Do you have a trip to Alaska on your travel bucket list? If not, we’re confident you’ll want to move it to the top of your must-do list right now. One of the most unforgettable vacations you’ll ever take will be to Alaska. Alaska is one of the most picturesque and intriguing areas of the country, despite its physical separation from the rest of the country. The 49th state’s remoteness adds to the state’s beauty and mystery, making it an enticing vacation destination for adventurous tourists and nature enthusiasts. It’s vital to get out and see the natural sights and attractions that make Alaska so popular, in addition to the main towns like Anchorage.
There are several activities in Alaska that allow you to enjoy the beautiful natural scenery, learn about Alaskan tribes’ native heritage, and participate in thrilling outdoor experiences. Alaska is a destination that you should not overlook. There are many of exciting holiday locations in Alaska, whether you’re taking a cruise or flying there. Throughout the state, there are several fantastic tourist attractions. Explore Alaska’s beautiful villages and cities, see the highest peak in North America, watch the Northern Lights, travel the 1,500-mile Alaska Highway, and see the Northern Lights. The greatest locations to visit in Alaska are listed here.
Now Coming to Top Tourist Attractions in Alaska
1. Denali National Park
Alaska is home to some of the country’s most beautiful national parks. Denali National Park & Preserve is a popular park named after Denali Mountain, North America’s tallest peak. The park features a varied terrain with well-known natural attractions, animal viewing, and outdoor activities. Denali National Park is a huge park that spans over six million acres in Alaska’s interior. It’s mostly wilderness, with a pristine scenery. From glaciers to woods to valleys, you’ll see it all. Keep a look out for wildlife. It is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including bears, moose, Dall sheep, and other species.
The national park may be visited in a variety of ways. A shuttle bus, a boat, or a plane may take visitors on an overview trip. Hiking routes, glacier hikes, and backpacking are all available for a more immersive experience. Hiking up to the top of Denali is an option for the more adventurous tourist. It’s just as enjoyable to drive through the park while taking in the scenery of the snow-capped peak.
2. Kenai Fjords National Park
It’s like going back in time to the ice age when you visit the Kenai Fjords National Park. Glaciers and ice caps may still be found at the ocean’s edge, providing spectacular and memorable vistas. Half of the park is covered in ice all year, and deep fjords have developed where the water valleys have formed. Migrating whales and birds swooping down to feast on the fish in the water are common sights in these fjords, which are great habitats for a variety of aquatic animals. Because of the frigid conditions, many tourists choose for a guided day trip of the Kenai Fjords National Park, despite the park’s limited lodging options.
The Harding Icefield produces over 40 glaciers, and the park is home to a diverse range of marine and terrestrial species. Hiking to the Exit Glacier or taking a boat trip from Seward can allow you to observe moose and bears, as well as whales. You may also hire a kayak and go on your own exploration. The Harding Icefield, which is accessible by foot along the Harding Icefield Trail, is its most prominent feature.
3. Alaska Native Heritage Center
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is one of the greatest venues to learn about indigenous traditions in Alaska. It is located in Anchorage and contributes to environmental awareness and conservation by providing education and promoting local culture. The cultural institution first opened its doors in 1999 with the goal of highlighting Alaska’s 11 indigenous culture groups. The displays aid in the preservation of aspects such as heritage, language, and way of life, among other things. There are artefact exhibits and film screenings inside the facility. When you come, look at the calendar to see if there are any daily dance or singing demonstrations. In the presentation hall, you may meet the locals and listen to lectures.
After seeing the exhibits on the inside, travel outside to one of the approved walking routes. You’ll go through a forested region to view real native homes and learn about their way of life. A gift store sells traditional items to take home from the centre. The Heritage Center is located just outside of Anchorage and features The Gathering Place for Alaska Native dancing and storytelling, as well as the Hall of Cultures, which is packed with exhibitions and local vendors selling handcrafted products and artwork. The picturesque Lake Tiulana is also on the property, surrounded by traditional Alaska Native houses.
4. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve
The Chugach, Wrangell, and St. Elias mountain ranges meet in a region known as the Mountain Kingdom of North America. The enormous Wrangell St. Elias National Park, the United States’ biggest national park, is located in the centre of this kingdom. There are several visitor centres and ranger stations in the park, but you may easily travel off the main path and discover glacier hiking paths or overnight camping excursions. Other popular activities in the Wrangell St. Elias National Park include hunting, fishing, mountain biking, and kayaking.
On a clear day, you can see all the way to the summit of Alaska’s second-highest peak, Mount St. Elias. It is home to the state’s biggest volcanoes as well as the most glaciers. Outdoor activities may be found in the harsh environment. It’s a year-round resort, although the winters may be bitterly cold. If you can brave the elements, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views. Hike on the Hubbard Glacier or see an old mine by taking a shuttle from the tourist centre. There are several hiking paths through mountain passes, as well as paved roads for cycling.
5. Iditarod National Historic Trail
The Iditarod National Historic Trail, Alaska’s only National Scenic Trail, spans more than 2,300 miles between Nome, on the Bering Strait, and Seward, near Anchorage. Originally utilised by prehistoric hunters and subsequently by gold prospectors, the Iditarod Path Sled Dog Race is today the most well-known event on the trail. The entire journey is surrounded by vast landscapes, providing stunning views of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. Although it is predominantly a winter path, portions of it, such as the popular Crow Pass Trail within Chugach State Park, are used by hikers throughout the summer months.
