Why visit Alaska you may ask. What is Alaska known for, and what are the best places to visit in Alaska?
Renowned for its incredible landscapes and rugged environment, Alaska is unique, extraordinarily beautiful and a truly special place.
By far USA’s largest state by area, but is Alaska worth visiting?
Whether you enjoy learning about culture, sampling fresh seafood, spotting magnificent wildlife or simply gazing at unforgettable scenery, Alaska will delight at every corner.
We are certain that a visit to Alaska will live up to your dreams. It certainly has for us. So read on and discover how the state known as The Final Frontier, is surprisingly accessible and offers everything visitors could possibly want.
- WHY VISIT ALASKA – TOP 10 REASONS TO GO TO ALASKA
- 1. NATIONAL PARKS IN ALASKA
- 2. AWESOME GLACIERS
- 3. ABUNDANT WILDLIFE
- 4. STUNNING SCENERY
- 5. SPECTACULAR FOR A ROAD TRIP
- 6. FASCINATING NATIVE CULTURE AND HISTORY
- 7. GREAT ACCESSIBLE HIKING TRAILS
- 8. MIDNIGHT SUN AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
- 9. BUCKET LIST ADVENTURES
- 10. FISHING
WHY VISIT ALASKA – TOP 10 REASONS TO GO TO ALASKA
With so many reasons to go to Alaska we have chosen our top ten. From where to go in Alaska for adventure to where to visit in Alaska for culture. Read on and you will quickly realise why you should visit Alaska for your next holiday destination.
1. NATIONAL PARKS IN ALASKA
Alaska is huge, with 60% of all land managed by the National Park Service. This equates to wide open spaces, epic hiking trails, wildlife and magnificent scenery.
The most visited National Parks are those easily accessed by road. Others such as Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks are only accessible by plane.
Some of the most popular parks are:
- Wrangell-St. Elias: America’s largest park is home to 9 of the highest peaks in the US. On a clear day the Chugach, Wrangell and St. Elias ranges can be seen in all their stunning glory. With numerous hiking possibilities, historic gold rush Kennecott Mines and Copper River salmon runs, this park is filled with adventure.
- Denali National Park: Home to North America’s highest peak this is a firm favourite with visitors. Wild, unspoiled and beautiful, it really is a special place. The mighty peak has its own weather system so few are lucky to see it in its full glory. One of the best places to go in Alaska for great wildlife spotting possibilities.
- Kenai Fjords National Park: A great place to visit in Alaska for glaciers, marine wildlife, salmon fishing and water activities. Take a day cruise from Seward to spot whales, sea lions, otters, puffins and tidewater glaciers.
- Glacier Bay National Park: If you are on an Alaska Cruise, this park may be on your itinerary. The main draws are marine wildlife and calving tidewater glaciers.
There are also state parks with equal draw and views potential. Chugach State Park nestles the edge of Anchorage and offers forests, lakes and popular hiking trails.
2. AWESOME GLACIERS
You have plenty of opportunities to see glaciers on an Alaska vacation. Well there are nearly 100,000 of them after all. Plus Alaska has the most active glaciers in the world.
One of Alaska’s awe-inspiring sights, they are on most visitors bucket list. There’s something truly magical getting up close to these crystal blue formations. Stand in the surrounding silence and you may be lucky to hear the low rumble of an ice crack.
Getting to see these wonders is thankfully easy, as many are accessible by land, air, or boat.
Find them within national parks, along coastal waters and throughout the Inside Passage.
View Exit Glacier and Matanuska Glacier from the road and kayak to get picturesque views of Spencer Glacier.
Take a day cruise to Portage Glacier and Columbia Glacier amongst others. Or if it’s in your budget, take a helicopter ride to Bear Glacier, the largest glacier in the Kenai Fjords National Park.
3. ABUNDANT WILDLIFE
Wildlife seekers will love visiting Alaska. There are opportunities to spot wildlife almost anywhere in Alaska year-round.
Alaska’s waters are a great place to look for whales, seals, puffins, bald eagles and porpoises. Taking a narrated cruise to see Alaska’s unique animals is an unforgettable experience. Moose and sometimes bears can be spotted in parkland and along hiking trails.
Look for Dall sheep on rocky cliffs and bald eagles soaring overhead. One thing’s for sure, when you spot animals in the wild it is a magical moment to be treasured. Bring your camera, zoom lens and binoculars to catch that perfect shot.
And don’t forget the smaller creatures such as beavers, red squirrels and the hundreds of bird species.
If you want to improve your chances of spotting elusive wildlife there are plenty of tours to book. From whale watching to bear viewing, bird watching to general wildlife boat tours.
Another great place to stop is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center just south of Girdwood. Home to injured and orphaned animals within a 200-acre park, you can see lynx, bears, elk, wolves, reindeer, wood bison and more.
4. STUNNING SCENERY
One of the main reasons to visit Alaska is the wide open spaces and big wild landscapes. Alaska is packed with abundant natural beauty. Prepared to be wowed.
Picture river valleys carved through mountains and plains. Layers of snow compressed over thousands of years into spectacular glaciers.
A temperate rainforest flourishing with cedar and spruce. Or rich carpets of mosses and grasses over never-ending tundra.
There are so many places to go in Alaska to witness these stunning landscapes.
From hillsides dotted with wildflowers, bubbling lakes and creeks and hidden verdant valleys. To secluded National Parks and sprawling trail systems surrounded by endless mountains that seem to hug you.
