ALASKA ITINERARY: THINGS TO DO IN ALASKA

Alaska, the largest state in the USA offers countless destinations to relax and enjoy stunning natural beauty, including overwhelming lakes, rugged coastline, perennial mountains, glaciers, wildlife, and much more. But what to include in that perfect Alaska Itinerary?

Apart from these beautiful attractions, the fantastic state of Alaska also provides the leisure of hiking, paddling, and fishing in great outdoor places, especially in the national parks and other locations. Add in the incredible views of the Northern Lights in Fairbank Alaska and you have the perfect winter destination.

Heading to Fairbanks? Read these 7 amazing and unique things to do in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Here are some of the spectacular places to visit in Alaska.

Best places to visit in Alaska

1. Denali National Park

Denali National Park located in Alaska Interior is centered on the 20,310-foot-high Denali peak. Covering an area of about 6 million acres, the park encompasses terrain of tundra, lush-green forests, and glaciers. The park is also home to some exotic wildlife species including grizzly bears, wolves, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep. The park offers something to do all year round. Popular activities in summer include biking, backpacking, hiking, and mountaineering. Wintertime activities include dog-sledding, cross-country skiing, and snow machining.

2. Tracy Arm Fjord

Located about 70 miles to the north of Petersburg, Alaska, Tracy Arm, is a classic fjord, and a must-see vacation spot in Alaska. A “fjord” is a Nordic term meaning a narrow waterway surrounded by sharp cliffs. It is named after the Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Franklin Tracy. Attracting tourists from all over the world, this 27-mile-long Tracy Arm Fjord is an incredible natural gem.

3. Alaska Highway

The Alaska Highway is a 1,390-mile-long road stretching from Delta Junction. The road was originally built mostly by the US Army as a supply route during World War II in a time of eight months. It is also one of the favorite recreational routes for travelers. The Highway features Motels, shops, and gas stations, lodging at an interval of every 30-50 miles, particularly in summer. Due to drastic weather conditions, only a few shops are open during the winter season.

4. Inside Passage

The Inside Passage is a coastal route for ships and boats. It extends from southeastern Alaska in the United States to northwestern Washington state. It has an awesome scenic beauty of glaciers covered with majestic Western hemlock. Inside Passage is primarily a region of pristine water and forested islands. It offers beautiful scenery of glaciers, mountains, and ocean, and is home to an abundance of wildlife. Also, The Inside Passage is a popular tourism destination among travelers that offers opportunities for boating, camping, and hiking.

5. Dalton Highway

The James W. Dalton Highway or “Dalton Highway” is a 414-mile road running through central and northern Alaska. It is one of only two roads in North America that crosses the Arctic Circle. The Dalton highway is one of the most isolated roads in the world, in fact, it is said to be the loneliest road on the planet. The trip through this route is often called “the ultimate road trip” by travelers as it offers the views and experience of America’s Arctic, its wildlife, and its landscape. However, one has to be very precautionary during the trip because it is the longest stretch of service less road in North America with no gas stations, restaurants, hotels, or any other basic services.

6. Iditarod National Historic Trail

The Iditarod National Historic Trail in Alaska’s sole National Historic Trail. This network of 2,300-mile winter trail is historically also known as the Seward-to-Nome Trail. This splendorous trail offers extensive landscapes that surround the entire route and offers beautiful views of mountains, glaciers, and wildlife. This America’s great trail hosts many popular winter races, one of them being the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. The venue also hosts many majestic attractions including, The Nulato Hills and tundra along the Iditarod National Historic Trail.

7. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve

Wrangell St. Elias is a vast national park located in Alaska. Encompassing an area of about 13 million acres, the park is the largest national park in Alaska. Also, this protected area is included in an International Biosphere Reserve and is part of the Wrangell–St. Elias UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park features nine out of sixteen highest peaks in the United States and features panoramic views of glaciers, lakes, and mountain streams, a rich variety of wildlife, and other breathtaking views. It offers superb county for climbers, walkers, and water sports activities. It is places like this preserve that make Alaska such a romantic getaway for couples. 

8. Seward, Alaska

Seward is a majestic city located in the heart of Kenai Peninsula Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska. The city hosts many splendorous attractions which attract visitors from every corner of the globe. Some of the popular attractions include Mt. Marathon, rising steeply behind the town, Kenai Fjords National Park, Resurrection Bay, and much more.

9. Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall Glacier, one of the Grandest Attractions in Alaska is 13.6 miles long glacier located in the Mendenhall Valley. Just 12 miles from downtown Juneau in the southeastern area of the U.S. state of Alaska, the Mendenhall Glacier offers stunning views of lakes, calving glaciers, and other speed-bounding natural attractions. The center is open all year-round and receives more than five million visitors each year. Visitors can access the place through two entrances, one an upper entrance with a ramp and another lower entrance with elevators.

10. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is a national historical park located in the city of Skagway, Alaska. It is operated by the National Park Service and maintains lovely restored buildings in the Skagway historic district to commemorate the 1897-98 Gold Rush. It offers the best experience of hiking to the visitors with the 33-mile-long Chilkoot Trail, which begins at Taiya River Bridge and commemorates the path for the hikers. Visitors can also enjoy in exploring the on-site lovely museum and visitor center that features many great attractions for tourists.

This is our perfect Alaska Itinerary, including our favorite things to do in the American state! What is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Thank you Utsav from Earth and World for this awesome guest post all about Alaska!

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Helpful Resources

Travel essentials:

• We LOVE this camera for our travel photography.
• For a cheap, easy and compact camera, we use this to vlog and take photographs. 
• We use this travel drone (but make sure to check drone laws in your chosen destination first). 
• This is our favourite travel insurance because it covers so many activities and travel situations that could arise on longer trips but also offer year coverage.

What to pack

• No matter where we travel to, I always take these trusty hand sanitizers and a mini first aid kit. 
• We love these toiletry bags (especially great for smaller bathrooms) and choose a laptop bag like this as our hand luggage. 
• We keep our devices charged on long travel days with these lightweight battery packs and bring these worldwide travel adaptors on all our trips. 
• I still struggle not to overpack so stick to using an expandable suitcase like these and always take my trusty luggage scales to avoid being charged at the airport.