Alaska Things to Do

  The White Pass Yukon narrow gauge train.
by K.Knight
 
  • The White Pass Yukon narrow gauge train.
      The White Pass Yukon narrow gauge train.
    by K.Knight
  • The Skagway fish Company.
      The Skagway fish Company.
    by K.Knight
  • Mendenall Glacier
      Mendenall Glacier
    by aznaphrodite
  • Totem Bight
      Totem Bight
    by cfuentesm
  • Mt Verstovia on a windy day
      Mt Verstovia on a windy day
    by MTrav
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in Alaska

1.

Portage Glacier   Anchorage

Portage Glacier, Anchorage

 14 Reviews  About an hours drive from Anchorage, the drive itself is a constant stream of beathtaking views as you drive along the Turnagain Arm. The cost of the cruise for us was $29. It lasts about an hours and... 

 See All 218 Things to Do in Anchorage

2.

Tundra Wilderness Tour   Denali National Park and Preserve

Tundra Wilderness Tour, Denali National Park and Preserve

 10 Reviews  This tour is a long day with a (usually) very early start, but we found it entirely worth it. We did get to see four of the "Denali Big Five." These are Dall Sheep, Moose, Grizzly Bears, Wolves and... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

3.

Beach Fever   Kodiak

Beach Fever, Kodiak

 6 Reviews  Buskin is a beach along a river, the river is a fave spot for fishermen. It has a beach house you can rent up on the cliffs, and it's actually a state park too, so you had better behave there! On warm... 

 See All 45 Things to Do in Kodiak

4.

Iditarod   Anchorage

Iditarod, Anchorage

 11 Reviews  Sure, the start line is where the excitement is, but you will get a better views and thinner crowds if you move a bit down the track! My experience was that it was easy to find free curbside parking... 

 See All 218 Things to Do in Anchorage

5.

Wildlife   Denali National Park and Preserve

Wildlife, Denali National Park and Preserve

 27 Reviews  We decided to go on the Eielson shuttle bus, instead of the Tundra Wilderness Tour, which is popular among tourists, especially cruise passengers like ourselves. The Eielson shuttle goes further into... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

6.

Chugach Mountains   Anchorage

Chugach Mountains, Anchorage

 18 Reviews  McHugh Creek Recreation Area is a great place to send an hour, an afternoon or a day. It is located at mile 112 Seward Highway about 17 miles south of downtown Anchorage. Simply get on the Seward... 

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7.

Mt. McKinley   Denali National Park and Preserve

Mt. McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve

 14 Reviews  Wonder Lake is the end of the park road, literally. The road goes a little bit past the lake to a couple of lodges, but really, Wonder Lake is it, and round-trip, it's a 12 hour ride! I've taken the... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

8.

Potters Marsh   Anchorage

Potters Marsh, Anchorage

 4 Reviews  Just at the southern edge of Anchorage, where the Seward Highway meets Turnagain Arm, is a large expanse of open wetlands. A wooden walkway has been constructed that allows you to walk out into the... 

 See All 218 Things to Do in Anchorage

9.

Lakes/ Rivers   Denali National Park and Preserve

Lakes/ Rivers, Denali National Park and Preserve

 18 Reviews  This is another of the few trails near the entrance to the park that are marked. This trail drops down among the taiga forest, bringing you first to an overlook, and then further to the marshes along... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

10.

Native Heritage   Anchorage

Native Heritage, Anchorage

 9 Reviews  There is a free trolley bus from downtown Anchorage to this place, although once you get your bearings around downtown Anchorage it hardly seems worth it as it’s only a short walk from the train... 

 See All 218 Things to Do in Anchorage

11.

Sled Dogs   Denali National Park and Preserve

Sled Dogs, Denali National Park and Preserve

 6 Reviews  On my must-do list for Alaska was playing with sled dog puppies and boy did I get my fill of that and then some at Husky Homestead. They offer a range of tour times throughout the day and I was very... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

12.

Saturday Market   Anchorage

Saturday Market, Anchorage

 3 Reviews  The Downtown Saturday Market attracts vendors from all over the state. White tents line the way overlooking Ship Creek and parts of the Alaskan Railroad Depot. Eliminate the middle man department... 

 See All 218 Things to Do in Anchorage

13.

Mountains/ Viewpoints   Denali National Park and Preserve

Mountains/ Viewpoints, Denali National Park and Preserve

 8 Reviews  The park is located within the beautiful mountains of the Alaskan Range, including Mount Mckinley which is the highest mountain in North America. Unfortunately, I did not get to see it due to constant... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

14.

Fur Rondy   Anchorage

Fur Rondy, Anchorage

 2 Reviews  You may want to consider coming up here in the winter for the special events that take place at this time. Big events in Anchorage include the Iditarod (more written about this on my Alaska page),... 

 See All 218 Things to Do in Anchorage

15.

Rafting   Denali National Park and Preserve

Rafting, Denali National Park and Preserve

 3 Reviews  The Nenana River is famous for its Class III-V rapids. The scenery is also spectacular. I'd never tried white water rafting before, and was a bit wary. Personally, I would have preferred paddling... 