Native Alaskans established the route, which they used for business. Several settlements, campgrounds, and trade stations were created to support regular tourists as a result of its popularity. During the gold rush, it was later utilised as a route. Many of the historical landmarks may be seen during excursions along the historic route. An annual sled dog race is one of the most prominent events that takes place along the route.
6. Seward
On the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is situated at the foot of the beautiful Mount Marathon, on the shores of Resurrection Bay. Seward’s ice-free harbour has acted as a gateway to Alaska’s vast, wild, and resource-rich interior for generations. During the gold rush, the town was a natural starting place for gold hunters, and the dog sled path that connected Seward to the gold fields in Iditarod is today the site of the world-famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race. Seward, in addition to having a lovely commute, features a number of interesting cultural sites, such as the Alaska Sealife Center.
Tourists can also ride the beautiful Alaska Railroad from Anchorage to Seward, which follows the same route. The Alaska Railroad runs considerably farther north than Anchorage, terminating at Fairbanks. The city is also a good starting point for visiting the Kenai Peninsula, which includes places like Exit Glacier. Avid wildlife watchers depart from the Kenai Peninsula for the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, which was designed to safeguard the Kodiak bear and other unique species. Seward’s trip is just as enticing as the little town itself. The Seward Highway is the only route to get to the hamlet south of Anchorage.
7. Mendenhall Glacier
The Mendenhall Glacier, just a short drive from Juneau, is a massive glacier that is calving, or splitting, into its own neighbouring lake. A simple shuttle trip to observe the glacier up close or a helicopter journey to really understand the glacier’s incredible immensity are just a few of the options for seeing the glacier. The Mendenhall Glacier West Glacier Trail, which is difficult but offers great photographic possibilities, is recommended for the fittest tourists. The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, which features displays about the glacier as well as many observation platforms, is also worth a visit.
The vistas of the Mendenhall Valley and Mendenhall Lake, both carved out by the ancient glacier, are breathtaking. When you arrive, explore the visitor centre to learn more about the glacier and its creation, as well as to see exhibits about the region’s animals. It has an observation deck with one of the greatest views in the city. Mendenhall Glacier stretches for more than 13 kilometres. It’s a receding glacier that may be hiked by the general public. Take a helicopter tour of the glacier and land on the peak for a unique perspective.
8. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Gold Rush in the Klondike To commemorate the 1897-1898 Gold Rush, the National Historical Park maintains magnificent, restored buildings in Skagway’s historic area. The 33-mile Chilkoot Trail, which begins at Taiya River Bridge and recalls the journey and difficulties of former gold seekers, is open to visitors. The on-site museum and tourist centre are also available to visitors. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway departs from Skagway and climbs 2,865 feet to White Pass. The tourist centre is housed in the depot, which is one of Alaska’s oldest.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park encompasses the historic area of Skagway as well as more than 20 smaller settlements. When visiting Skagway’s historic district, Alaska’s primary location for the park and where the visitor centre is located, visitors will enjoy an immersive experience. There are also portions of the park in Seattle and Canada. The visitor centre is an excellent place to begin learning about the gold rush. There are old photographs on exhibit, as well as a documentary video to watch. Ranger lectures are also held there. Take a stroll through the little town to view the surviving buildings that are now museums, stores, and saloons. Spending time in the district feels like wandering through history.
9. Totem Bight State Historic Park
Totem Bight State Historical Park, ten miles north of Ketchikan, is an 11-acre park featuring repaired and re-carved totems and a colourful community house. The park’s beautiful rainforest environment and rocky shoreline along Tongass Narrows are equally striking as the totems. The US Forest Service launched a mission in 1938 to recover, restore, and fabricate totem poles, a fading tradition. Funds were utilised to pay carvers from the elder generations, and these artisans repaired or reconstructed abandoned totem poles. They were able to pass on their knowledge to younger members of the community as a result of their efforts.
The Clan House is the park’s main feature, providing visitors with an intimate glimpse into Native culture and family life in the past. Then take a tour around the 14 totem spires and learn about the area’s history from these “silent storytellers,” constructed to keep the Natives’ oral traditions alive from generation to generation. Take a break at the Tongass Narrows National Park’s viewing platform, where tourists may capture priceless picture moments of wildlife and environment. Within the Pacific temperate rain forest zone, which stretches from Prince William Sound to northern California, the land is categorised as a temperate rain forest.
10. Tracy Arm Fjord
The Tongass National Forest includes Tracy Arm Fjord, which lies 45 miles south of Juneau. The Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness has two deep and narrow fjords. Tracy Arm Fjord is more than 30 miles long, with ice covering one-fifth of it. Floating ice ranging in size from small fragments to a three-story structure may be found in the fjord throughout the summer. The most popular mode of transportation is via boat, which travels through Stephens Passage to Holkham Bay and then to the fjord.
Many tourist boats visit the fjord and the two glaciers at its end, North Sawyer and South Sawyer. Visitors can view local animals like as brown and black bears, wolves, deer, harbour seals, and a variety of birds at the glacier’s foot. The beautiful location is in the Tongass National Forest’s Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness. The Sawyer Glaciers are twin glaciers at the head of the fjord. On trips, sights of wildlife are common, whether it’s a brown bear or moose on land or whales and seals in the seas.
We’re confident you’ll find one to add to your list among ten tourist attractions in Alaska from our list. What is your go-to attractions in Alaska? Let us know in the comments section.
