Alaska gets a ton of attention for its massive glaciers and the Northern Lights — and as someone who’s spent countless nights chasing those dancing lights, I completely understand why. You can’t help but fall for well-known spots like Denali National Park and Glacier Bay, but these popular destinations often come with tour buses, packed viewing areas, and that feeling that you’re following a well-worn path, particularly during the summer cruise season.
Fortunately, Alaska is truly enormous — we’re talking about a state more than twice the size of Texas — with countless hidden corners waiting to be explored, from quiet fishing villages tucked along the coastline to remote valleys where moose and bears roam freely. There’s so much more to experience beyond the standard tourist circuit, including local traditions and authentic Alaskan culture that most visitors never get to see. Here’s my collection of the best places to discover in America’s last frontier.
Denali National Park
If you’re heading to Alaska, you can’t miss Denali National Park. Sprawling across six million acres of wild terrain, this natural wonderland is home to North America’s tallest peak – the majestic Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). The park offers close-up views of grizzly bears, moose, caribou, and Dall sheep roaming freely through valleys and tundra, while golden eagles soar overhead. A single road winds through the park, giving visitors front-row seats to Alaska’s most remarkable landscapes.
Glacier Bay National Park
Many visitors journey to Glacier Bay National Park for its massive glaciers and fjords, but this Alaskan treasure offers much more than ice formations. The park’s 3.3 million acres encompass towering mountains, sheltered coves, and dense rainforests that provide a home for diverse wildlife like humpback whales, sea lions, and brown bears. While most travelers explore the park via cruise ships that navigate through the bay from May to September, adventurous souls can also kayak among icebergs, hike through ancient spruce forests, or camp under the midnight sun. Even in the off-season, the park draws visitors who come to witness its raw beauty and experience the profound silence of this remote wilderness.
Kenai Fjords National Park
I first experienced Kenai Fjords National Park on a summer boat tour in 2019. Tucked along Alaska’s southern coast near Seward, this park showcases some of the state’s most impressive glacial landscapes. Massive ice fields and remote fjords dominate the terrain here, along with the famous Exit Glacier that visitors can walk right up to. The waters around the park teem with whales, sea otters, and puffins, while brown bears roam the shoreline hunting for salmon. The park’s crown jewel is the Harding Icefield, a vast expanse of ice that feeds dozens of glaciers flowing down into the sea. From the deck of a tour boat, you can hear the thunderous crack of glaciers calving into the ocean – a reminder that this frozen landscape is always on the move.
Anchorage
Anchorage might be Alaska’s biggest city, but it feels more like a gateway to the wilderness than a concrete jungle. This coastal hub sits where the Chugach Mountains meet Cook Inlet, giving you front-row seats to both rugged peaks and marine wildlife. I’ve found that even downtown, you’re never more than 20 minutes from true Alaskan backcountry – where moose wander through neighborhoods and bears fish in nearby streams. The city manages to balance modern conveniences with raw nature, offering visitors a chance to spot beluga whales from the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in the morning and enjoy fresh-caught salmon at a local restaurant by evening. It’s not your typical American city, but that’s exactly what makes it special.
Juneau
Ever watched a humpback whale breach right in front of your eyes? It’s just another day in Juneau, Alaska’s capital city that’s only accessible by air or sea. Nestled between towering mountains and the Gastineau Channel, this former gold rush town serves as the perfect launch point for glacier adventures. From the famous Mendenhall Glacier, where you can walk among ice caves and spot black bears fishing for salmon, to the Mount Roberts Tramway that carries you 1,800 feet up for sweeping views of the Inside Passage. Take a quick boat ride to Tracy Arm Fjord where seals lounge on floating ice chunks, or join the locals at the Alaskan Brewing Company for a taste of award-winning craft beer made with glacier-fed water.
Fairbanks
Many travelers head to Fairbanks for the northern lights, one of nature’s most incredible light shows, but this Alaskan city offers much more than celestial displays. Located in the heart of the Last Frontier, Fairbanks serves as a gateway to the Arctic Circle and features endless summer days with the famous midnight sun. In winter, visitors can dive into activities like dog sledding and ice fishing, while summer brings opportunities for gold panning at Pioneer Park and paddling down the Chena River. The University of Alaska Museum of the North provides insights into the state’s rich history and culture, but you’ll find plenty of ways to stay entertained in Fairbanks no matter when you visit.
