb. 🙂