Map view
Anchorage Museum
- The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska, located in Anchorage
- The museum encompasses a variety of disciplines, including art, history, ethnography, ecology, and science on the North
- The museum offers visitors access to a wide range of exhibits and programs that explore Alaskan history, culture, and the natural world
Denali, Denali National Park and Preserve
- Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level
- It is the tallest mountain in the world from base-to-peak on land
- Denali is the third most prominent and third-most isolated peak on Earth, after Mount Everest and Aconcagua
Park Road, Denali National Park and Preserve
- Park Road in Denali National Park is a scenic roadway that stretches approximately 92 miles from the park entrance
- Only the first 15 miles of Park Road are paved; the rest is unpaved and can be subject to closures due to weather conditions or landslides
- Park Road is renowned for its opportunities to view wildlife, including grizzly bears, moose, and caribou
Northern Lights, Fairbanks
Best time to visit: Jan-early April, late Sept-Dec
- The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are a natural light display predominantly seen in high-latitude regions around the Arctic and Antarctic
- Fairbanks, Alaska, is renowned as one of the best places in the United States to witness the phenomenon
- The aurora season in Fairbanks runs from August 21 to April 21, and during this period, the Northern Lights can be visible on average four out of five nights
- Fairbanks has been cited by several reputable sources, including National Geographic and CNN, as one of the top locations globally for viewing the Northern Lights
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the spectacular glacier and icefield landscapes as well as for the importance of grizzly bears, caribou and Dall sheep habitat
- About 80% of visitors to Glacier Bay arrive on cruise ships
- The National Park Service operates cooperative programs where rangers provide interpretive services aboard the ships and on the smaller boats that offer excursion trips to more distant park features
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, Juneau
Best time to visit: May-Aug
- The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is located in Juneau, and serves as a gateway for visitors to experience Mendenhall Glacier
- Established in 1962, it was the first visitor center in the National Forest System, originally designed as an observatory for viewing the glacier
- The center includes an indoor viewing area, exhibits about glacial dynamics, and also features a 15-minute film that provides insights into the glacier's formation and ecology
- Visitors can enjoy scenic walking trails, including a paved trail leading to Nugget Falls, and opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography
Goldbelt Tram, Juneau
Best time to visit: May-Aug
- The Goldbelt Tram is an aerial tramway located south of downtown Juneau
- In operation since 1996, the tram makes a six-minute ascent of 3,819-foot (1,164 m) up Mount Roberts from the cruise ship docks (just feet above sea level) to a height of about 1,800 feet (550 m)
- A restaurant, theater, retail shop, and nature center are located at the top of the tramway, as well as connections to trails leading both up and down the mountain
- A trail up the mountain leads to a large cross erected by Roman Catholic Father Brown in the early 1900s
Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau
Best time to visit: May-Aug
- Mendenhall Glacier is a glacier about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) long, located about 12 miles (19 km) from downtown Juneau
- The glacier is monitored, and since 1920, it has retreated 1.75 miles (2.82 km), and over 2.5 miles (4.0 km) since 1500
- The end of the glacier currently has a negative glacier mass balance and will continue to retreat in the foreseeable future, due to climate change
- In 2012, tree stumps and logs with attached roots and bark appeared under the retreating glacier, the oldest of which are around 2,350 years old
Exit Glacier View and Overlook Loop, Kenai Fjords National Park
Walk difficulty: easy
- Exit Glacier View and Overlook Loop is a scenic hiking trail located near Seward, within the Kenai Fjords National Park
- The first part of the trail is flat and paved, as you progress, the trail includes some moderately steep sections leading to a rocky outcropping that offers views of Exit Glacier
- The loop also provides opportunities to see local wildlife and forest scenery
Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary, Ketchikan
- The Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary is a private preserve located in Ketchikan
- This sanctuary features a temperate rainforest environment characterized by towering spruce, hemlock, and cedar trees, along with a forest floor rich in mosses and wildflowers
- The sanctuary is renowned for its opportunities to see native Alaskan wildlife, including black bears, eagles, and seals
- The sanctuary also includes historical features such as an old sawmill and a totem pole park, showcasing local indigenous culture
Creek Street, Ketchikan
- Creek Street is a historic area located in Ketchikan, known for its wooden boardwalks and brightly painted buildings that are built on stilts over the water
- Historically, Creek Street served as Ketchikan's red-light district from around 1903 to 1954
- Today, Creek Street features well-preserved or restored old businesses and homes
Totem Trail, Sitka National Historical Park
Walk difficulty: easy
- The Totem Trail is a notable hiking trail located within Sitka National Historical Park
- The trail features a collection of totem poles that were originally donated by Southeast Alaska Native leaders for exhibition at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair and the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition
- After their exhibition, the poles were sent to Sitka, where they were erected in what is now known as Sitka National Historical Park
- The totem poles represent the art and history of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast, showcasing their unique artistic styles and cultural heritage
Tracy Arm Fjord
Best time to visit: May-Aug
- Tracy Arm is a fjord located in Alaska, known for its towering cliffs, pristine waterfalls, and abundant wildlife, making it a popular destination for tourists and photographers
- It is home to the Sawyer Glacier, which is famous for its active calving, where chunks of ice break off and fall into the water
- Visitors may view various wildlife, including seals, bears, and mountain goats
- Tracy Arm can only be accessed by boat (or cruise ship), and floatplane
Hubbard Glacier, Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
- Hubbard Glacier is a tidewater glacier located in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve
- It is notable for being North America's largest tidewater glacier, measuring over 120 kilometers (approximately 75 miles) in length
- The glacier is known for its remarkable growth, advancing at a rate of over 7 feet per day
- It has been advancing into Disenchantment Bay, where it can be observed calving icebergs into the water