Alaska Travel Guide
America's last frontier: glaciers, grizzly bears, and midnight sun. Explore vast wilderness, Denali's peaks, and charming coastal towns by land, sea, or air.
-400.jpg)
-400.jpg)
Featured Regions
Chakachamna Lake, Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
James JonesResearch GeologistUSGS, Alaska Science Centerjvjones@usgs.gov, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Cropped and Image Size Adjusted
Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands★
Peninsula extending about 800 km (497 mi) to the southwest from the mainland of Alaska and ending in the Aleutian Islands, separating the Pacific Ocean from Bristol Bay, an arm of the Bering Sea
.jpg){kind=link}
Anchorage and Matanuska Susitna Valley★
Region that offers a unique blend of urban amenities and stunning natural landscapes. Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska, serves as a gateway to the wilderness, while the Matanuska Susitna Valley is known for its breathtaking scenery, outdoor recreational opportunities, and rich cultural heritage. Visitors can explore the vibrant city life of Anchorage, with its museums, restaurants, and shops, before venturing into the valley to experience activities such as hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing amidst the backdrop of majestic mountains and glaciers.
Bureau of Land Management, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
.jpg){kind=link}
Alaska Bush★
Regions of Alaska not connected to the North American road network or does not have ready access to the state's ferry system
Denali National Park and Preserve, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
.jpg){kind=link}
Interior Alaska★
Central region of Alaska's territory, is largely wilderness, and includes Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city
Sujohn Das from Seattle, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Kenai Peninsula★
Large peninsula jutting from the coast of Southcentral Alaska
Carol M. Highsmith, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Prince William Sound and Surrounding Areas★
Sound of the Gulf of Alaska on the south coast of Alaska, located on the east side of the Kenai Peninsula
Mark Hogan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Image Size Adjusted
Southeast Alaska★
Colloquially referred to as the Alaska Panhandle or Alaskan Panhandle, Southeast Alaska is the southeastern portion of Alaska, bordered to the east by the northern half of the Canadian province of British Columbia
Overview
Alaska is the largest U.S. state, bigger than the next three (Texas, California, and Montana) combined, in the far northwest of North America. It has 17 of the country's 20 highest peaks, more than 100,000 glaciers, millions of acres of wilderness, and more coastline than the rest of the U.S. combined. Juneau is the capital, and Anchorage the largest city, and the state has only about 730,000 people. Most of it is off the road system.
Native peoples have lived here for thousands of years, and the state is thought to be the entry point for settlement of North America over the Bering land bridge. Russia was the first European power to settle it, and the U.S. bought Alaska in 1867 for $7.2 million. Alaska became the 49th state in 1959.
Regions at a Glance
| Region | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Southeast Alaska (Inside Passage) | Rain forest, glaciers, and whales; Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Glacier Bay |
| Anchorage and Mat-Su | The largest city, the Alaska Railroad, and Hatcher Pass |
| Kenai Peninsula | Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Homer |
| Prince William Sound and Wrangell-St. Elias | Glacier cruises, Valdez, and the country's largest national park |
| Interior | Denali, Fairbanks, and the northern lights |
| Alaska Peninsula and Aleutians | Katmai and Lake Clark bear viewing, and Kodiak |
| The Bush and the Arctic | Gates of the Arctic, Utqiaġvik, and Nome |
Good to Know
- Best time: mid-May to mid-September for most travel, with long daylight; the northern lights are best from late August to April
- Getting around: small planes, the Alaska Marine Highway, and the Alaska Railroad; distances are huge
- Wildlife safety: carry bear spray and learn the rules for bears and moose
- Winter: see Alaska travel in winter
Sports
- No major-league team; the biggest events are the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race (each March, from Anchorage or Willow to Nome) and the Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage
- College and summer baseball: the UAA Seawolves and UAF Nanooks, and the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks
This article uses material from the Wikipedia articles and official tourism pages for Alaska Railroad, Travel Alaska, Alaska Marine Highway System, released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.