 See All 112 Things to Do in Denali National Park and Preserve

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Planning a trip to Alaska?

by RickinDutch

There really isn't anything that interesting in either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Strip malls, box stores, restaurants, and lots of hotels and gift shops. For those of us that live in Alaska, we all spend part of our trips away from Alaska in Anchorage to connect with flights out, shop and see medical specialist not available where we live.Anchorage has a decent bus system but a rental car can get you around a lot easier. Some highlights without a car are the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the coastal trail, Flat Top mountain, the state museum. With a car you can drive down Turnagain Arm to Portage Glacier, up north to Talkeetna and a glimpse of Denali.Fairbanks doesn't do a thing for me. Great people but a pretty ugly town that I'm not sure would exist with the university and the military. My youngest son went to college there and we visited a few times. The river boat is a tourist trap in...

You must visit Denali National Park

by Beausoleil

If there is an absolute must-see in Alaska, it is Denali National Park. Bus service through the Park is available in 2011 from June 8 until September 15, weather permitting.In the Fall there is a road lottery and those folks who win the lottery are allowed to drive private vehicles 30 miles into the park as long as the roads remain open. Snowfall closes the roads except for the first 3 miles so visitors can get to the Visitors' Center.The biggest attraction, besides the grizzly bears, is Mt. McKinley at 20,320 feet, the highest peak in North America. The native American name for it is Denali, hence the name of the park.There are spring and summer wildflower displays, lots of baby animals (and testy mothers), up to 20 hours of sunlight in summer and northern lights in winter. I must mention mosquitoes because they are many, active and HUGE. We bought hats with mesh screening on them. It...

Tip Photo
Train Ride in Alaksa

by deepav

Hello All,We are getting ready to start our trip in two days! meanwhile wanted to update you on the Train Part of my trip. While we are unable to take the train from Seward to ANC (or other route), we have decided to take the Glacier Express from Whittier to either Spencer Glacier or Grandview! That works very well with our itinerary. I am glad that we are not leaving Alaska without having a rail road experience!Have a great summer and thank you for all your tips.

Canoe/kayak a glacier up close

by TheTravelSlut

The Davidson Glacier near HainesIn the accompanying photo, check the size of one of the other canoes near the glacier face to get the proper scale of how large the Davidson Glacier really is. And this was one of the smaller glaciers I saw. Icebergs as big as a bus floated near me in the lake and knowing they broke off the face recently made me appreciate not getting closer than 100 yards to the face.Arriving in Skagway it was cold in the morning and fortunately I boarded the (warm) Chilcat Express boat for a 45 minute trip to the Davidson Glacier area near Haines. The Express is the fastest boat in Alaska and capable of 50+ MPH. My guide Kyle was interesting, funny and informative. We landed on a beach near the glacier, took a 4-wheel drive bus to an outpost where I was dressed in canoe/wild water gear. A short hike to the canoes on the river preceded our paddling upriver to Davidson...

Tip Photo
Totempole carvers in Haines

by tompt

Port Chilkoot is a part of Haines concentrated around the historical Fort Seward. Next to the nice houses and the old army building there is a centre of totempole carvers. This handcraft is very old and the totems have a meaning in Tlingit society. But even if you don't know the colorful totempoles are great to take pictures of.

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Bring your wishlist to Santa

by tompt

Maybe it is hard to believe for non americans, but Santaclaus lives in Alaska. To be specific in Northpole, Alaska. Don't expect to much of it though. It is just a shop, with much kitsch stuff. The shop itself is looking kitsch outside and inside...But if you are a believer, Santa is there everyday. You sit on his lap and hand over your wishlist. But be on time, a queue was forming 15 minutes before Santa came in at 10:00 am.All in all it was nice to see this commercial habit we are not used to, but with 30 minutes we had enough of it.

Tip Photo
Wilderness Kayaking/Camping in Glacier Bay NP

by dboulwar

If you go to Alaska, you must spend at least a few days kayaking and camping in Glacier Bay National Park. The same boat the provides tours of the park will also drop you off at your choice of several locations deep within the park. From any of these spots you can begin a journey of kayaking amongst icebergs, seals, bald eagles, humpbacks, orcas, and breathtaking scenery. Best of all, depending on your route, you may not see anyone else for the duration of your trip and can camp on your very own island! I recommend kakaking to McBride Glacier, although by this park's standards it is crowded(we saw two other tents across the inlet). Also, if you get dropped off or picked up at Wright Mtn. try to camp for a night on the island just across from the dropoff. We did and as a result I believe that Humpbacks routinely circle the island in the evening - we witnessed one surface less than 15 ft....

Tip Photo
Crusing the inside passage

by sophisticate

You can't really see the inside passage in Alaska without going by boat. We traveled with CruiseWest out of Juneau. They offer tours where you cruise during the day and stay in local towns at night. Definitely not your "cruise ship" experience. The small size of the ship allows you to follow whales, get close to the icebergs and visit the smallest villages.

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Sitka - Fur and History

by shrimp56

The town of Sitka was home to the Tlinget Indians before an active fur trade was developed by the Russians in the late 18th century. The town was originally called New Archangel. The treaty transfering Alaska to the United States was signed here in 1867..It's a lovely place to visit -- don't miss the Totem Walk and the Sheldon Jackson Museum.

