8 Slow-Paced Towns To Visit In Alaska
Called the Last Frontier, Alaska is the largest and one of the most sparsely populated states in the United States, with just over 733,000 residents. Despite its rugged reputation, Alaska is home to many small towns that embody a slower pace of life, each with its own unique charm and connection to the state’s rich history and natural beauty. Eclectic towns dot the landscape, like Homer, which combines world-class fishing and an artistic community on the shores of Kachemak Bay, or the town of North Pole, which embodies the Christmas spirit year-round, only two of the eight unique towns that invite visitors to slow down and enjoy the Alaskan way of life.
Sitka
Hugging the shore of Baranof Island in the shadow of Mount Edgecumbe, Sitka is a town of about 8,200 residents. Initially inhabited by the Tlingit people, when Russians arrived in the early 1800s, they claimed the area as the capital of Russian America and called it New Archangel. Russia sold Alaska to the United States on October 18, 1867, in a ceremony held on Baranof Castle State Historic Site—one of several historic Russian buildings in Sitka. Other important landmarks in town include the Russian Bishop’s House and St. Michael’s Cathedral, which houses icons and religious objects from its beginnings as a Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
Today, Sitka’s easygoing community celebrates both its Indigenous (Tlingit), Russian, and American cultures with annual events like the 4-week Sitka Summer Music Festival, Native American Heritage Month every November, the Sitka Whalefest, and Alaska Day on October 18 every year. Thanks to its stunning location, visitors can enjoy exploring the trails in Sitka National Historical Park, sea kayaking in Sitka Sound, visiting the Sitka Sound Science Center, or discovering the eagles, falcons, and other birds of prey at the Alaska Raptor Center, a 17-acre campus on the edge of the Tongass National Forest.
Homer
Two hundred and twenty-five miles south of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage, Homer is a relaxed town on the shores of Kachemak Bay. Known as the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World,” Home is renowned as much for its world-class fishing opportunities as its reputation as a northern artist enclave. There are numerous studios and art galleries around town, including Ptarmigan Arts, Inua-The Spirit of Alaska, and the Dean Gallery.
The Pier One Theatre is the heart of Homer’s performing arts scene, showcasing local talent for over 50 years. The Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference is a four-day event in May 2025 that brings Alaskan writers together, while the Alaska World Arts Festival is a two-week celebration held in Homer every September. It’s no wonder artists from all mediums are drawn to this secluded town with sweeping 180-degree views of Kachemak Bay and natural beauty. The famous Homer Spit extends 4.5 miles into the ba, where visitors can explore the harbor, restaurants, and one-of-a-kind gift shops.
North Pole
The slow-paced town of North Pole, Alaska (not the other North Pole), is fifteen minutes from Fairbanks along the famous Richardson Highway—a pack trail connecting the port of Valdez to the mining camps during the Klondike Gold Rush. The most well-known landmark in town is the Santa Claus House, a large retail store with aisles of sparkling ornaments, toys, gourmet Christmas goodies, and walls covered in “Dear Santa” letters. Next door, visit the Antler Academy, where the reindeer live. No matter what the weather is outside, it is Christmas all year round in this village of about 2,700 residents, where visitors can drive down Mistletoe Lane or Kris Kringle Drive.
After getting into the holiday spirit, visitors can explore downtown North Pole with a stop at Polar Espresso or discover the North Pole’s Arctic beauty in the 2,000-acre Chena Lakes Recreation Area, surrounded by birch forests and waterways full of mink, otters, and beavers. Stay overnight in the Santa Suite at the Hotel North Pole, or rent a cabin and try ice fishing for Arctic char or rainbow trout.
Whittier
Less than 300 residents call the remote town of Whittier home. Still, life certainly moves at a slower pace, as the only road into town is the landmark 2.7-mile-long Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which closes before 11:30 PM every night. Originally a rail tunnel, the tunnel now accommodates trains and cars. It was built during World War II when the U.S. Army established a strategic military port and railway facility in Whittier in 1943. It is also the longest combined vehicle-railroad tunnel in North America. Other post-war remnants in town draw tourists, like the now-abandoned 14-story-tall Buckner Building, an apartment complex that once housed military personnel stationed there.
Today, the town hosts several cruise ships that move in and out of Prince William Sound, bringing tourists to the more than 150 glaciers in the sound, including the spectacular Blackstone and Surprise glaciers. Water sports are a big draw, and outdoor adventurers can fish, hike, kayak, jet ski, and even scuba dive in the waters around Whittier. Learn more about the fascinating history of Whittier and the entire state at the Prince William Sound Museum.
