Alaska vacations

With scenic trails, craft breweries, salmon fishing and a buzzing local arts scene, Alaska’s biggest city has a lot to keep you busy. It’s time to go all in on Anchorage.

Located in the state’s sparsely populated interior, Fairbanks brings you face-to-face with breathtaking wilderness. Explore everything from glacier hikes and river canoe trips to nearby hot springs.

The outdoors loom large in this remote Alaskan town. From skiing and fishing to gazing at the Northern Lights, Galena gives you a front-row seat to the edge of the world.

Whether you go whale watching, walk on a glacier or feast on some of the freshest seafood on the continent, Alaska’s capital city captivates the imagination.

With a picturesque harbor surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Sitka is worth a stop on your Alaska tour. And it’s also the perfect base for wildlife encounters.

A historic city in Alaska’s Inside Passage, Ketchikan is renowned for its Native American totem poles, world-class fishing and colorful wooden buildings overlooking the water.

To truly appreciate this remote land, you’ll need to spend time with its Indigenous peoples. Watch dance performances and listen to local stories at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage. And learn all about the Iñupiat people’s culture in the northern city of Utqiaġvik. To support the state’s Indigenous communities, try to book excursions with Alaska Native–owned tour operators.

Alaska is one of the best places on Earth to see the Northern Lights. To increase your odds of catching the show, visit between mid-August and mid-April, when the night skies are darkest. While the Northern Lights are visible statewide, they’re best seen in the Interior and Arctic regions, especially in spots like Fairbanks, Coldfoot and Wiseman.

Getting up close to the state’s thousands of glaciers is one of the best things to do in Alaska. Hike around Matanuska Glacier and explore the Exit Glacier area in Seward on a fat-tire bike. Looking for a more relaxed way to see these icy wonders? Take in the dramatic scenery while riding the Alaska Railroad, which travels 470 miles between Seward and Fairbanks.

With 33,000 miles of shoreline, there are plenty of beaches in Alaska to choose from. Soak up the Midnight Sun from Bishop’s Beach Park in Homer. Or spot the blow of humpback whales from Hoonah’s Icy Strait Point Beach on Chichagof Island. In summer, bears and bald eagles congregate at Juneau’s Eagle Beach.

Alaska’s natural wonders are something to behold, from snow-capped mountains and towering glaciers to crystal-clear lakes and fjords. Denali National Park is famous for its namesake peak, grizzly bears, moose and caribou. And you can spot orcas and humpback whales in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. Need a break from the cold? Warm up in Sitka’s Goddard Hot Springs.

You can thank Alaska’s immense coastline and its more than three million lakes for the amazing seafood you’ll find here. Feast on wild salmon, Pacific halibut and king crab legs at the best restaurants in Alaska. Or swap fresh fish for reindeer sausage and elk burgers. Ready for dessert? Order the ‘akutuq’ (Alaskan ice cream), made from animal fat, berries and snow.

Travel back to Alaska’s frontier days at Fairbanks’ Pioneer Park. Or spend an afternoon hunkered down at the Anchorage Museum, the largest in the state. One of the best museums in Alaska to learn about local history and culture is the Alaska State Museum in Juneau. And if you’re interested in Indigenous art, don’t miss the Potlatch Totem Park and Museum in Ketchikan.

The best time to visit Alaska is between May and September, when the balmy weather allows for prime hiking and wildlife watching. If spotting the Northern Lights is at the top of your list, aim to visit between November and March. Alaska is at its coldest during this time, so pack plenty of warm layers.

A cheap trip to Alaska can be tricky, but carefully budgeting your vacation can help keep costs down. Expect to pay around 20 US dollars ($) for a simple meal and under $10 for a local beer. A short taxi ride will set you back around $9.