Tracy Arm Fjord
If you’re looking for Alaska’s most remarkable glacial scenery, head straight to Tracy Arm Fjord. Located about 45 miles south of Juneau, this 27-mile long fjord features massive ice walls, floating icebergs, and two active glaciers – Sawyer and South Sawyer. As you cruise through the narrow waterway, you’ll spot seals lounging on ice floes, waterfalls cascading down granite cliffs, and if you’re lucky, whales breaching in the distance.
Homer
I first discovered Homer on a road trip down the Kenai Peninsula in 2018. Perched at the very tip of the peninsula’s southern coast, Homer stretches along Kachemak Bay with the rugged Kenai Mountains as its backdrop. This laid-back coastal town is known as the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World,” with its famous Homer Spit – a narrow, 4.5-mile strip of land jutting into the bay. Local art galleries and seafood restaurants line the boardwalk, while fishing boats bob in the harbor nearby. The town offers some of Alaska’s best bear viewing opportunities across the bay in Katmai National Park, and you can often spot sea otters, seals, and whales playing in the waters just offshore.
Skagway
If you’re looking to step back in time to the golden age of the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway is your portal to the past. This small port town, once the gateway for thousands of prospectors seeking their fortune, still holds onto its frontier spirit with its well-preserved historic district and vintage narrow-gauge railroad. Walking down Broadway Street feels like being on a movie set, with its false-front buildings and wooden sidewalks that tell tales of adventurers who passed through over a century ago. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, which climbs nearly 3,000 feet in just 20 miles, offers the same heart-pumping journey prospectors took – minus the harsh conditions they faced. It’s not just a tourist stop; it’s a living piece of Alaska’s wild gold rush history.
Seward
I first visited Seward on a summer road trip from Anchorage in 2018. This seaside town, nestled at the edge of Resurrection Bay along Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, serves as a gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Local fishermen and tour boats dot the small boat harbor, while downtown’s colorful buildings tell stories of the town’s rich maritime history. The Alaska SeaLife Center stands prominently on the waterfront, where visitors can observe puffins, seals, and other marine life native to Alaska’s waters. What draws most people here, though, is the jaw-dropping Exit Glacier, just a short drive away, and the chance to spot orcas and humpback whales gliding through the bay’s deep blue waters.
Katmai National Park
Many visitors trek to Katmai National Park for its famous brown bear viewing at Brooks Falls, but this wild slice of Alaska offers much more than just bear-watching opportunities. The park’s volcanic landscape, shaped by the massive 1912 eruption of Novarupta, creates an otherworldly setting that includes the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and numerous active volcanoes. While watching bears catch salmon mid-leap draws crowds during peak season, adventurous travelers can also enjoy backcountry hiking, kayaking through pristine waters, and fishing in streams teeming with sockeye salmon. The park remains largely undeveloped and road-free, making it a prime destination for those seeking to experience Alaska’s raw wilderness any time between June and September.
Mind-Blowing Fact:
Did you know that Katmai National Park is home to one of the largest populations of brown bears in the world, where visitors can safely watch these massive creatures catch salmon at the famous Brooks Falls during summer months? The park was actually created to protect the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, a landscape dramatically altered by the 1912 Novarupta volcanic eruption that was the largest of the 20th century in North America.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Explore America’s largest national park when you visit Wrangell-St. Elias, a massive wilderness area that’s bigger than Switzerland. The park combines four major mountain ranges and includes 9 of the 16 highest peaks in the United States. Take a scenic drive along the McCarthy Road to reach the historic Kennecott Mines, where you can join ranger-led tours to learn about Alaska’s copper mining past. For an adventure-filled day, sign up for glacier hiking on the Root Glacier or try ice climbing with experienced guides. It’s the perfect place to experience Alaska’s raw natural beauty without the crowds you’ll find at more popular parks.
