10 Charming Alaska Towns For The Perfect Getaway
Visiting the small, charming cities of Alaska offers a look into the state’s rugged beauty and small communities. These small towns offer stunning landscapes featuring towering mountains, glacial rivers, and vast wilderness areas. Unlike larger tourist-centric cities, smaller Alaskan cities offer slower, more authentic travel experiences, allowing you to connect with locals and discover authentic culture and traditions. These 10 towns are ideal locales for those seeking adventure, reflection, and a deeper connection to nature.
Sitka
Sitka is an island town tucked between the mountains and the sea. It is known for its heavy Russian influence and, at one time, served as the capital of Russian America. Those with a sense of adventure can try snorkeling and kayaking on Sitka Sound. Visitors who wish to learn about the area’s history can visit the Sitka History Museum, which emphasizes the native Tlingit people and the Russian influence and culture that have impacted the city.
Sitka’s landscape makes it a must-visit location for animal lovers. At Fortress of the Bear in Tongass National Forest, visitors can watch the local communities of brown bears in their natural habitat. Similarly, bird lovers can visit the Alaska Raptor Center to meet bald eagles and other birds of prey. To complete the stay, book a room at Eagle Bay Inn, just a few miles from downtown, with ocean views and shuttle service from the airport.
Homer
Homer is a little town with unique landscape characteristics that shape its culture and attract visitors from around the world. This unique characteristic is Homer Spit, a narrow strip of land that extends far out into Kachemak Bay. Fishing is king in Homer, and while there is plenty of silver salmon, rockfish, and lingcod, it’s known as the "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World" for the excellent halibut fishing at least 5 months every year. When you're not fishing, sailing, or enjoying views of Kachemak Bay, there are plenty of other attractions in Homer.
The arts are vital to Homer, with the Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference bringing an acclaimed keynote speaker, workshops, and presentations every summer. The Bunnel Street Arts Center is located in a 1937 building and features local Alaskan artists from the community. When visiting Homer, try booking a stay at Bear Creek Winery & Lodging for a truly unique experience. Visitors can stay on the property, enjoy complimentary daily wine tastings, a stone hot tub, and, of course, exclusive access to the award-winning winery.
Seward
Seward is a quaint, nature-loving community located between the mountains and Resurrection Bay. Locals and visitors frequently enjoy outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, and fishing. The ice-free port’s location at a crossroads for travel, including a railroad north, led to its establishment as a city in 1903 and its growth into the destination it is today. Seward is also the gateway to the 600,000-acre Kenai Fjords National Park, located in the waters off its coast.
Visitors can take day cruises, kayak, spot whales and other marine life, or take in the fjords, mountains, and coastlines. Accessible by land in the park is Exit Glacier, where adventurers can see a glacier up close, visit its source at Harding Icefield, or even hike on it. For a more reserved wildlife experience, stop by the Alaska SeaLife Center and view seals, puffins, octopuses, and more with underwater viewing areas. Seward Windsong Lodge is a popular lodging option surrounded by mountain and river valley views, plus shuttles to downtown and Small Boat Harbor.
Talkeetna
Talkeetna, located in southcentral Alaska, is a small town that many people think of when they picture the state’s charming little cities. It’s a town with a rich history, a tight-knit community, and a connection to the outdoors. The city was a mining town at the turn of the century, and much of the log cabin and wooded look you would expect still stands. Talkeetna was a steamboat port in the early 1900s, serving as a hub for miners and trappers to travel to work in nearby, previously inaccessible districts.
Today, Talkeetna is most known as the entry point to Denali, North America’s tallest peak, located in Denali National Park. Many climbers from around the world come through Talkeetna to scale the iconic mountain and other nearby peaks, such as Mount Foraker. Visiting Talkeetna’s historic downtown is an experience that allows visitors to step into the iconic world of small-town Alaska. Talkeetna Roadhouse, built in 1917, offers two-story wood barn lodging and warm meals and baked goods at communal tables. Talkeetna is also renowned for its flightseeing tours, where visitors can take intimate tours of the snowy landscape, including Denali, rivers, and glaciers, from a small plane.
Petersburg
Petersburg was founded in 1897 by Peter Buschmann, who came over from Norway. His friends and family eventually joined him, and the Scandinavian culture they brought has grown ever since, earning Petersburg the nickname "Little Norway." While there is plenty of historic art and culture to experience, such as the Little Norway Festival in May, there are also numerous outdoor activities and landscapes to appreciate.
Petersburg is a city within the Tongass National Forest, the nation’s largest national forest, where visitors can camp, kayak, hike, or explore caves with opportunities to spot bears, eagles, and leaping salmon. It also boasts a vibrant waterfront culture featuring halibut fishing in Frederick Sound, where visitors can observe humpback whales, orcas, and seals in their natural habitat. Sandy Beach Park offers an exciting chance to view ancient petroglyphs, rock carvings, and fish traps at low tide. Scandia House first opened in 1903 in downtown and offers a European-style hotel with an affordable price tag and views of the harbor and downtown.
