8 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Alaska

For those who have never been, Alaska can seem like a mystery, an open wilderness blanketed with snow and not much else. However, outside of large, well-known cities like Anchorage and Fairbanks, several small Alaskan towns boast pretty downtown strips that are filled with nostalgia and charm. Surrounded by glistening water and tall mountains, the remoteness of some of the places allows for unique cultures to form. Alaska’s downtowns are living museums, each with its own stories to tell, where visitors will be dazzled by all the history, food, and more that these towns have to offer.

Seward

Nestled between the rugged Kenai Mountains and the serene waters of Resurrection Bay, Seward’s downtown strip is both visually captivating and full of opportunities to learn about the unique contributions. During sunset, the Seward Waterfront is the best place to catch a glimpse of the mountains across the bay. The Alaska SeaLife Center, also located on the waterfront, is a rehabilitation and research facility that allows visitors to learn about Alaska’s unique marine life. The seals and puffins usually attract the most attention! Adjacent to the SeaLife Center, the Seward Depot celebrates the town's railroad heritage. Just a short drive from downtown, Exit Glacier and Kenai Fjords National Park offer amazing views of Alaska's landscapes and waterways.

Sitka

Sitka’s downtown strip is both quietly quaint and brimming with a powerful history. At the heart of Sitka stands St. Michael’s Cathedral, a striking Russian Orthodox church, which showcases traditional Russian architecture and contains a stunning collection of religious artifacts. Another example of Russian architecture in Sitka can be found at the Russian Bishop’s House, a building not too far from the cathedral.

Totem Square, featuring a rustic totem pole, is a great place to capture beautiful waterside photos before dining on some fresh seafood at one of the many nearby restaurants. Adjacent to the square is the Sitka Sound Science Center, an excellent place for visitors to experience interactive exhibits and see a working salmon hatchery. The downtown experience is not complete without stopping by the Sitka National Historical Park. The profound connection between Stika’s indigenous and colonial past is memorialized in this park, which features a peaceful coastal walking trail, as well as the site of the 1804 Battle.

Haines

Haines, located between the Chilkat Mountains and the Lynn Canal, features unique local attractions that delight visitors. For example, the Hammer Museum boasts over 1,400 hammers from various eras and cultures, and Fort William H. Seward, once a symbol of the town's military history, now houses distinctive art galleries and accommodations.

Moreover, the American Bald Eagle Foundation offers many interesting exhibits and programs about the region's avian inhabitants. Foodies will also love walking around the downtown strip of Haines. Various bars, restaurants, and cafes, such as the Bamboo Room and Pioneer Bar, a former 1950s brothel that has been transformed into an eatery, line Main Street.

Talkeetna

Talkeetna offers an exciting view of nature that other places in the world simply cannot. Visitors to Talkeetna often opt to charter private floatplane, fixed-wing, or helicopter “flightseeing” tours, which allow them to experience Denali and the Alaska Range from above. Denali Zipline Tours also offer an adrenaline rush as you zoom among the large fir trees near Talkeetna.

For those who prefer to stay on the ground, Main Street has you covered. Grab a hot beverage from Conscious Coffee and walk over to Talkeetna Riverfront Park, where you can get a fantastic view of Denali on clear days. Then you can visit the Talkeetna Roadhouse and Nagley’s Store, two of the historic log buildings that line Main Street.

Homer

Homer is an artistic community with tons of local shops and restaurants that are surrounded by pristine natural beauty. Cute local establishments in downtown Homer, like Two Sisters Bakery and the Old Inlet Bookshop, set the scene for a peaceful afternoon. Pioneer Avenue is full of art galleries and museums. For opportunities to see local wildlife or enjoy a delicious meal, locals head to the Homer Spit, a 4.5-mile stretch of land extending into the bay. Back downtown, the Pratt Museum offers a fascinating look at the region’s art, culture, and natural history, with rotating exhibits and a charming botanical garden behind the building.

Skagway

Once known as “the roughest place in the world”, Skagway now boasts one of the prettiest downtown strips in Alaska. The visually captivating Broadway Street in Skagway has the highest concentration of Gold Rush-era buildings in Alaska, which makes walking along this avenue feel like a step back in time. Restored buildings from this period, such as the Mascot Saloon and Jeff Smith’s Parlor, are open to the public in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Additionally, visiting Gold Rush Cemetery offers a quiet place to absorb more information about the town's past, and riding on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad is an unforgettable way to see Skagway’s nearby waterfalls, gorges, and glaciers as your train maneuvers through the snow-capped mountains.

Petersburg

Petersburg is a lively fishing town that oozes Scandinavian influence. Decorative Norwegian folk art adorns the homes and businesses of Sing Lee Alley, a charming street that crosses over a section of Petersburg Harbor. The Clausen Memorial Museum contains artifacts from the town’s fishing industry and indigenous heritage, and a stunning replica of a Viking Ship sits in Bojer Wikan Fishermen’s Memorial Park as a visual representation of Petersburg’s cultural roots. At low tide, it is possible to explore ancient petroglyphs and Tlingit fish traps at Sandy Beach Recreation Area.

Wrangell

Wrangell blends natural beauty with deep cultural roots, making its downtown a memorable stop along Alaska’s southeastern coast. At Chief Shakes Historic Site on Shakes Island, visitors can explore a reconstructed Tlingit clan house that honors the region’s indigenous heritage. Downtown, the Wrangell Museum inside the Nolan Center displays fascinating artifacts and stories from the town’s past, from native traditions to early settlement life. Just steps away, cozy stops like Sweet Tides Bakery and Zak’s Cafe give the town a neighborly, lived-in feel. For those looking to see the surrounding wilderness, jet boat tours on the Stikine River offer an exhilarating way to experience the area’s untamed beauty.

Finishing Thoughts

Art galleries next to glaciers, cozy cafes alongside indigenous innovations, and helicopter tours over the architecture of Scandinavian and Russian colonialists; Alaska effortlessly combines the old and the new. Whichever town you choose to explore, its downtown strip will undoubtedly serve as a gateway into Alaska’s mysterious past and present. Visiting these destinations reminds us that Alaska is far more than snow and solitude; it’s a collection of communities, each with its own heart and story.