8 Incredible Vacation Spots In Alaska
Home to fluffy polar bears, breathtaking landscapes, and an extraordinary mix of ecosystems, Alaska is a must-visit state. Whether you go for its nature, history, wildlife, or culture, the Last Frontier state has a lot to offer, and a memorable and unique trip is guaranteed. Around 2 million people visit Alaska yearly because of its incredible vacation spots and hospitality, so get ready for an adventure to the 49th state.
Homer
Homer is a city in Alaska on the Kachemak Bay with a population of around 6,000 people, known for its halibut fishing and wildlife. A popular place in Homer is the Homer Spit which has a lot of restaurants, shops, art galleries, and more. Take a relaxing walk along its beaches, head out at sea for guided kayaking, eat delicious meals, take a picture at the popular swing hidden under the buildings of the Homer Spit, and go fishing for salmon and halibut.
For a more exciting fishing experience, find a full or half-day charter leaving out of Homer to find halibut weighing several hundred pounds, a variety of salmon, rockfish, and lingcod, with assistance from experienced fishermen. Homer’s water is full of marine life, so you can also take a tour out into the water for whale watching, and you might catch a glimpse of sea otters and porpoises as well.
There are a lot of museums and art galleries to visit if you want to stay indoors. Homer’s community, being on the Bay, is the perfect muse for artists, and they bring out its beauty and a multitude of styles. Head to Gallery Row to see multiple galleries like Picture Alaska and the Fireweed gallery, or the Norman Lowell Gallery, displaying sculptures of multiple artists. Read about Homer’s history and the Kachemak Bay at the Pratt Museum, which focuses on native cultures, art, fishing, and more.
There are quite a few places to stay in Homer and near it, like the Ocean Shores hotel right outside downtown Homer, Driftwood Inn in the middle of Old Town Homer, or Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge which is a 30-minute boat ride away from Homer.
Sitka
Sitka, located on the outer shoreline of Southeast Alaska bordering the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by islands, is the first capital of Alaska. Sitka was originally inhabited by the Tlingit people, and their culture remains an integral part of the town. You can learn about their rich history through official cultural tours offered by the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. Russian culture from the settlers is also a very prominent part of Sitka, and both cultures are displayed in different museums across the town. The Sheldon Jackson Museum displays a lot of historical artifacts from all over Alaska, and a lot of Tlingit items can be seen in the museum. The Russian Bishops' House explains Alaskan history in detail and highlights both cultures and their impact on Sitka.
Sitka is also known for its scenic hiking trails through forests, along the water, and up mountains, offering a variety of difficulties for each terrain. The Mosquito Cove trail is a moderate 1.5-mile trail through a forest that leads to a quiet and peaceful beach. The Indian River Trail is an easy yet long 9-mile trail that winds through a rainforest along the Indian River with waterfalls along the way. For a more difficult and elevated hike, the Mt. Verstovia trail offers a bird’s-eye view of multiple mountain peaks, including Gavan and Bear Mountain. Bears and eagles are common companions on these hikes, so make sure to travel in groups!
Speaking of bears, an educational and fun destination in Sitka is Fortress of the Bear. This rescue center provides protection for orphaned and rescued bears, and educates visitors on these smart and furry friends. The guides at the fortress give detailed explanations about each bear, allowing you to form a connection with them.
Sitka offers different places to make sure your stay is as comfortable as possible. Some of its more popular hotels and inns include the Sitka Hotel, Sitka’s Eagle Bay Inn, and Longliner Lodge and Suites.
Fairbanks
Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska, a perfect vacation spot known for its gold rush history, dog sledding, the Northern Lights, and the mind-blowing phenomenon, the midnight sun. The midnight sun is a natural phenomenon that occurs in places north of the Arctic Circle or South of the Antarctic Circle, where the sun is visible at the local midnight. Catch the midnight sun at Fairbanks April 20 - August 22 wherever you are in town.
For the other half of the year, August 21 - April 21, get ready to see the famous Northern Lights, also called an Aurora. Fairbanks is one of the best locations to get a perfect view of the lights, and you can get photography tips, tours, and more from multiple experienced organizations and tour guides in the city. Make sure to plan to stay multiple nights to get the best view, and try to stay in a remote wilderness lodge or a clear-roofed dome. Areas like Coldfoot offer the best spot to see the lights in all their beauty.