5. SPECTACULAR FOR A ROAD TRIP
Explore Alaska by car or RV and you are assured a fantastic road trip of a lifetime. Hit the open road and travel Alaska at your own pace.
Alaska’s highway system makes getting around easy. There are plentiful car and RV options and splendid views to savour along the way.
Alaska may be vast but it doesn’t feel intimidating for independent travelers. Whichever highway you travel along, be prepared for remarkable scenery, snow-capped mountains and close-up encounters with wildlife.
Head north along the Glenn Highway for stunning views of Denali and Matanuska-Susitna Valley. Follow the Seward Highway south for towering peaks, turquoise waters, hiking trails and friendly towns.
Stop at historic sites, view jagged peaks, spot wildlife and be awed by the sheer beauty of the endless panoramas.
After a day of beauty and drama, pull up in a low-key spot in open forest, on the banks of a river or near a waterfall and settle in for the night.
Sound blissful? That’s because it is!
Wondering when to visit Alaska for a legendary road trip? We suggest during the Summer from May through September.
6. FASCINATING NATIVE CULTURE AND HISTORY
Look at a map of Alaska and you will see the state is divided into five regions. But did you know that Alaska was purchased from Russia back in 1867 for $7.2 million in gold?
Alaska’s history includes Captain James Cook, discovery of gold, 470 miles of rail track, Denali’s summit and dog sledding. Present day history is shaped by over 20 distinct cultures and 300 different dialects.
These native cultures have shared values, customs, story-telling, lifestyles and collective heritage. Art and crafts show their intrinsic relationship to nature, oceans and wildlife.
Wondering where to visit in Alaska to experience native culture? The state offers endless options for learning about ways of life, traditional lands, and languages.
Most towns have a cultural museum to visit. Three places to visit in Alaska for a great learning experience are Anchorage Museum, The Alaska Native Cultural Center and UA Museum Of The North in Fairbanks.
You can also shop for authentic native arts and crafts such as ivory carvings and grass woven baskets.
7. GREAT ACCESSIBLE HIKING TRAILS
One of the best places to visit in Alaska with kids is the expansive network of trails connecting parks and towns. Alaska is all about the great outdoors and there are walking trails to suit everyone.
Plus exploring Alaska on foot increases your chances of spotting wildlife. Moose are regular visitors in parks and even bears can put in an appearance!
Offering incredible scenery and accessible trails, you can easily explore independently. Trails can be joined along the roadway, from local communities and within state and national parks.
Hike to the toe of a glacier, stand under forest trees, enjoy the view from mountain peaks and breathe in fresh air. Here are some of our favourites:
- Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Anchorage
- Root Glacier Trail, Kennecott
- Harding Icefield Trail, Seward
8. MIDNIGHT SUN AND NORTHERN LIGHTS
If you want to see the northern lights Alaska is one of the best places in the world to see them. Whether you believe the colourful bands of light are dancing spirits or a natural wonder, seeing them is an amazing experience.
Although the lights or aurora borealis are there year-round, you do need dark nights to see them. Summertime in Alaska while a great time for a trip is not a great time to see the northern lights as they are harder to see under the Midnight Sun.
The best time to visit Alaska for lights spotting is late August through April as less daylight leads to darker night skies.
If you are planning to visit Alaska in summer, make it towards the end of August and you will hopefully enjoy outdoor activities and have a chance of catching this magical show.
Visit Alaska in winter and you can also take advantage of winter activities such as dog mushing, skiing and snowmobiling.
Due to its location and darkness in winter, Fairbanks is one of the best places to view the northern lights. Plus several accommodations are dedicated to catching a view.
They are also visible in the Arctic and Southcentral regions. If you want to hunt independently, check the Fairbanks Aurora Tracker
9. BUCKET LIST ADVENTURES
What is there to do for fun in Alaska? This state is all about fun and adventure. Unrelenting mountain ranges, beautiful terrain and hidden wilderness equals experiences and adventure in leaps and bounds. With opportunities for outdoor activities, you are spoilt for choice.
Where else can you fly over North America’s highest mountain, kayak in glacier-carved fjords, guide a team of huskies or walk on ancient glaciers.
How about watching a mother bear guide her cubs along train tracks, ziplining across rainforest or exploring acres of national park.
Perhaps you dream of watching bears catch salmon from a waterfall, seeing a pod of Orca Whales on a wildlife cruise or take on the challenge of whitewater rapids.
Whatever adventure and experience you are looking for, Alaska is an amazing place to create forever memories.
10. FISHING
Imagine 34,000 miles of coastline encompassing countless rivers and lakes. Picture enormous halibut and king salmon, and you have a fishing experience like no other.
If like others you dream of landing a trophy fish, Alaska offers spectacular saltwater, freshwater and fly fishing. Fishing here is affordable, easy and you can pull off alongside a river and cast a line, or take a boat charter.
There are over 600 species inhabiting Alaska’s waters, but the big two are halibut and salmon. If you are lucky you could catch a halibut weighing hundreds of pounds.
Most charters will weigh and fillet your catch and even freeze and ship if required.
Watch the catch come in off the boats and the excitement of seeing who has hauled in the heaviest fish of the day!
Hopefully this post has answered the question “why go to Alaska” and shown you the popular places to visit in Alaska. If you have any questions about visiting this superb state, please leave a comment below.
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