Ketchikan
Ever wondered what it’s like to live in America’s salmon capital? That’s what you’ll discover in Ketchikan, a charming coastal city nestled along Alaska’s southeastern panhandle. Built on stilts above the water’s edge, this historic fishing town welcomes visitors with its colorful totem poles and wooden boardwalks that tell stories of its Native Tlingit heritage. From April to September, you can watch fishermen haul in their daily catch at the bustling harbor, or venture into the nearby Tongass National Forest, where bears roam freely and bald eagles soar overhead. The city’s Creek Street, a former red-light district turned shopping district, offers a perfect glimpse into Ketchikan’s gold rush past, with its weathered buildings perched on wooden pilings above the creek where salmon make their annual run.
Mendenhall Glacier
Get up close to one of Alaska’s most famous ice formations at the Mendenhall Glacier, located just 12 miles from downtown Juneau. You can view this 13-mile-long glacier from several hiking trails or take a guided tour onto the ice itself. The nearby visitor center offers exhibits about glacial history and local wildlife, plus panoramic views of the ice field. For a unique perspective, hop aboard a kayak tour to paddle past mini icebergs in Mendenhall Lake, or join a helicopter tour to land right on the glacier. Keep your camera ready – you might spot black bears fishing for salmon in the streams during summer months.
Gates of the Arctic National Park
If you’re searching for true wilderness in its purest form, Gates of the Arctic National Park is where you’ll find it. This remote park, sitting entirely north of the Arctic Circle, has no roads, no trails, and no established campgrounds – just six million acres of untamed Alaskan landscape waiting to be explored. Getting here requires either a bush plane or a long trek on foot, but that’s exactly what makes it special. The park sees fewer annual visitors than most national parks get in a single day, making it perfect for those who want to experience nature in complete solitude, watch caribou migrations across ancient valleys, or camp under the midnight sun. It’s not a place for casual tourists – you need serious outdoor skills and careful planning – but those who make the journey find themselves in one of the last truly wild places left in America.
Kodiak Island
Kodiak Island holds a special place among Alaska’s many wild places, and it’s easy to see why. This massive island, second largest in the US, is where nature puts on a show that few other destinations can match. Brown bears roam freely through the spruce forests, bald eagles soar overhead, and wild salmon fill the streams. While most visitors come hoping to spot the famous Kodiak bears, the island offers so much more – from kayaking along its rugged coastline to exploring remote fishing villages that tell stories of Russian heritage. It’s not the easiest place to reach, requiring either a flight or ferry ride from mainland Alaska, but those who make the journey find themselves in one of the last truly wild places in America.
Prince William Sound
If you want to experience Alaska’s coastal wilderness at its finest, Prince William Sound needs to be on your list. Tucked between the Chugach Mountains and the Gulf of Alaska, this protected waterway offers 3,800 miles of coastline dotted with towering glaciers, hidden coves, and dense forests. You can spot sea otters playing in the kelp beds, humpback whales breaching the surface, and bald eagles soaring overhead – all while kayaking past blue-tinted icebergs or taking a boat tour through the fjords.
Talkeetna
About two hours north of Anchorage lies the small town of Talkeetna, often called the gateway to Denali. Like many Alaskan towns, Talkeetna has its share of outdoor adventures, local breweries, and rustic charm. But unlike the others, it feels like a place where mountain climbers and artists have created their own unique community. Just walk down Main Street, lined with log cabins turned into quirky cafes and art galleries, and you’ll see what I mean. Because of its prime location at the confluence of three rivers and the best views of Denali, many adventurers have made this frontier town their basecamp, and you’ll find climbing shops, bush plane services, and colorful local characters everywhere.
Inside Passage
Hop aboard a cruise ship and journey through Alaska’s Inside Passage, a network of waterways that weaves between islands and coastal mountains. This water route takes you past towering glaciers, hidden fjords, and thick forests where bears and eagles make their home. Watch from the deck as whales breach the surface, and stop at charming fishing towns like Ketchikan and Juneau along the way. For a closer look at the landscape, join a kayaking excursion or take a floatplane ride over the vast wilderness. It’s an ideal trip from May to September when the days are long and the weather is mild.
Chugach State Park
Nature lovers flock to Chugach State Park, one of America’s biggest state parks just minutes from downtown Anchorage. Covering half a million acres, this outdoor playground offers over 280 miles of trails where you can spot moose grazing in meadows, bears fishing for salmon, and eagles soaring overhead. From hiking and mountain biking in summer to skiing and snowshoeing in winter, the park’s mountains, glaciers, and forests keep visitors busy year-round.