One of Fairbanks’s oldest traditions that is still used today is dog sledding, and it’s an activity that every visitor must try out at least once. Dogs were a key part of transportation in winter during Alaska’s early days, and this method of transport is called mushing. Book your own sledding adventure with excited dogs, a masterful guide, magnificent snowy trails during the winter season, and even get a chance to do the driving yourself. You might also spot some of Fairbanks's diverse wildlife, so keep an eye out for the one hundred or more species of mammals and birds identified there.
Fairbanks is a golden city, not just because of its people and nature, but also because of its literal gold mines. In 1902, a gold strike was found by an Italian immigrant, Felix Pedro. The city still has operating gold mines, and tourists can learn how to pan for gold; some companies offer experiences that guarantee you a piece of gold. Learn more about Fairbanks's run-in with gold at the Pedro Museum or at the authentic Gold Dredge 8.
Fairbanks has a lot of homey places to stay in, and a lot of them are specifically placed to get the best view of the lights like the Borealis Basecamp and the Aurora Borealis Lodge. Other places that are more in the city are the Wedgewood Resort and the Pike’s Waterfront Lodge.
Valdez
Looking for a more athletic and adventurous trip? Valdez is just the city that does it. Valdez is known for its wintertime sports, but it also has summer activities. During the winter months, the snowfall reaches more than 300 inches annually, which is the best condition for skiing and snowboarding. Another activity is fat biking around icebergs and taking in the beautiful scenery around the city. If working out in the cold isn’t your idea of a vacation, Valdez offers kayaking and river rafting during its summer months, as well as rafting during winter in its icy waters.
After a long day of skiing and rafting, relax at The Fat Mermaid Club for pizzas and beer in Harbor Drive, a popular location in town. Valdez also has a few museums to learn about its history. The Valdez Museum and Historical Archive explains more about the origins of the area, with artifacts and an interactive kid area as well. The Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum has one of the largest collections of Native Alaskan art, wildlife mounts, masks, dolls, and fur clothing displays in the world.
Valdez offers camping grounds and sites to stay in during your vacation, most of which are equipped with bathrooms, like Allison Point Access Site and Valdez Glacier Campground. Valdez also has comfortable and highly rated hotels and inns, such as the Best Western-Valdez Harbour Inn, Mountain Sky Hotel and Suites, and the Robe Lake Lodge.
Wrangell
Wrangell is said to be the oldest town in Alaska, and the only one to be ruled by four different nations throughout history, Russia, the US, the UK, and the Tlingit. Wrangell preserves its abundant history in museums like the Wrangell Museum that shows more of its past, and in an entire Island named Shakes Island. The island replicates Tlingit homes and the tools they used daily. The island has original totems hidden under cover and eagles perched on branches, taking you to a different time in Alaska.
Wrangell also has glacier tours, like the LeConte Glacier. Take a tour through a labyrinth of icebergs to reach the captivating and icy glaciers. Some tours take you to the glacier and to go bear watching. Curious seals might pop up during your trip, so keep a sharp eye out for little creatures on your tour.
The town has its fair share of physical activities like mountain biking, kayaking, and golfing. There are over 100 miles of road suitable for mountain biking, such as Nemo Loop Road, which is an 18-mile one-way route classified as moderate, but there are shorter routes as well for beginners. You can rent a bike at Klondike Bike for most of your biking trips. For kayaking, you can either venture out into the waters yourself or take a tour to see the best spots in Wrangell's cold waters. Finally, golfing. Wrangell has one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world, Muskeg Meadows. The sea view, snowy mountains, and wildlife make golfing in this city a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Clubs and equipment can be rented from the course itself.
Some of Wrangell’s best places to stay are Grand View Bed and Breakfast, Wrangell Extended Stay, and the Sourdough Lodge. All hotels and lodges guarantee you a comfortable and welcoming stay.
