8 Most Peaceful Small Towns In Alaska
Alaska offers a certain kind of quiet and peacefulness you would be hard-pressed to find anywhere else in America. Here, you can sit back on a porch and just relax to the sound of the wind purring through the spruce trees. Or, you can walk out to a dock and catch some rays as the water laps against the weathered wood. Relaxing vibes abound, especially in Alaska's small towns, where tranquility beckons to everyone who needs a sanctuary. The following towns are among the most peaceful you will find. So, if you just need a break, head over to Alaska to fill up on mountain views and explore serene lake hideouts.
Homer
Before you even drive into Homer, you can enjoy views that will calm your mind and body. The last few miles before you reach the town limit, you will see glaciers and mountains, as well as the Homer Spit that stretches halfway across Kachemak Bay. Everything about Homer is mild and tranquil, even the climate. Tourists can bake in the sun on the bay shores or spend a day fishing the Homer Spit Lagoon, also known as the Fishing Hole. While out by water, keep an eye out for bald eagles and sea otters.
For more views and wildlife, one can take a water taxi to Kachemak Bay State Park on the other side of the bay. Here, the Glacier Lake Trail leads to Grewingk Glacier, and sea kayaking offers an opportunity to explore the many coves and bays. Those who want to experience even more of Homer can book a flightseeing tour. It allows one to soar high above the mountains and glaciers of Kachemak Bay State Park and see if they can spot brown bears down below.
Sitka
Sitka offers you wilderness, whale watching, and the best of what native Alaskan and Russian cultures have to offer. From its position within the Inside Passage on the Sitka Sound, this beautiful town beckons to those who want to leave the mad rush of the city behind. Tourists who visit downtown Sitka during the summer can catch the popular Sitka Music Festival. The festival includes several music events such as piano winter classics and symphonies. Downtown is also where you will find historic buildings, including the Russian Bishop’s House and Baranof Castle State Historic Site. Just outside town, enthusiasts can hike several trails in the Tongass National Forest, the largest national forest in the United States.
Petersburg
Petersburg is another unspoiled Alaska town where tourists can leave everything behind except their wanderlust. There are no large crowds here, as Petersburg is not a port of call for cruise ships. The town also sits on stunning Mitkof Island, where wilderness and glaciers are visible everywhere. Instead of Russian cultural influence, you will see the Scandinavian effect throughout Petersburg. This is evident in the Sons of Norway Hall and the multiple murals on the buildings. The town is built on ancestral Tlingit land, and it does well to keep the Tlingit history alive.
Besides learning more about Petersburg’s history, outdoor lovers can kayak alongside icebergs in LeConte Bay or go whale watching in Frederick Sound. When it is low tide around Petersburg, ancient fish traps and petroglyphs emerge, telling the story of lives lived in a way like nowhere else. For those who need a breather in the middle of the year, it's best to head over to Petersburg for a two-day Fourth of July celebration. Petersburg goes old-school with its Independence Day party, which includes a huge parade, street games, fireworks, and carnival games.
Valdez
Valdez looks exactly like a landscape from the animated film Frozen. In this gorgeous town, you can see the aurora borealis from the fall through spring. Visitors can also stand up close to calving glaciers, watching as enormous chunks break off and drop into the sea below. Valdez receives a significant amount of snow every year, averaging around 300 inches. This means people can heli-ski, backcountry ski, cross-country ski, and snowboard for days on end.
The town is also home to the Solomon Gulch Hatchery, so if you are all ski’d out, you can see bears, seals, and sea lions in their natural habitat. There is also ample space for camping and fishing at nearby Allison Point. Another place to explore, located not far from town, is the 600-foot-tall Bridal Veil Falls, the tallest waterfall in Keystone Canyon, as well as Horsetail Falls. If you just want to take in the relaxing atmosphere, drive or walk out onto the Marina and Kelsey Dock, where you can people watch, read a book, or enjoy a great cup of coffee.
