As Alaska is big, so too is its beauty. A vast, uninhabited wilderness overwhelms the comparatively small cities in the state, such as commercial-minded Anchorage and tucked awayJuneau (a curious state capital with no road access). This natural beauty can be enjoyed while hiking, paddling, and fishing in the great outdoors, especially as the state and national parks here are some of the largest in the United States.
Though there are a number of museums and other tourist attractions in the major centers, towns are perhaps more accurately used as jumping-off points for exploring the Alaskan wilds such asDenali and Kenai Fjords national parks. But wherever your sightseeing may take you, the scale of Alaska is sure to impress.
1 Denali National Park
In the northern part of the Alaska Range, Denali National Park is the one of the largest in the United States and encompasses North America's highest mountain. Denali is the 20,320-foot peak's traditional name, but modern explorers dubbed it Mount McKinley. The name is a strong point of local contention. But names aside, the six million acres of wide river valleys, tundra, high alpine ranges, and glacier-draped mountains are purely spectacular. A single road leads into the park, and only park-approved buses are permitted to travel beyond Savage River. Views of Denali can be enjoyed from the park road, weather permitting.
Located midway between Anchorage and Fairbanks, Denali is the home of grizzly bears, wolves, reindeer, elk, and other animals. More than 167 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Another favorite among the park's many things to do are the Sled Dog Kennels, which offer demonstrations and are home to dozens of energetic huskies.
Admission: $10
Address: Milepost 240, George Parks Hwy, Denali National Park
Official site: http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
2 Tracy Arm Fjord
A fjord edged with glaciers, Tracy Arm is located south of Juneau and is a popular destination for cruise ships and boat tours. Waterfalls tumble down the sharp rock walls and glaciers calve, creating small icebergs. The scenic setting lies within the bounds of the Tongass National Forest. At the head of the fjord sit the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Wildlife sightings are common on tours, whether it's a brown bear or moose on land, or the whales and seals that inhabit these waters.
Tracy Arm offers just a small slice of glacier viewing in Alaska. Other tourist favorites includeGlacier Bay National Park, northwest of Juneau, and Prince William Sound, near Anchorage.
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Juneau - TripAdvisor.com
- Read More:
- 9 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Juneau
3 Kenai Fjords National Park
Protecting much of the fjord-riddled coastline of the Kenai Peninsula (south of Anchorage), this national park offers some of the best sightseeing in Alaska. Not only do panoramas take in the many glaciers of the Harding Icefield and an uninhabited coastline, but the national park is home to monstrously large brown bears that feed on the fat-rich salmon. Many tourist options converge in the surrounding areas, be it the end of Hwy 1 in Homer, or the terminus of theAlaska Railroad and access to the Exit Glacier, both in Seward.
Official site: http://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htm
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Anchorage - TripAdvisor.com
4 Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway runs from Dawson Creek in British Columbia (Canada) through the Yukon Territory to Fairbanks, in the center of Alaska. It was built for military purposes in 1942, during WWII, in the record time of only eight months. But since the end of the war, the route has been the most important means of access by land to the Yukon Territory and southern Alaska, and a favorite with recreational vehicle travelers. The highway passes through Whitehorse, Canada before crossing the international border into Alaska and ending in Fairbanks. Motels, shops, and gas stations lies at intervals of 30-50 miles.
5 University of Alaska Museum of the North
Located in Fairbanks, the University of Alaska Museum of the North offers well over one million historical artifacts and natural history pieces. The permanent collection includes ethnological items made and used by indigenous groups, a fine arts collection that focuses mainly on Alaskan art, archeological finds from prehistoric cultures, a bird collection, and paleontology specimens.
The building that houses the museum is also noteworthy. Designed by Joan Soranno, the white structure features interesting lines and curves intended to resemble the Alaskan landscape.
Hours: Open daily 9am-7pm (June-Aug), Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat and Sun 10am-5pm (Sept-May)
Admission: Adults (15+) $12, Children (1-14) $7
Address: 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks
Official site: http://www.uaf.edu/museum/
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Fairbanks - TripAdvisor.com
6 Inside Passage
The most popular way to visit the Inside Passage is to cruise through the fjords on large ships, charter boats, and private yachts, or to stop off the highway at Haines, Skagway, or Hyder. This section of southeast Alaska offers incredible scenery of glaciers, mountains, and ocean, and is home to an abundance of wildlife. The area is also inhabited by the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples.
Along the coastal passage, the Tongass National Forest covers 17 million acres and includes islands, mountains, glaciers, ice fields, fjords, and waterfalls. Included in the forest is Prince of Wales Island, one of the largest islands in the US. Major towns along the route include Skagwaywith its Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the once-chief town of Russian AmericaSitka, and Ketchikan, where stoic totems are on display at both Totem Bight State Historic Park and the Totem Heritage Center.
