Eight Great Reasons to Visit Alaska on Your USA Trip

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The US state of Alaska is mother nature’s masterpiece.

Largely uncharted and predominantly unspoilt, this is a destination wildly rich in scenic beauty. Epic mountain ranges, glistening glaciers, and sweeping tundra plains define the landscape, and you’ll find superlatives rolling off the tongue at every turn. Expect to see plenty of wildlife as part of the deal, including black and brown bears, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep, alongside mammoth marine dwellers like humpback whales and orcas.

You’ll also encounter a warmth of hospitality in Alaska that you possibly haven’t experienced elsewhere. Afterall, it’s no mean feat to get here and the local population knows it! Situated in the planet’s Far North and one of only two non-contiguous American states (the other being Hawaii), this is a travel destination that for the most part is well and truly off the beaten tourist track. While commercial cruising makes the southern coastline somewhat accessible, if you’re really going to get out there up north, it’s going to take some effort!

Independent travellers are likely to arrive at one of three international airports — Anchorage, Fairbanks, or capital city Juneau. Anchorage is the largest of the three cities, and is the best located for the diversity of internal connections and travel options that it offers. Aussie travellers can hop a direct flight from Vancouver to Anchorage and be on the ground in just over three hours. Lodge-style accommodation is plentiful, as are characterful short-term rentals. Search holiday property management in Alaska to browse the options. If there was ever a place to live out that log-cabin-in-the woods fantasy, this is it!

Here are eight great reasons to visit Alaska on your next USA trip.

1. You can step back in time

Alaska is often cited purely as an adventure lover’s playground, but it also has an intriguing history to explore. First inhabited by migrant Aleuts, Inuit, and other native groups, then settled by Russia in the late 1700s, the region was sold by the Russian Empire to the United States in 1867 (largely to spite the Brits who controlled Canada) and became the 49th US state in 1959. Throw in the gold rush, the coming of the railway, and the rise of the oil and gas industries (remember the Exxon Valdez disaster of 1989?), and you have plenty of figurative historical digging to do. Alaska State Museum in Juneau pulls all the threads together and will provide valuable context for the rest of your stay.

History buffs will also love exploring Skagway — a town that brings the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century to life. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park encompasses a number of heritage sites and hosts four separate museums devoted to the era.

2. You can cruise the Inside Passage

Skagway is located at the top of Alaska’s portion of the famous Inside Passage — possibly the most popular cruise route in the world, which stretches up the coastline of North America from Washington State to the Alaskan panhandle. Framed by the Pacific Ocean to the east and shadowed by the vast bulk of Canada to the west, the Passage weaves its way through a multitude of small islands that form the Alexander Archipelago. There are myriad highlights along the way, but seeing the jaw-dropping beauty of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (a day’s sailing from Juneau) possibly takes the cake. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed area is not easy to get to under your own steam, and a cruise makes it possible.

3. You can ride the Alaska Railroad

At just over 1.7 million square kilometres in size, Alaska is a big place — and it’s not until you get further north that the reality of that fact kicks in. While it’s not the fastest way to travel, the historic Alaska Railroad is one of the most memorable means of seeing at least a portion of the interior. Completed in 1923 and stretching 1,000 kilometres from Seward on the southern coast to Fairbanks in the state’s centre, the AR runs a series of seasonal itineraries from its Anchorage railhead that will hold you spellbound. In summer, travel north on the Denali Star service through Denali National Park and on to Fairbanks, or south through the Chugach Mountain Range to Seward on the Coastal Classic service. The Aurora Winter service from Anchorage to Fairbanks runs from September through to May (weekends only).

There are two classes of service on board — Adventure (standard) and Goldstar (deluxe). The latter will see you travelling in a luxurious domed railcar and enjoying a la carte dining enroute (included in the cost of your fare).

4. You can hike through Denali National Park

Covering an area of 24,000 square kilometres, Denali National Park and Preserve is possibly Alaska’s top land-based natural attraction. Characterised by seemingly endless wilderness and home to North America’s highest peak (Mount Denali), the options to bring out your inner adventurer here are many and varied. Northern Epics offers a five-hour guided mountain hike in the summer months — with pick-up from most hotels around the park’s entrance. Accompanied by an expert local guide, you’ll traverse jagged ridge lines above sweeping valleys of richly coloured and textured tundra. This is an experience that will stay with you for years to come!

5. You can explore Fairbanks

Fairbanks is the gateway to northern Alaska and what’s colloquially known as the ‘land of the midnight sun’. During the summer months, this city of 30,000 residents sees around 70 days of round-the-clock sunlight – meaning you’ll have plenty of time to sightsee! Visit The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center to learn about the region’s First People, tap into the city’s gold mining heritage on a prospecting tour, cruise the picturesque Chenna River onboard an authentic Alaskan sternwheeler, and enjoy a soak in the remote Chena Hot Springs. It’s also possible to do a day trip into the Arctic Circle itself — including a drive along the epic Dalton Highway.

6. You can see the northern lights

In winter, Fairbanks gets just five hours of sunlight per day. However, the darkness brings its own unique reward — the opportunity to observe (with extraordinary clarity) aurora borealis — commonly known as the northern lights. Aurora In Alaska runs a small group aurora chasing tour from Fairbanks, which seeks out the best views of this kaleidoscopic solar phenomenon. Your knowledgeable guide will share insights about the appearance of aurora and the best ways to photograph it. You’ll also return with a deeper understanding of northern Alaskan culture.

7. You can ride a dog sled (if you choose to)

Dog sledding has become increasingly popular as a tourist activity in Alaska, and like any animal attraction it has its critics. Used by native North Americans for thousands of years, ‘mushing’ — as it’s also known — gained prominence as a means of transport in colonial Alaska during the gold rush. Today, visitors can dog sled in both winter and summer, and often in multi-passenger sleighs. If you’re concerned about the ethics, it’s probably best to avoid large scale operations altogether. Do your homework and research small private operators, who generally have a more personal relationship with their animals. Howling Bay Kennel in Fairbanks runs private dog sledding tours in a forest setting, and you’ll enjoy one-on-one time with the dogs and their puppies afterwards. If you’re dead against it in any capacity, saddle up a snow mobile instead!

8. You can kayak through Kenai Fjords National Park

A 2.5-hour drive south from Anchorage (or just over four hours on board the AR) will bring you to Seward, which is the jumping off spot for exploration of incomparable Kenai Fjords National Park — a to-do list topper for many travellers. Book the sightseeing cruise operated by Major Marine Tours and settle in for a day of splendid vistas and wondrous wildlife viewing. You’ll cruise past the majestic Holgate Glacier and possibly see chunks of the icy escarpment breaking off and crashing into the steely coloured waters below.

Those feeling fit may want to tackle the Kenai Fjords in a kayak. A cruise and kayak combo day trip with Liquid Adventures will have you paddling along the coastline in a sea kayak under the watchful eye of a highly trained guide. See nesting seabirds, puffins, and perhaps even whales.

This post was published thanks to Casa Rentals.

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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of great reasons to visit Alaska in the USA? We would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

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