Talkeetna
Should you want to linger in Alaska for a while, the Talkeetna Aerie Domes is a great place to stay. Here, visitors can relax and recharge while looking out at the mountain range overlooking Talkeetna. The range includes the incredible Denali Mountain peaks. Outdoor enthusiasts can also hike the Denali Viewpoint Hike or the Railroad Bridge Trail, which snakes over the Talkeetna River. One can also explore the backcountry via the Hurricane Turn Train, which is one of the last flagstop trains in the country.
Tranquil activities include a river boat tour, which includes a day-long boat trip on the Susitna River all the way to Devil’s Gorge. If you prefer heading out on the water on your own, you can rent a canoe or kayak. And, if you decide to take a trip to Talkeetna in March, you can still ski in Talkeetna Lakes Park, snowmobile around Denali National Park, or participate in the annual Trio Fatbike World Championships.
Cordova
Cordova lies on the coast of Prince William Sound, opening up a world of opportunities. Ideally, one should want to visit this pretty adventure town during the summer when they can get on the waters of Orca Inlet with a paddleboard or kayak. Tourists can also float down the Copper River or go whitewater rafting. If you just want to enjoy the water and cast a line, there are plenty of places to choose from, including the Eyak River and Clear Creek.
On land, a new set of opportunities awaits. At the end of the Copper River Highway, you will find Miles Glacier and the Million Dollar Bridge. You can access these attractions only by boat. Tourists visiting in May can experience the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival, during which more than five million shorebirds fly through the delta on their way to the Arctic. And, in July, you can enjoy a lively celebration with the Copper River Salmon Jam as the salmon run comes through town.
Haines
Haines is a comparatively sunny haven in what is typically a rainy part of the Inside Passage. This small town is one of the prettiest in Alaska and serves as a crucial stop on the Alaska Marine Highway System. Haines is also connected by road to the Alaska Highway and Canada, which means there is more traffic than you may expect. However, this does not detract from the dreamy beauty that awaits. Tourists who choose Haines for a peaceful getaway destination can start their trip by hiking the trails closest to town. These include the Mount Riley Trail and Mount Rapinsky Trail.
Haines is also where hordes of bald eagles converge on the Chilkat River every year during the salmon run. This phenomenon coincides with the annual Alaska Bald Eagle Festival that takes place during the second week of November. The festival lasts five days and features workshops, art shows, and opportunities for birdwatching. Other fun activities include driving the Haines Highway for spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers. You can also tour the Lynn Canal, which is one of the deepest fjords in the U.S. The canal is home to dolphins, seals, and whales, and they often make their appearance when visitors explore the area.
Girdwood
This resort town is less than an hour away from Anchorage, and the drive includes the Turnagain Arm, one of the most scenic drives in the state. If you do not want to drive the Arm, you can take the Alyeska Aerial Tram or walk the Veilbreaker Skybridge. In town, there are also mountain views everywhere you look and stunning green spaces to enjoy. Explorers can hike the Crow Pass Trail, which features relics from a bygone mining era, an alpine lake, a glacier, and a waterfall.
If you visit in winter, you can ski across nearly 1,600 acres while taking in the views of the snowy landscape. Adventurous souls can even fly to a glacier in a helicopter and hike right up close to it. But if rest and relaxation in a picturesque setting is what you are after, the Alyeska Nordic Spa is not to be missed. It is the only spa of its kind in the state, situated in a boreal forest and offering steam rooms and saunas for visitors who need to unwind.
Finding Peace And Quiet At The Edge Of The World
In a world that does not seem to ever slow down, Alaska offers the opportunity to do just that. The small towns throughout the state invite you to stay awhile, breathe in the mountain air, and soak in the calmness. Whether it’s watching eagles in Haines or walking the peaceful shores of Homer, each town leaves you with a deeper sense of stillness and connection. By the time you leave, you will carry some of that peacefulness back home with you.
