11 Things to Do in Alaska

You’ll discover Alaska’s wilderness through unforgettable adventures like taking buses deep into Denali National Park to spot bears and caribou, cruising Kenai Fjords among calving glaciers and whales, or riding the historic White Pass Railway‘s dramatic mountain climb. Experience Alaska Native culture at heritage centers, kayak through Glacier Bay’s icebergs, fly to remote Lake Clark for brown bear viewing, and explore Ketchikan’s towering totem poles on Creek Street’s historic boardwalk for complete immersion.

Take the Bus Deep Into Denali National Park

One of Alaska’s most rewarding adventures takes you 92 miles deep into Denali National Park aboard specially designated buses—the only way you’ll access the park’s remote wilderness beyond mile 15, since private vehicles aren’t allowed on the single park road.

You’ll choose between narrated tour buses and flexible green transit buses. The Tundra Wilderness Tour travels 43 miles to East Fork River in 5.5 hours, maximizing wildlife viewing opportunities for grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, and wolves.

Transit buses offer hiking flexibility—you can request drop-offs anywhere, explore the tundra independently, then flag down returning buses. Getting to Denali from Anchorage covers approximately 240 miles via the scenic Parks Highway.

Book reservations well ahead through the park concessioner, and prepare for 5.5 to 13-hour round trips depending on your destination.

Cruise the Fjords of Kenai for Whales and Glaciers

Nearly 40 glaciers cascade from the massive Harding Icefield into the dramatic fjords of Kenai Fjords National Park, creating Alaska’s most accessible tidewater glacier experience just a boat ride from Seward.

You’ll cruise past towering rock walls rising 1,000-3,000 feet while watching for humpback whales, orcas, and Steller sea lions.

The highlight comes when captains position boats near active glaciers like Holgate or Aialik, where you’ll witness thunderous calving events as house-sized ice chunks crash into the sea.

Six to nine-hour cruises offer the best wildlife encounters and glacier time, while shorter four-hour trips focus on Resurrection Bay’s abundant marine life. These vessels feature heated indoor cabins and outdoor viewing areas to ensure comfort during your wildlife observation experience.

Book summer departures from May through early September for ideal conditions.

Ride the Historic White Pass Railway From Skagway

While Kenai Fjords showcases Alaska’s natural wonders from the water, the state’s most famous railway journey takes you through dramatic mountain terrain steeped in Gold Rush history. You’ll board the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway in Skagway, just steps from cruise ship docks, for a breathtaking climb from sea level to nearly 3,000 feet in twenty miles.

The vintage train hugs cliff faces on narrow-gauge tracks, crossing wooden trestles over deep gorges while you spot Gold Rush remnants like abandoned campsites and collapsed bridges. Your 2.5-3 hour round-trip to White Pass summit includes onboard commentary about the railway’s incredible 1898-1900 construction, when 35,000 workers carved this “Scenic Railway of the World” through solid rock using only hand tools and black powder. The railroad earned recognition as an International Civil Engineering Landmark in 1994 for its remarkable achievement in overcoming seemingly impossible terrain and weather conditions.

Walk Right Up to Mendenhall Glacier Near Juneau

Just thirteen miles from downtown Juneau, you can walk on paved trails to stunning viewpoints of Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaska’s most accessible ice giants. The Photo Point Trail offers an easy 0.6-mile round-trip walk to an overlook with head-on views of the glacier face across Mendenhall Lake.

For a closer experience, take the Nugget Falls Trail—a one-mile hike along the lakeshore to a spectacular 400-foot waterfall.

You’ll need day-use passes and should pack rain gear and layers for rapidly changing coastal weather. During salmon runs, watch for black bears around Steep Creek, but remember—no outdoor food is allowed. The entrance fee is $5 for visitors aged 16 and over during the summer months from May through September.

The visitor center operates May through September, and you can reach the area by city bus, taxi, or rental car.

Experience Alaska Native Culture at Heritage Centers

When you want to dive deep into Alaska’s rich Indigenous heritage, the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage offers an authentic and all-encompassing cultural experience that you won’t find anywhere else. This 26-acre cultural destination represents all 11 major Alaska Native groups, from Iñupiaq to Tlingit.

You’ll spend 2-3 hours exploring six life-sized village sites around Lake Tiulana, watching daily dance performances, and participating in traditional games demonstrations. The guided walking tours led by Alaska Native culture bearers bring subsistence practices and seasonal cycles to life. This tribally unaffiliated center is operated by a nonprofit organization run by Alaska Natives themselves.

Don’t miss the Hall of Cultures’ rotating exhibits and the Ch’k’iqadi Gallery, where you can purchase authentic art directly supporting Native artists. At around $30 admission, it’s an invaluable educational experience just 10 miles from downtown.

Chase the Northern Lights Around Fairbanks

For nine months of the year, Fairbanks transforms into one of Earth’s premier aurora-hunting destinations, sitting directly beneath the auroral oval where the northern lights dance overhead with remarkable frequency. You’ll have the best luck catching the show between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. from August through April, with staying three nights giving you over a 90% viewing chance.

Head to dark-sky spots like Cleary Summit or Chena Lakes for ideal conditions away from city lights.