Anaktuvuk Pass
Travelers looking for an off-the-grid experience, this is the trip for you. Anaktuvuk Pass, a small Nunamiut Inupiat Village in Alaska with fewer than 500 people, is right beside the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, and a lot of people start their adventure through the park there. The Gates are one of the country’s most remote national parks with no trails, roads, or fixed campsites. Anyone who braves the journey must have the necessary skills to survive with no facilities and the possibility of danger. Several different terrains await those who visit, like dramatic mountain peaks, glaciers, wild rivers, and a lot of lakes. The trip is challenging, with experienced hikers saying 6 miles a day is a good amount of ground to cover.
The wildlife you see depends on what time of the year you’re going and how large your party is. The park has caribou, grizzly bears, muskoxen, foxes, wild moose, wolves, and a variety of birds.
There are guide services and air taxi operators to contact in case of an emergency or for assistance, but this trip is a perfect opportunity to test your survival skills.
Juneau
Juneau is the third-largest city in Alaska according to population, and it is also the capital of Alaska, making it a must-visit city. One of Juneau’s biggest attractions is the Mendenhall Glacier, which is full of waterfalls and lush forests. The Mendenhall Visitor’s Center offers a head-on view of the lake against a mountain panorama. For excited hikers, the 3.4-mile one-way West Glacier Trail explores the western part of the lake. A more difficult route heads towards the glacier itself, but only experienced hikers should make that trip.
Another popular spot is the Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure, where a covered vehicle transports you through this botanical garden, explaining the different flowers and pointing out the eagle sightings. In the middle of the tour, a short walk takes you to a cliff-side viewpoint above Juneau, the Mendenhall Valley, Douglas Island, and more.
Juneau has a lot of winter sports and views of the entire city. Go skiing and snowboarding at Eaglecrest Ski Area. There are multiple difficulties, with a drop of up to 1,620 feet. Enjoy Juneau’s winter beauty with ice skating on lakes or walking across Mendenhall Lake to see the half-frozen Nugget Falls. You can also experience traditional mushing in the summer months with a helicopter trip to a glacier, then take the professional dogs through the icy glaciers.
For more views of Juneau, head to the top of Mount Juneau, also called Mount Roberts. There are two trails to choose from: the locals’ favorite and the elevation gain climb. The former is a steep slope with some creek crossings, and the latter is a 4.5-mile trail to the summit of Mount Roberts. Watch for marmots and black bears while you hike. You can also take a tram to Mount Roberts, which offers a great view.
Juneau offers a great selection of places to stay, like the Juneau Aspen Suites Hotel, Best Western Country Lane Inn, and Super 8 by Wyndham Juneau.
Skagway
Skagway, known as the Gateway to the Klondike during the Klondike Gold Rush, is a museum disguised as a city. Skagway’s history is rich and full of unbelievable tales, and you can experience it all first-hand during your visit. Take a trip back to Klondike’s Gold Rush era with a trip to The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, where you can spot the original buildings belonging to that period. There are interactive exhibits to learn more about the era, and a trail taking you through the park to learn more about the gold rush and its significance at the time and to this day. Learn more about the lives lost during the search for gold at the Gold Rush Cemetery, a peaceful sight that honors and shares the stories of important names during the gold rush era.
Skagway is all about appreciating its past, and the best way to commemorate it is a walk down Broadway Street to see the old shops carefully preserved to keep their historical relevance. Explore colorful antique shops, art stores, local craft stores, and more. There are also a lot of cafes and restaurants that bring a lively and modern feel to this beautiful landmark. Another historic and interesting spot is the Red Onion Saloon, a brothel during the gold rush that turned into a restaurant and bar, and the Historic Moore Cabin, an authentic log cabin with artifacts and photographs of the gold rush era.
The best and highly recommended hotels and inns in Skagway are the Pack Train Inn, the Chilkoot Trail Outpost, the Aspen Suites Hotel in Haines, and more.
Alaska offers an unforgettable travel experience. From the Northern Lights in Fairbanks to Sitka’s rich blend of cultures, and from Juneau’s breathtaking landscapes to Homer’s thriving wildlife, every corner of the state promises something extraordinary. Whether you're seeking outdoor adventure, cultural immersion, or serene natural beauty, the 49th state delivers. With so much to explore and discover, Alaska is a destination that belongs on every traveler's bucket list.
