Isolated and little populated, Alaska vast territory serves up opportunities for wildlife viewing, hikes and enjoying wide-open natural spaces. You can view breaching humpbacks or huge brown bears, or spend a day eating fresh-caught crabs or panning for gold. While you could spend a lifetime enjoying the Last Frontier, you’ll need a shrewd itinerary to make the most of your trip.
If Time Is Short
- Those with short trips of three to five days should stick to Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. These two areas offer a mix of wildlife, culture and a taste of the city, and are easily connected by a daily train. Spend a day or two in Anchorage walking through the small, but lively downtown area and visiting the Alaska Native Heritage Center. From Anchorage, fill your lenses with remarkable panoramic views aboard the Alaska Railroad train to Seward. Here, hang out with puffins, octopi and rehabbing sea mammals at the Alaska SeaLife Center, a cold-water marine sanctuary. Or hike on the Exit Glacier, Lost Lake, Cooper Lake or Harding Icefield trails. Fill the remaining days with trips to Kenai Fjords National Park for views of wildlife and glaciers, and hike the impressive Exit Glacier, or kayak near Fox Island -- you may even be lucky enough to spot some whales. For those coming into Seward by ship, try this itinerary in reverse.
If You've Got About a Week
- After you spend a day or two exploring Anchorage, rent a car and drive less than an hour north to Wasilla to the Iditarod Headquarters. Take a dog sled for a spin and learn about a unique part of Alaska history. You pass old gold mines on the way to Palmer, your entrance to Alaska's most road-accessible glacier, the Matanuska Glacier. From here, you can spend a day in Copper Center river fishing or hiking area trails before heading toward the water for your last few days. In Valdez, grab views of Columbia Glacier from a cruise through Prince William Sound, or join a fishing tour and eat what you catch for dinner. Finish your trip by hopping on the ferry to Whittier before driving back to Anchorage.
Two Weeks-Plus
- If you've got two or more weeks, hit Alaska's Interior. Start in Fairbanks, where you can try your luck panning for gold before relaxing on a Tanana River cruise. From here, rent a vehicle and drive to the University of Alaska Museum of the North and see if you can identify a musk ox. The next day, head south to Denali National Park where you should spend at least a few active days hiking, whitewater rafting and wildlife viewing. Those eager to see North America's tallest mountain peak, will be happy to continue south to Talkeetna, with clear-day views of Mount McKinley as well as flight-seeing tours. Spend your final days exploring Anchorage and the Kenai.
But Wait, There's More ...
- Due to its paucity of paved roads and limited rail system, finding frequent and reliable public transportation can be frustrating -- especially during the off-season months between October and April, when Alaskans turn to air, sled and snowmachine travel. Whether you are here for only a few days or a few weeks, arriving by plane, ship or automobile, it pays to plan ahead. If you are going during peak season, mid-June through September, arrange your vehicle rentals and train tickets as far in advance as possible. You may find that it saves headaches to join a tour.