Official site: http://www.fs.usda.gov/tongass/
7 Northern Lights
One of the up-sides to Alaska's long dark winters are the glowing Northern Lights that appear on many nights from September to mid-April. Some of the best aurora borealis viewing happens in the Fairbanks area. The peak time to watch for solar particles in the earth's magnetic field is after midnight. Joining an aurora tour can help keep sightseers warm in this frigid season.
8 Alaska Native Heritage Center
Traditional dwellings of some of Alaska's native peoples surround a lake at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. Cultural guides demonstrate crafts and artworks and perform dances and songs. Though the sightseeing attraction is located out of downtown, there is a summer-season shuttle from the modern Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center.
Hours: Open daily, 9am-5pm (mid-May to early Sept)
Admission: Adults $24.95, Children (ages 7-16) $16.95
Address: 8800 Heritage Center Dr, Anchorage
Official site: http://www.alaskanative.net/
9 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is the largest and most magnificent of Alaska's sprawling national parks, with nine of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. This grandiose mountain region on the frontier with Canada contains numerous glaciers, lakes, and mountain streams and is home to a rich variety of wildlife. It is superb country for climbers, walkers, and water sports enthusiasts. And the park's Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark gives insight into the one-time mill town with barely preserved heritage buildings and abandoned mines.
Address: Mile 106.8 Old Richardson Hwy, Copper Center
Official site: http://www.nps.gov/wrst/index.htm
10 Iditarod National Historic Trail
The Iditarod National Historic Trail consists of a network of trails totalling more than 2,300 miles between Nome, on the Bering Strait, and Seward, near Anchorage. Originally used by ancient hunters and later by gold prospectors, the trail is now used, and best known, for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Although it is primarily a winter trail, hikers do use sections during the summer months.
Official site: http://www.blm.gov/ak/st/en/prog/nlcs/iditarod.html
11 Seward, Alaska
The journey to Seward is equally as alluring as the small town itself. To reach the community south of Anchorage, visitors travel by way of the Seward Highway, Here, along the shoreline of Turnagain Arm, stretches of the rugged Chugach State Park meet the saltwater. Or tourists can take the scenic Alaska Railroad. Beside the appeal of the town's excellent Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward is a base for exploring Kenai Peninsula attractions, such as Exit Glacier, and area fjords by boat.
Departing from Kenai Peninsula, avid wildlife watchers head to the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, established to protect the Kodiak bear and other rare animals.
Official site: http://www.seward.com/
Accomodation: Where to Stay in Seward - TripAdvisor.com
12 Totem Bight State Historic Park
In 1938 the US Forest Services began a project to salvage, reconstruct, and create totem poles - a tradition which was dying out. Funds were used to hire carvers from among the older generations, and abandoned totem poles were restored or recreated by these craftsmen. And, in the process of this work, they were able to pass on their skills to younger community members.
Fourteen poles were erected in Ketchikan's Totem Bight State Historic Park, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Also on the site is a recreated clan house from the early 19th century. There are more heritage totem poles and local details available at the town's Totem Heritage Center.
Address: Ketchikan Ranger Station, 9883 North Tongass Hwy, Ketchikan
Official site: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totembgh.htm
13 Mendenhall Glacier
Located just 12 miles northwest of the state capital and accessible by road, the Mendenhall Glacier snakes down from the Juneau Icefield to touch the shores of a small lake. A visitor center looks out over both the glacier and the iceberg-dotted waters, while trails venture along the shore to roaring Nugget Falls as well as the impressive ice mass. Rafting and kayaking trips allow visitors to float among the bergs.
Hours: Open daily 8am-7:30pm (May-Sept), Fri-Sun 10am-4pm (Oct-April)
Location: 12 miles northwest of Juneau
Official site: http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall
- Read More:
- 9 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Juneau
14 Arctic Circle Tours
At 66 degrees 33 minutes latitude, you reach the imaginary line of the Arctic Circle where the summer solstice brings 24 hours of daylight and the winter means 24 hours of darkness. Some visitors take day trips or longer tours to the alpine tundra by air or by land on the Dalton Highway, often out of Fairbanks. Journeys also take in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which runs (like the Dalton Highway) up to Prudhoe Bay on the Beaufort Sea.
15 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park maintains lovely restored buildings in the Skagwayhistoric district to commemorate the 1897-98 Gold Rush. Visitors can attempt to hike the 33-mile-long Chilkoot Trail, which begins at Taiya River bridge, or simply explore the on-site museum and visitor center.
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway leaves from Skagway, climbing up to White Pass at a 2,865-foot elevation. The depot, one of Alaska's oldest, houses the visitor center.
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