Valdez
Valdez (pronounced Val-deez) is a stunningly beautiful Gold Rush town of less than 4,000 residents set in a deep-water fjord at the base of the Chugach Mountains. The town is accessible by sea, air, and road on one of the most scenic drives in Alaska, the Richardson Highway, making the 300-mile drive from Anchorage to Valdez a tempting option. Along the drive towards Thompson Pass—the snowiest place in Alaska (averaging 550 inches of snow annually), travelers can expect to see the awe-inspiring 600-foot Bridal Veil Falls, Horsetail Falls, and the Worthington and Matanuska glaciers.
Visitors can explore the pretty waterfront area, which extends about a dozen blocks and features restaurants like The Wheelhouse, which serves fresh Alaskan seafood, Poor Betty’s, and the Fat Mermaid. The Valdez Brewing Company is a small-town local brewery and taproom. For history buffs and culture seekers, the Maxine & Jesse Whitney Museum contains one of the largest collections of Alaskan art and artifacts in the world. A visit to the Earthquake Memorial is a must-see, as it pays tribute to the people who lost their lives in one of the most powerful earthquakes in American history, the 1964 Alaska Earthquake, which had a magnitude of 9.2.
Girdwood
Girdwood is home to Alaska’s only resort, the luxurious Alyeska Resort, where guests can experience a 7-minute scenic tram ride from the Alyeska Resort up to the top of Mount Alyeska, at 2,300 feet. In addition to the dramatic views of the Turnagain Arm and seven glaciers in the distance, guests can relax and enjoy leisurely drinks at aBar, fine dining in the Seven Glacier restaurant, or book a spa at the Alyeska Nordic Spa and truly enjoy a slower pace of life.
The town was initially named Glacier City and was a supply camp for gold miners seeking their fortune at the turn of the century. It is 40 miles south of Anchorage along the waterway known as Turnagain Arm, named by British explorer James Cook, who discovered it during his 1778 voyage for the fabled Northwest Passage and had to “turn again.” The entire town is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies, with local outfitters like Glacier City Rafting & Hiking offering guided glacier hiking trips, mountain and fat bike rentals year-round, or helicopter flightseeing tours with Alpine Air Alaska.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan is known as Alaska’s “First City” due to its position at the southern tip of the Inside Passage. It is the first city visitors see as they cruise 90 miles north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. Ketchikan is inaccessible by road, so it embodies all the qualities of a slow-paced town as the first port of call on Alaskan cruises. The town itself is 31 miles long but not wider than ten blocks. One of the main attractions is the historic Creek Street, a famed red-light district until it closed in 1954. In the 1930s, the most popular house on the street was a brothel belonging to Dolly Arthur, a local madam. Today, the house is Dolly’s House Museum, dedicated to the infamous era of bootlegging and brothels.
Called the “Salmon Capital of the World,” Ketchikan attracts anglers from all over the globe. Sightseeing is also a popular pastime in the small, quiet town, and one of the area’s most majestic landmarks is the Misty Fjords National Monument, a 3,570-square-mile wilderness area comprised of cliffs, steep fjords, and rock walls shooting 3,000 feet straight out of the ocean.
Palmer
The small town of Palmer, with about 6,500 residents, is about 45 minutes north of Anchorage. It is an unusual location for a thriving agricultural community, but it was the brainchild of President Roosevelt’s initiative to transplant farmers to Alaska during the Great Depression. Today, the town is famous for 90-pound cabbages and other giant root vegetables that thrive in the midnight sun. Palmer is also home to a reindeer farm with transplanted Canadian reindeer open for self-guided tours where animal lovers can feed and pet reindeer, moose, bison alpaca, yaks, and more.
The downtown area may be small, with the feel of an old mining town, but it’s full of cute shops like Vagabond Blues Coffee Shop, NonEssentials, which sells artisan chocolates, candy, and tea, Fireside Books, and 203 Kombucha. There is also so much to do, all within an hour of Palmer. Outdoor adventurers can go glacier trekking, take helicopter tours, dog sledding, or go hiking up Lazy Mountain, a 3-mile out-and-back trail that gains 3,000 feet of elevation as hikers ascend above the trees. For a less steep route, take the Lazy Moose Trail.
Alaska invites visitors to slow down and immerse themselves in its rugged beauty and tranquil way of life. With vast wilderness, towering mountains, and serene coastal vistas, Alaska encourages a departure from the hustle and bustle. Whether strolling through historic streets, marveling at glaciers, or savoring fresh-caught seafood, Alaska offers opportunities to truly unwind. From Sitka’s cultural celebrations to Palmer’s eclectic shops, the state’s small towns embody the spirit of taking life at a leisurely pace. Visitors can kayak in quiet bays, explore breathtaking fjords, or simply sit and soak in the midnight sun.