Cordova
Cordova is a small community situated on the Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound. The waters are protected, and the surrounding areas are comprised of mountains and forests, making Cordova an isolated yet beautiful city. The city’s location again made it an ideal seaport and railroad stop for shipping resources in and out of the area. The railroad ceased operation in 1938, and the only means of transportation in and out of the city today is by ferry or plane.
With such an adventurous landscape surrounding the city, it’s no surprise that visitors enjoy outdoor adventures in the area. There’s plenty of freshwater fishing in Ibeck Creek, Clear Creek, or the Eyak River, and saltwater fishing on Sheep Bay or Simpson Bay. Kayakers can paddle around Orca Inlet or on Sheridan Lake, which has views of Sheridan Glacier. For those who are more inclined to learn about history, there are the Cordova Historical Museum and the Ilanka Cultural Center Museum, which cover everything from the area's prehistoric artifacts to details of the city's railroad days. Book a stay at Orca Adventure Lodge, located on Orca Inlet, to complete the rugged yet comfortable adventure vibe.
Haines
Haines is a small, scenic town situated on Chilkoot Inlet and Lynn Canal, surrounded by mountains. Haines got its name from Francina E. Haines, the chairwoman of the Presbyterian committee that funded the mission first built there in 1881. Due to its location, there’s a variety of outdoor adventures, animal spotting, and rich history to explore. Haines is known as the location of the largest gathering of bald eagles in the world, which visitors can witness at the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve.
One of Alaska’s most unique museums and the first of its kind, the Hammer Museum in Haines, celebrates the history of the tool with over 2,500 pieces, including a 20-foot hammer that serves as the museum’s sign on Main Street. Port Chilkoot Distillery and Haines Brewing Company offer local culture through their award-winning craft beer and spirits. Chilkoot Haven provides an affordable yet one-of-a-kind experience, allowing visitors to stay in a lodge overlooking the Chilkoot River, where they can regularly watch bears fishing for salmon.
Wrangell
Wrangell is one of the oldest towns in Alaska, situated on the waters of the Inside Passage, 155 miles south of Juneau. It has the unique distinction of being ruled by four different flags throughout its history, including those of Russia, the Tlingit, England, and the United States. The Tlingit people's thousands of years of influence are still clearly evident through the numerous totems featuring animals and history that remain at Chief Shakes Island and Totem Park.
Petroglyph Beach and State Historic Park offers a unique glimpse into history through a boardwalk that allows viewers to see over forty 8,000-year-old carved artifacts as they hike and fish. The 400-mile-long Stikine River, flowing through mountainous terrain and glacial valleys, is teeming with wildlife, including otters, beavers, and over 120 species of birds. Visitors can experience this natural beauty through walks, jet boats, canoeing, and kayaking. The Grand View Bed & Breakfast offers cozy rooms with ocean views and is conveniently just a 20-minute walk from downtown.
Skagway
Skagway is a southeastern Alaskan city with a rich history and ties to the Gold Rush era, located on the northernmost point of the Chilkoot Inlet. Around 1897, Skagway became the jumping-off point for thousands who came to the area looking for gold in the Yukon. Many of the buildings from that era, when the city started, are still standing and preserved for enjoyment. While it is accessible by road, most of its visitors arrive by cruise ships up the Inside Passage, stopping off for a historic getaway set among a beautiful backdrop.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park has three park units in Skagway. The entire park is dedicated to the history and formerly used areas and trails during the 1897-98 Klondike Gold Rush. The White Pass Trail, Chilkoot Trail, and Dyea Campground all showcase the former boomtown areas and hike-able paths of the era. The rest of the park consists of museums, such as The Moore House, Jeff Smith’s Parlor, and The Mascot Saloon, all located in a strip downtown among nearly 20 other historic buildings. The Historic Skagway Inn offers an onsite garden and 10 unique rooms in what was a former brothel built in 1897.
Girdwood
The town, located less than an hour south of Anchorage, was once known as Glacier City and served as a supply camp for the area in the early 1900s. Today, it’s known as a year-round vacation spot, thanks to its beautiful weather and winter sports options. Hiking and biking in the area take visitors through lush forests and alpine passes near and around Mount Alyeska. One of the most interesting hikes in Girdwood is the Crow Pass Trail, which includes a waterfall, glacier, lake, and old abandoned mining equipment. To access the mountain peak, which is complete with its own bar and museum, visitors can take the Alyeska Tram up the mountain and enjoy views of the surrounding glaciers.
The only ski resort in the state, Alyeska Resort, offers downhill skiing and snowboarding from almost every November to May. Those who’d rather take in the breathtaking scenery without the action can take a flightseeing tour or the Glacier Discovery Train, which travels regularly from Anchorage to Girdwood and beyond, offering views of Beluga Whales, moose, sheep, and eagles. Alyeska Resort is truly the most popular lodging location, boasting seven restaurants onsite, a saltwater pool, and a prime location just minutes from the airport or local attractions.
Authentic Alaskan Getaways
Whether it’s a slice of pie from a little cafe or a wildlife sighting, each moment in these small Alaska towns feels charming. They offer a stay that’s both peaceful and adventurous, with plenty of local traditions and history to discover. Alaska may not be another world, but its landscape, wildlife, and quaint state of mind can make it feel like a place you’ve only dreamed about. Plan a vacation at your own pace in one of these unique little towns.
