6 Idyllic Small Towns In Alaska To Visit In 2025
When the stress of everyday life seems relentless, traveling is among the best ways to revive your spirits. According to Leehealth.org, research reveals that setting sail, taking to the sky, or hitting the road can help strengthen relationships and improve overall wellness. But the question remains: where is the best place to travel to leave the hustle and bustle behind?
Expansive, isolated, and breathtaking beyond description, Alaska shines as one of the best US states to unplug and reset in 2025. Home to some of the world’s prettiest natural scenes, from sweeping fjords to towering coastal mountains, this stunning state invites free spirits to embrace adventure. With a rich Native culture, extraordinary excursions, and unfathomable beauty from every angle, these idyllic Alaska towns are perfect for leaving your worries behind.
Ketchikan
Affectionately dubbed "The First City," Ketchikan is the earliest destination for travelers cruising the Inside Passage, one of the natural wonders of Alaska. However, this coastal town is so much more than a mere pitstop. An idyllic introduction to the splendors of Alaska, Ketchikan embodies the very best of the Last Frontier, showcasing its astounding natural beauty and culture.
Around 22 miles east of the town, travelers can use Ketchikan as a home base to discover the wonders of Misty Fjords National Monument. The monument is what most envision when they picture Alaska: coastal cliffs, alpine lakes, dramatic fjords, and the snowcapped Coast Mountains. Setting sail from town with tour operators like True Alaskan Tours, adventurers can enjoy postcard views without the stress of navigating.
Back in town, Ketchikan’s other charms can be explored on foot. Spanning 11 acres of coastal rainforest, Totem Bight State Historical Park exhibits an incredible collection of Native-carved totems. Afterward, downtown Ketchikan captures the beauty of local life. Creek Street is an absolute must, charming visitors with its stilted boardwalk, historic buildings, and unique attractions like Dolly's House, an early 19th-century brothel-turned museum.
Gustavus
Much like Ketchikan, Gustavus is a gateway to Alaska’s famous wilderness. Just a few miles from the headquarters of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, the small and remote town is a popular jumping-off point. After visiting cozy locales like the Fireweed Gallery, Coffee and Tea House, your park adventure awaits.
Whether traveling by sea or air, the trip from Gustavus to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is an adventure in itself. However, nothing quite compares to the views upon arrival. With sweeping scenes as far as the eye can see, deciding where to look first is the only drawback. Highlights include the sparkling Glacier Bay, tidewater glaciers, and the distant 15,300-ft Mount Fairweather towering above it all.
Since over 90% of annual visitors never actually step foot in the park due to traveling by cruise ship, Gustavus visitors get a more up-close experience. At Bartlett Cove, travelers can hike the park’s only maintained trails and paddle the West Arm of Glacier Bay on a Glacier Bay Sea Kayaks tour. With whale watching charters like The Taz, travelers can also explore the Icy Straight to witness humpback whales in their element.
Skagway
Returning to the Inside Passage, Skagway is a southeast Alaska town known for its scenic views and Gold Rush heritage. While most associate the boomtown era with mainland USA, the mountain-surrounded Alaska town also played an important role. Established in 1897, Skagway served as a transportation hub and gateway to Canada’s gold-filled mountains. While the Klondike Gold Rush was short-lived, its history lives on in Skagway.
A community where history and natural beauty merge, Skagway invites visitors to embrace a slower pace. At Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, visitors can enjoy the charms of the frozen-in-time town. On Broadway Avenue in downtown Skagway, the street is lined with over 20 historic structures preserved by the park. Among the turn-of-the-century storefronts, popular sites include The Mascot Saloon, which is now a museum.
For outdoor scenes in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, the Chilkoot Trail follows a former Gold Rush highway dubbed “the world’s longest museum.” Spanning 33 miles, hikers will encounter gold mining artifacts along with beautiful views of the Taiya River. For less strenuous scenes, travelers can also hop aboard the White Pass & Yukon Railroad. Along this former gold field route, passengers can spot extraordinary landmarks like the Glacier Gorge, Bridal Veil Falls, and Dead Horse Gulch.