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Viewing the northern lights

by RickinDutch

What's the best time to see the Northern Lights? September 22 or March 22, on a new moon night, very late at night or early in the morning, a "perfect storm" that may not occur very often nor match your travel plans. These characteristics may help you decide when to make your trip to see the Northern Lights. They are: Most frequent around the spring and fall equinoxes (September 22 and March 22) Most active late at night or early in the morning Most intense from December to March when nights are longer, the sky clearer and darker. This is also the coldest part of the year, reaching as low as -40 F. Brighter during the new moon. The further above 60 degrees N you go the better. Fairbanks (and Chena Hot Springs) are at 65 degrees north. They say if you stay 3 days you have a 73% chance of seeing them.Been to Chena Hot Springs several times and yes, they are spendy, but you are in the...

Fun things to do in Alaska

Top 3 Hotels in Alaska

Hotel Captain Cook  Anchorage

 9 Reviews and 246 Opinions  Excellent amenities, with an excellent outlook. The higher the room the better the view, always ask... 

 Hotels in Anchorage

Westmark Baranof Hotel  Juneau

 4 Reviews and 83 Opinions  We stayed twice in the past month for a couple of days each trip and found the front desk staff... 

 Hotels in Juneau

Sophie Station  Fairbanks

 1 Review and 93 Opinions  We stayed at Sophie Station as part of our package tour and one night before the tour. It was clean... 

 Hotels in Fairbanks

568 Hotels in Alaska
 
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Reviews and photos of Alaska attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Alaska sightseeing.

Experience Alaska
Things to Do: Cities in Alaska
  1. Anchorage Things to Do
  2. Denali National Park and Preserve Things to Do
  3. Fairbanks Things to Do
  4. Juneau Things to Do
  5. Nome Things to Do
  6. Barrow Things to Do
  7. Kodiak Things to Do
  8. Ketchikan Things to Do
  9. Seward Things to Do
  10. Dutch Harbor Things to Do
  11. Skagway Things to Do
  12. Sitka Things to Do
  13. Homer Things to Do
  14. Girdwood Things to Do
  15. North Pole Things to Do
  16. Talkeetna Things to Do
  17. Soldotna Things to Do
  18. Chena Hot Springs Things to Do
  19. Valdez Things to Do
  20. Haines Things to Do
  21. Kenai Things to Do
  22. Little Diomede Island Things to Do
  23. Kodiak Island Things to Do
  24. Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Things to Do
  25. Dillingham Things to Do
  26. Unalaska Things to Do
  27. Bethel Things to Do
  28. Cordova Things to Do
  29. Chicken Things to Do
  30. Eagle River Things to Do
  31. Palmer Things to Do
  32. Tok Things to Do
  33. Coldfoot Things to Do
  34. Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park Things to Do
  35. Healy Things to Do
  36. Seldovia Things to Do
  37. Buskin River State Recreation Site Things to Do
  38. Katmai National Park and Preserve Things to Do
  39. Denali State Park Things to Do
  40. Kake Things to Do
  41. Petersburg Things to Do
  42. Point Hope Things to Do
  43. Prince of Wales Island Things to Do
  44. Kenai Fjords National Park Things to Do
  45. Kalsin Island Things to Do
  46. Cooper Landing Things to Do
  47. Kotzebue Things to Do
  48. Anaktuvuk Pass Things to Do
  49. Puffin Island Things to Do
  50. Kachemak Bay State Park Things to Do
  51. Lake Clark National Park and Preserve Things to Do
  52. King Salmon Things to Do
  53. Ninilchik Things to Do
  54. Chitina Things to Do
  55. Near Island Things to Do
  56. Whittier Things to Do
  57. Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve Things to Do
  58. Selawik Things to Do
  59. Long Island Things to Do
  60. Pasagshak State Recreation Site Things to Do
  61. Akutan Things to Do
  62. Hyder Things to Do
  63. Yakutat Things to Do
  64. Atka Things to Do
  65. Nancy Lake State Recreation Area Things to Do
  66. Ouzinkie Things to Do
  67. Unalaska Island Things to Do
  68. Aleknagik Things to Do
  69. Chignik Things to Do
  70. Delta Junction Things to Do
  71. Wasilla Things to Do
  72. Matanuska Things to Do
  73. Nikolaevsk Things to Do
  74. Cold Bay Things to Do
  75. Copper Center Things to Do
  76. False Pass Things to Do
  77. Sand Point Things to Do
  78. Chugach State Park Things to Do
  79. Clam Gulch Things to Do
  80. Nenana Things to Do
  81. Old Harbor Things to Do

More Cities in Alaska

 

Questions and Answers

crazy4ocean profile photo

Q:  Hello, I am thinking about flying to Fairbanks the long weekend 2/18-2/20/12 to view the northern light. Anyone has been... 

GrumpyDiver profile photo

A: The moon phases will be in your favour; new moon is on Feb 23. You have to be out of town and away from "light pollution", and of course there has to be good weather... 

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