Things You Must See & Do in Alaska

Alaska is a lot more than just snow and ice. It has a lot to offer visitors and many places you won’t want to miss on your adventures.

When most people think of Alaska, the first thing that tends to come to mind is the weather. Yes, it can be very cold but there is so much more to this state than just the weather; especially if you enjoy wildlife and the outdoors. Although many people cruise to Alaska and up the western coast of North America, the interior has lots to offer as well.

It is not always brutally cold either. In the summer months (June – August), the average temperature in Juneau is 14 C (57 F) and it has gotten as high as 32 C (90 F). That’s not terrible. I’m not sure I’d want to be running around in a bikini at 14 C but it’s definitely shorts and t-shirt weather in my part of the world.

To get you started on your adventure to the far north, here’s a few places and things you’ll want to make sure you see.

1) Denali National Park

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Denali National Park is home to Mt. McKinley, also called Denali by the local native tribes. This is the tallest mountain in North America. Denali itself covers over 6 million acres of protected land. It is home to many different species including grizzly bears, eagles, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, gray wolves, and over 150 different types of birds. During the summer season, it is also a wildflower lover’s paradise.

You can easily spend several days there and numerous types of tours are available within the park. Some of these animals, not to mention the environmental conditions, can be dangerous so guided tours are often your best option. Plus the guides know where to find the types of animals you want to see.

You can stay right in the park. There are several lodges in a cabin or motel style located in various parts of the park as well as more luxurious hotels at the entrance to the park. The interior lodges offer various types of tours and activities as part of your stay package and would be a great choice if you intend to devote a few days to the park interior.

2) Kenai Fjords National Park

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This is another beautiful national park. When the glaciers formed and then disappeared during the last ice age, they left behind U-shaped valleys that filled with seawater. These are the fjords. There are still lots of glaciers to be seen within the park and they are quite accessible for those interested in exploring them. Not surprisingly, this is also a great place to see some of the marine life that is native to Alaska. Within the park, it is not uncommon to see humpback and orca whales, sea lions, seals, sea otters, Dall porpoise, and various sea and shore birds.

Like Denali, you can stay right in the park although there are far fewer options in terms of lodgings. Still, you get tours and activities included with your stay and it offers some truly scenic views right from your bedroom window.

3) Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary

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This is a 40 acre sanctuary that is home to a variety of fun and different activities. It’s located at Herring Cove, which is near Ketchikan. There is a native master-totem carver who works there and demonstrates his craft as well as the Alaskan Wildlife Foundation center. If you venture further into the sanctuary there is a herd of Alaskan reindeer. You will also want to spend some time at Eagle Creek which is a major salmon spawning river. Where there is salmon, you’ll find there are also bears and eagles.

4) Chena Hot Springs Resort

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The Chena Hot Springs is one of the more famous hot springs in Alaska. The spring itself offers year round enjoyment and is a fabulous place to watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from in the winter.

Beyond the healing mineral waters of the spring there is also an outdoor hot tub and an indoor pool for families to enjoy. The resort is open year round and is also home to the Ice Museum. This museum was made completely out of ice and holds a variety of world class ice sculptures. There is even an ice bar, where you can sit on a caribou fur covered stool and enjoy an appletini in a glass made of ice.

Because one the best known sports in Alaska is sled dog racing, you’ll also want to visit the Chena Kennel. The kennel offers you a chance to drive or take a ride in a dog sled. I used to drive a sled when I was younger and it is incredibly fun. The dogs in the kennel are all rescue dogs and they do not breed any dogs there. They do however occasionally borrow puppies from local mushers to love up visitors who in turn enjoy socializing the puppies. It’s a fun opportunity to see how they used to travel in Alaska and many other northern parts of the world.

5) Anchorage

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Alaska’s capital is also a great place to visit. About 15% of Alaska’s population is Native American but there are many different tribes that reside in or have resided in the state. A number of Anchorage museums focus on the history of these tribes and their culture. Cultural gatherings are common as well. Of course many went north in search of gold and there are also many mines and mining museums devoted to mimicking the experience of early miners. You can give gold panning a try at Crow Creek Mine and Indian Valley Mine.

For those seeking to mine the depths of their sweet tooth, try a visit to Alaska Wild Berry Products which is home to a 20 ft tall milk chocolate waterfall, the world’s highest. If your tastes run to something more adult, Anchorage is also home to several small breweries and wineries.

If you visit towards the end of February, you can catch the Fur Rondy, also known as the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous Winter Festival. Zany sports that are included in the festival include outhouse racing, running of the reindeer (think running of the bulls with reindeer), team snowball fights, and a blanket toss (get tossed up in the air from a walrus skin). Sounds like an absolute riot!

If you love wildlife and scenery, Alaska is a paradise of pleasure. Even if those aren’t your interests, there is still a lot of fun to be found in the northernmost state of the United States.

About the author

Heather B

Heather is an avid traveller, lover of dogs, and baker supreme. She lives in a small town in Ontario, Canada where she raises German Shorthaired Pointers with her family. An explorer at heart, she travels whenever she can, wherever she can.

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