Valdez
Situated in the heart of the Prince William Sound, bewitching natural scenes are a hallmark of Valdez, an Alaska town with a colorful past. Today, Valdez is an idyllic mountain town, but this was not always the case. After surviving an earthquake in 1964 and the infamous Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, today, Valdez is as breathtaking as it is resilient.
Anchored by the Prince William Sound, Valdez is paradise for nature lovers. Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises are a highly recommended way to breathe in the scenery. The operator specializes in glacier viewing and wildlife spotting, from sea otters and whales to eagles and puffins. For a more active day on the water, Anadyr Adventures Sea Kayaking trips are even more immersive.
Back on land, even more beauty awaits. After a 15-minute drive from town, travelers can stop at Valdez Glacier Lake to watch icebergs bobbing by. Continuing your scenic drive, the Richardson Highway passes two gorgeous cascades: Bridal Veil Falls and Horsetail Falls. Alternatively, the Valdez Goat Trail offers hikers a more intimate view of the canyon walls, cascades, and Lowe River.
Sitka
Not far from Alaska’s capital city, Sitka stands out for its Russian influence and serene island setting. Part of Russia until 1867, the community commemorates its unique heritage by preserving architecture from that era. For visitors looking to catch a glimpse into Sitka’s Russian past, the Saint Michael's Russian Orthodox Cathedral steals the spotlight, accented with onion domes iconic to Moscow.
As the only community in the Inside Passage fronting the Pacific, Sitka’s setting is also unique. Overlooked by Mount Edgecumbe, the Baranof Island town hugs the Sitka Sound from the island’s west shore. Thanks to its sheltered location, the town’s natural surroundings are extremely serene, with plenty of landmarks and landscapes to explore.
Many of Sitka’s best hiking trails wind through Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the country. Sitka National Historical Park is home to popular paths like the Totem Trail and the Russian Memorial Loop, passing replica totems through lush Sitka Spruce and Western hemlock. Sitka is also home to the Indian River Trail, rewarding hikers with storybook bridges and views of Indian River Falls, while a trek up the Mount Verstovia Trail is preferred for its prized panoramic vistas.
Homer
A Kenai Peninsula town skirting Kachemak Bay, Homer beckons visitors with its scenery, wildlife, and small-town feel. Contrasting Ketchikan, “The First City,” Homer is often called “the end of the road" as the final town along Alaska’s main highway. But despite its out-of-the-way setting, Homer’s beauty and charm continue to keep people coming.
One of the town’s most iconic features is the Homer Spit, a narrow section of land between the Kachemak Bay and Cook Inlet. Shaped by ocean currents, the 4.5-mile Spit is the remnants of a glacial moraine. Dotted with beaches and businesses, strolling the Spit is a great way to breathe in ocean views while exploring local attractions like the Homer Shores Boardwalk. The Spit is also a popular jumping-off point for excursions and charters, with countless options to choose from, like Alaskan Adventure Guides and Outfitters.
For those willing to travel a bit further, Homer is also a gateway to the wonders of Lake Clark National Park and Katmai National Park. Located on the Alaska Peninsula across from Cook Inlet, both can be reached by boat or plane, and the journey is well worth it. Kachemak Bay State Park, Alaska’s first state park, spans 400,000 acres of glaciers, forests, and sections of the Kenai Mountains. From June through September, both parks are also popular with wildlife enthusiasts hoping to spot coastal brown bears.
Discover These Idyllic Alaska Towns In 2025
For travelers looking to leave their worries behind for a while in 2025, Alaska is the perfect place to slow down, recharge, and connect with nature. Whether using towns like Ketchikan and Homer as gateways to Alaska’s stunning parks, or staying put in towns like Valdez and Sitka to explore local history and scenery, these destinations reveal a side of the United States you never knew existed. Punctuated by waterfalls, alpine lakes, glaciers, and inviting communities, these idyllic Alaska towns invite you to experience the wonders of the Last Frontier.