Chena Hot Springs Resort, sixty miles out, offers tracked vehicle tours to mountain-top yurts for unobstructed viewing. Check the Kp-index forecasts from the Geophysical Institute to plan your viewing nights around periods of higher geomagnetic activity.

For ultimate comfort, book glass-domed cabins at Borealis Basecamp where you can watch aurora displays right from bed while staying warm indoors.

Explore Homer Spit and Kachemak Bay

Homer’s legendary 4.5-mile gravel spit juts dramatically into Kachemak Bay, creating Alaska’s most distinctive fishing village where you can drive straight out over the water to a bustling harbor lined with charter boats, seafood shacks, and the famous Salty Dawg Saloon. Book halibut charters from Homer Boat Harbor—this town’s branded as the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World” for good reason.

Between fishing trips, you’ll spot bald eagles and sea otters while beachcombing at low tide.

Take water taxis from the spit to explore Kachemak Bay State Park‘s 25 miles of hiking trails leading to Grewingk Glacier and alpine lakes. For overnight wilderness experiences, reserve one of the park’s remote yurts that feature bunks, wood stoves, and propane burners accessible only by water taxi. The Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center and Pratt Museum provide excellent context for understanding this remarkable 400,000-acre wilderness protecting mountains, forests, and pristine coastline.

Take the Alaska Railroad’s Glass-Dome Cars

Alaska’s most spectacular scenery unfolds through the curved glass ceilings of the Alaska Railroad’s dome cars, where you’ll experience panoramic views that standard train windows simply can’t match. Book GoldStar Service on the Coastal Classic (Anchorage to Seward) or Denali Star (Anchorage to Fairbanks) for the premium experience, featuring 78 reserved dome seats, included meals, and Alaska’s only upper-level outdoor viewing platform on a scheduled passenger train.

Private operators like Wilderness Express and McKinley Explorer offer alternative dome experiences with 80-88 comfortable seats and full-service amenities. These cars typically position at the train’s rear, letting you photograph the entire locomotive curving through mountain landscapes. Each dome car includes wheelchair lifts to ensure accessibility for all passengers.

Service runs mid-May through mid-September, covering nearly 480 miles of Alaska’s most breathtaking terrain.

Kayak Among Icebergs in Glacier Bay

Few wilderness experiences match the thrill of paddling your sea kayak through Glacier Bay’s iceberg-filled fjords, where massive chunks of ancient ice drift silently past your boat while thunderous cracks echo from calving glacier faces.

You’ll explore Southeast Alaska’s pristine wilderness through deep fjords in the West Arm and East Arm, where melting icebergs create an otherworldly soundtrack of fizzing and bubbling. Multi-day expeditions typically last 3-6 days, with daily paddling distances of 5-15 miles depending on conditions.

Expect incredible wildlife encounters—humpback whales, orcas, harbor seals, and brown bears frequent these waters. You’ll also have opportunities to spot rare bird species such as Kittlitz’s murrelets, Arctic terns, and black oyster catchers along the coastline. Most trips begin in Gustavus, with boat transport to remote areas via catamaran. The main season runs May through September when weather’s most favorable for kayaking.

Fly Into Remote Lake Clark for Bear Viewing

Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of stepping off a bush plane onto a remote Lake Clark beach where massive brown bears roam just yards away, completely unbothered by your presence as they feast on salmon and sedge grass.

You’ll fly 60-75 minutes from Anchorage over glaciers and active volcanoes to reach hotspots like Silver Salmon Creek, Chinitna Bay, or Crescent Lake.

Weather’s unpredictable here—coastal fog and rain frequently delay flights, so keep your schedule flexible.

August through September offers prime viewing when bears dig for razor clams and catch spawning salmon.

You’ll watch from guided walking tours, raised platforms, or pontoon boats while Redoubt Volcano towers overhead. Each aircraft accommodates just 5 passengers, creating an intimate wildlife viewing experience.

Most operators bundle flights, guiding, and meals into single-day packages.

Discover Ketchikan’s Totem Poles and Creek Street

You’ll find over 80 standing totem poles throughout Ketchikan, making it Alaska’s undisputed totem pole capital where Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultural traditions come alive through towering cedar masterpieces. These aren’t religious objects—they’re visual records of clan history, lineage, and ancestral stories carved from western red cedar.

Start at the Chief Johnson Totem Pole near Ketchikan Creek, a 55-foot replica featuring the bird crest Kadjuk atop stories of Raven and Fog Woman.

Then visit the Totem Heritage Center, housing over 30 unrestored 19th-century poles from abandoned villages.

There, you’ll discover how crests function as clan property passed through generations.

Afterward, stroll Creek Street‘s historic boardwalk built on pilings over the rushing creek below. Beyond downtown, venture to Saxman Native Village where you can witness master carvers at work and explore extensive collections while learning about both traditional legends and contemporary Tlingit artistic approaches.

The Sum Up

You’ve got incredible adventures waiting across Alaska’s vast wilderness. Don’t try cramming everything into one trip—you’ll exhaust yourself and miss the magic. Pick three or four activities that excite you most, then dive deep into those experiences. Book accommodations early, especially during summer peak season. Pack layers regardless of when you’re visiting, and always carry rain gear. Alaska’s weather changes quickly, but that unpredictability makes every moment feel like a genuine adventure.