Must-see places to visit in Alaska.
Anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and lies between the 5,000-foot-plus peaks of Chugach State Park and the salmon-rich waters of Cook Inlet. Despite being one of the most northern cities on the planet, it still offers a selection of fine restaurants, museums, theatres, and an excellent music scene.
Within a short drive from Anchorage, there are dozens of wilderness adventures, and a short plane ride opens up the possibility of almost any type of adventure. For those a little less adventurous, the city offers dozens of parks, 122 miles of paved bike paths, hiking at Flattop Mountain and discovering glaciers.
Palmer
Palmer is a blend of a Midwestern farming community and an alpine paradise where old red barns and fields of hay are bordered by knife-edged mountains and peaks. The downtown area has a 1930s feel to it, and much of it has been preserved right down to the antique furniture and wooden floors.
To the north of Palmer, the Hatcher Pass Road leads to the scenic Hatcher Pass and Independence Mine State Historical Park. The Hatcher Pass area is a stunning recreational area filled with panoramas of the Talkeetna Mountains, walking trails and gold mine artefacts, including the 16 remaining buildings of Independence Mine.
To the south of Palmer is Knik Glacier, which is best experienced on an airboat ride up the Knik River.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is home to 6 million acres of pristine wilderness and a stunning array of wildlife, including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, foxes, Dall sheep, golden eagles, and many other fauna.
Denali is an essential part of any trip to Alaska just for the opportunity to see the highest peak in North America; at 20,320 feet, it is the third most prominent and third most isolated peak on Earth, after Mount Everest and Aconcagua.
Denali, formerly known as Mount McKinley, is such an amazing geologic feature it even creates its own weather and ecosystems.
Fairbanks
Visitors to Fairbanks will find plenty to do during for the long, warm summer days. There are a wide range of activities available: art galleries that are filled with pottery, painting, textiles as well as Alaskan Native art and jewellery.
The Pioneer Park celebrates the town’s gold history, there’s wildlife viewing, the chance to bathe in the hot springs, sampling a locally brewed beer and, for the more adventurous, there’s rafting and kayaking along the meandering Chena River.
Fairbanks is surrounded by stunning wilderness areas that are home to a variety of wildlife, including moose, caribou, wolves, and bears. Visitors can take guided tours or explore the wilderness on their own to see these creatures in their natural habitat.
Paxson
Paxson is located on the shores of Paxson Lake within Interior Alaska, and among the year-round residents, there are plenty of dog mushers, so you are likely to see and hear kennels full of sled dogs when you stop here.
Not far from Paxson is Tangle Lakes, a series of twisty, interconnected lakes that form the headwaters of the Delta River. Here you can take a scenic Delta National Wild and Scenic River float plane trip.
The Tangle Lakes area also has several privately owned lodges offering bird viewing, kayaking, and hiking. Many also offer excellent fishing opportunities for Arctic Grayling, Lake Trout, and Northern Pike.
Valdez
Valdez is situated deep in the heart of Prince William Sound and is surrounded by some of the world’s tallest coastal mountains. Its location in the Prince William Sound makes it an outdoor paradise as it lies less than 25 miles from the Columbia Glacier, a popular day-cruise destination.
All around are glaciers, stunning mountain scenery, an abundance of marine wildlife and opportunities for outdoor adventure, including kayaking among icebergs and seals.
Seward
Seward is flanked on one side by rugged mountains and to the other side by the sparkling Resurrection Bay. It houses a quaint downtown area and is small enough for you to walk to most of the attractions such as the Alaska SeaLife Centre.
The city also serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park which was created in 1980. The Kenai Fjords spread over 587,000 acres and is crowned by the massive Harding Ice Field from which countless tidewater glaciers pour down into the coastal fjords. With its impressive landscapes and an abundance of marine wildlife this is a must see when staying in Seward.
Many visitors choose to take a day cruise along the coast south of Seward to watch glaciers carve into the sea and spot seals, sea lions and whales. Another popular attraction in Kenai Fjords National Park is Exit Glacier which lies just north of the town. This road-accessible glacier offers an impressive up-close view of the glacier along with information and hiking trails.
Kenai Fjords National Park
The Kenai Fjords National Park is home to some of the most pristine, rugged and breathtaking glacial vistas in North America, where the massive Harding Icefield feeds the 38 glaciers of the park.
These glaciers, in turn, have been sculpting the fjords, making a home for the many species of marine life. Perhaps take a Wildlife & Glacier cruise into scenic Kenai Fjords National Park, where there’s the possibility of spotting a whale.