Alaska is easily one of the prettiest and hardest states to visit. What makes it the Last Frontier is that the majority of the state is uninhabited and still essentially wild. Here are 6 Places Not to Miss in Alaska when you visit! This list is just what you need to get started planning the ultimate vacation for your family!
6 Places Not to Miss in Alaska
This list includes some of the most popular places to see in Alaska. It also includes a ton of great places that are lesser known. Whether you are looking for a place to take your family for vacation, or an exciting solo adventure, this list is a great place to begin.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is where you can see the largest mountain in North America, Mt. McKinley. Denali is absolutely beautiful and a great place to see the tundra. If seeing Grizzly Bears, Black Bears, Dahl Sheep, or Wolves are on your must-see list, this is the place for you!
Seward
Seward is a small coastal town on Resurrection Bay. It is where cruise ships dock and people rush off to visit the interior of Alaska. Don’t leave so fast! Go ice climbing at Exit Glacier or take a fishing charter out to catch salmon, halibut, or rockfish. Seward is also the perfect place to see Orcas, plus Blue, Grey and Humpback whales, not to mention sea lions, otters, and other marine mammals.
Talkeetna
Talkeetna is teeny tiny town located between Anchorage and Denali National Park. It was the inspiration for the show Northern Exposure. You can go dog sledding, fishing, take a helicopter ride around Denali, or go on a river rafting trip. Talkeetna is also a great place to see the Northern Lights in the Winter.
Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau
In Southwestern Alaska are the island parts of the state, including the state capitol, Juneau. One of the prettiest and most accessible glaciers is Mendenhall Glacier. You can hike onto the glacier and even go dog sledding on the glacier with one of the local guide companies.
Homer
Homer is located on a spit, which is a rare piece of land that juts out into the water. It is a town known for its artistic community and free-spirited loving ways. The fishing is stellar in Homer and a great place to catch both halibut and salmon!
Anchorage
Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and is home to great museums, local attractions, and nightlife. Hike up to Flat Top for the most amazing view of the city. Take in the sunset at Beluga Point and walk through Potter’s Marsh, both just 15 minutes from the city. Anchorage is a big city in the middle of the most amazing scenery!
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Cruz Byrd says
I will be visiting Alaska with my family for 2017. I will like to know the places that we can visit and have the most fun.
Sue says
I just returned from an Alaskan cruise.
I took the steam train in Skagway. Beautiful scenery!!
In Juneau I flew the wings airways seaplane to taku lodge. Beautiful from the air,!!
I did not want to come home?
Mar says
We used to live in Anchorage, and we were fortunate to visit every single one of these places on the list except Juneau. I definitely agree with Homer, its a bit of a hidden gem. I would also add Prince William Sound, either on a sight seeing or fishing trip. Beautiful!
Cassie Moreno says
My boyfriend and I were just talking about potentially visiting Denali this summer! Would love to check out your other recommendations as well!
Cassie M
Teresa Houze Photography says
I have to add that a trip to the United States largest, but least visited, National Park…Wrangell St Elias is a must, also! You can visit the ‘ghost town’ of Kennecott and also the quaint and quirky town of McCarthy. While you’re in the area, take a trip to Valdez….Alaska’s “Little Switzerland”. The drive to Valdez is marked with beautiful waterfalls, right alongside the road. If you don’t like to backtrack, take the Alaska Marine Ferry back to Whittier. But most of all, Alaska is just rich with beautiful scenery and wildlife….I’ve been 6 times but feel like I’ve only scratched the surface!
Amy Deeter says
My step dad use to go to Alaska all the time. I have never had a chance to go yet but it is on my bucket list
Julie Waldron says
We went on an Alaskan cruise in 2015 for our 25th anniversary. We had a great time but I would like to visit interior Alaska. Both our daughter’s have been there, on different trips, with my in laws. Our youngest daughter was lucky enough to see Mt. McKinley.
Abigail Gibson says
I would so love to visit this beautiful state. Only in the Summer though.
Darren Scrubb says
Attractive looking places I will have to visit in Alaska.
Falon Lofley says
I would love to visit Anchorage some day!
Jorge Granda says
Very informative and interesting post, I liked learning about all the places to visit in Alaska.
Janet says
I am planning a trip with my 83 year old mother to alaska from ky. Alaska is the only state in the us that she hasn’t visited. Its on her bucket list. I would prefer going when its warmer. Snow is to risky to have to travel in at 83. We want to see the northern lights. No mt climbs or hiling, unfortunately.
Any suggestions on where to go or what not to miss. We will only have this one chance.
YVONNE WOODSTOCK says
My husband SHOCKED me to ugly crying with a cruise from Vancouver BC to Whittier Alaska for my 5oth birthday this past xmas. We went recently in May and it was truly a bucket list trip for both of us, because of our love of all animals and stunning nature/scenery.
It was also our 1st cruise too.
We visited, Skagway, Juneau (where we went whale and seal watching), Ketchikan, College Fjord, Glacier Bay National Park, Margerie Glacier, Whittier and Anchorage.
We do hope to go on more cruises to more places however if this turned out to be the only one we could ever go on, it was the PERFECT one!
Then when I got off of the plane at only 7:30 am in Detroit at the end of MAY which is suppose to be one of my favorite seasons, Spring… I found out we skipped spring and it was already 95 degrees and HUMID and I hate that so I wished I could get back on the plane and go back to Alaska until summer was over.
Patty Fink says
I was lucky enough to have visited Alaska for my 60th birthday. Just returned 1 week ago and I fell in love with it. 7 day cruise included leaving from Vancouver, first portwas Ketchacan where we visited a friend then on to summer camp for dog sledding in Jeneau, where we rode with sled dogs. In Scagway we rented a Jeep and visited Emerald Lake and Mendenhall glacier, next glacier Bay National Park, Margerie Glacier, Whitter and Anchorage. We then rented another Jeep and stay in a musser camp in Healy just at the foot hills of Denali, took a bus trip up 55 miles into Denali where we saw a momma bear and her 2 Cubs, many moose, and mountain goats. Finally off to Tellkeetna for a 2 day stay in a old roadhouse. Loved this little jem of a town. It was the most amazing vacation and if I didn’t have other commitments I’d move in a heartbeat. Definitely a must see state.
Har says
Love this, I definitely want to visit Alaska!
Thomas Gibson says
Thank you for the wonderful post. Alaska is on my bucket list and this helps narrow down the list “to-do” in Alaska. Thinking of going the cruise route but not 100% sure yet.
Marie says
Great places to see, I was born in AK and still live here. One thing you should edit on your destinations is, Juneau’s location. It is Southeast, not Southwest. 😉
Tina F says
I would love to visit Alaska. I love looking at all the pictures.
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