11 Most Loved Tourist Attractions In Alaska
Everyone loves a good tourist attraction, even though the word “tourist” may put a sour taste in one’s mouth. Whether you visit a national or state park, a zoo or aquarium, or even a natural wildlife refuge, there is something to be said about that awesome cultural landmark. Alaska, also known as the Last Frontier and the Land of the Midnight Sun, has its share of great attractions, drawing thousands of tourists annually. From Denali National Park to the Kachemak Bay State Park, these eleven “tourist” attractions scattered across the landscape of majestic Alaska are among the most loved in the state.
Denali National Park & Preserve
Known as Mount McKinley National Park until 1980, Denali National Park boasts an intricate history that dates all the way back to 1913 when four explorers first stepped onto the southern slope of Mount McKinley. Now, this six-million-acre piece of land is one of the most beloved natural attractions in all of Alaska. From a multitude of awesome hiking trails, like the Savage Alpine Trail, to whitewater rafting parts of the 143-mile-long Nenana River, the outdoor adventures here are endless. You can camp for the night at one of the many scenic locales, including Riley Creek Campground, along the Teklanika River, and Igloo Creek Campground. Denali National Park is any outdoor enthusiast’s dream come true.
Alaska Botanical Garden - Anchorage, Alaska
Another excellent tourist attraction to check out with friends or family if you find yourself in Anchorage is the Alaska Botanical Garden, situated southeast of the city on Campbell Airstrip Road. First established in 1993, this attractive 110-acre botanical garden is open any time of the year and offers several great trails, like the two-mile-long Campbell Creek Westlands Loop, a plethora of alpine rock, wildflower, and herb gardens, and a multitude of events & workshops. Brighter Winter Nights takes place during the month of December, presenting several light displays, a model trail, and some awesome ice luminaries. Wine in the Woods occurs in August and offers domestic & international wine-tasting, a delicious collection of snacks, and live music by local artists.
Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve
Located along the eastern coast of the rugged Pacific Ocean, around 98 miles from Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park is a three million plus acre park that celebrated its one hundred millionth visitor in June 2015. Since then, millions of tourists have been visiting this awesome natural attraction. Bartlett Cove, created two hundred years ago by the nose of a 100-mile-long glacier, is the only truly developed area of the park, though many adventure-oriented outdoor enthusiasts do hike the nearby towering mountains, like the Barbizon and St. Elias Ranges. While in and around Glacier Bay, enjoy backpacking the Forest Trail, which passes Xunaa Shuka Hit, a known Huna Tribal House, kayak miles and miles of coastland, and camp overnight at the Bartlett Cove Campground.
Lake Clark National Park - Port Alsworth, Alaska
Lake Clark National Park, situated to the west of Anchorage, is the perfect oasis for the outdoor enthusiast, especially if this is your first visit to majestic Alaska. Along with ample opportunities to snap pictures of the North American Brown Bear in its natural habitat, hike in Chinitna Bay, and explore along Silver Salmon Creek, a visit to Twin Lakes should also be on your itinerary. Not only can you enjoy Alaska’s unspoiled wilderness at its very best, but stopping by Richard Proenneke’s log cabin, his home for nearly 30 years, might provide a taste of what it might be like to live alone in the wild. A plethora of excellent amenities can also be enjoyed elsewhere in the park, including hiking the Tanalian Trail System, camping, backpacking from Fishtrap Lake to Snipe Lake, and fly-fishing at Tanalian Falls.
Museum of the North - Fairbanks, Alaska
The University of Alaska - Museum of the North, located in downtown Fairbanks, is a great attraction for the entire family. Various indoor exhibits are available to view, like the Rose Berry Art Gallery and the Gallery of Alaska, including artifacts from five different ecological regions inside Alaska. Plus, several outdoor exhibits are worth checking out, like Wolf Totem Pole: Everyone’s Grandfather, named by George Dalton, an Elder of the Wolf Clan, and the Kolmokovsky Blockhouse, which has sat alongside the Kuskokwim River since 1841. Several other historic-oriented amenities are also available at the Museum of the North, including a Virtual Museum showcasing a Fine Arts Collection and a Kenelm W. Philip Lepidoptera Collection.
Kenai Fjords National Park & Preserve - Seward, Alaska
Situated between Kenai National Wilderness Area and the frigid yet beautiful Gulf of Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the best places to visit in Alaska, especially if you want to capture unique pictures of glaciers, fjords, and the native wildlife best represented by these awesome natural phenomena. From kayaking the Kenai Fjords to boat tours in Resurrection Bay to visiting Caines Head, Thumb Cove, and Aialik Bay, ample opportunities for some great photos abound around every corner. Several other awesome attributes can be experienced within Kenai Fjords National Park as well. The Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge offers many great day trips, including a two-hour scenic float on the Kenai River and even some multi-day adventures, like the Ultimate Alaska Adventure during the summer months, which includes eight days of exploring the backcountry and an actual Alaskan dog-sled ride.
North Pole, Alaska
The town of North Pole, located southeast of the city of Fairbanks, is a tourist attraction in and of itself. From visiting the Santa Claus House, responsible for delivering millions of letters to Santa Claus every year since 1952, to Antler Academy next door and interacting with Santa’s famous reindeer team, there is a true sense of Christmas within this quaint town. There are a variety of other attractions in the town of North Pole as well if you are visiting in the summer months. The Chena Lake Recreation Area, a two-thousand-acre park, provides wildlife-viewing, hiking, swimming, and boating options in the summer, as well as skiing, snowshoeing, and ice-fishing experiences in the wintertime. Regarding cultural amenities, the town of North Pole has several awesome festivals held annually, like North Pole Winterfest & Holiday Bazaar.
Katmai National Park & Preserve
Another excellent national park in Alaska, the Katmai National Park has a plethora of great attractions that are well worth visiting again, like hiking with friends along a scenic trail to the Windy Creek Overlook and Ukak Falls and kayaking through the Savonoski Loop. Some other great amenities of this excellent national park include the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, formed when Novarupta Volcano first erupted in 1912, and the Brooks Falls viewing platform, one of the best locations to photograph wild bears catching salmon. Plus, Fat Bear Week, held annually in October, is an event that pits bears against bears in an intense competition much like a college football playoff.
Alaska Zoo - Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Zoo, located in downtown Anchorage, is perhaps one of the most visited cultural attractions in the northwest. With around two hundred thousand guests every year, this natural venue has something for everyone, especially for those who enjoy interacting with exotic animals. Established in 1969 and spanning almost 30 acres of landscape, Alaska Zoo has more than a hundred animals in residence, including a plethora of animals native to the state, like the Alaskan Moose, known to be the largest subspecies of moose, the Yukon Wolf, and the Alaskan Brown Bear. Several great events are available at the Alaska Zoo, including Christmas for the Animals, which takes place every December, providing opportunities for kids to fill habitat stockings, listen to a story told by Mrs. Claus, and join in on a Candy Cane scavenger hunt.
Mendenhall Glacier
Just over ten miles from downtown Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier is a sight that you do not want to miss, especially if you are an outdoor enthusiast, enjoy natural art, and prefer the cold. Just under 14 miles in length, the Mendenhall Glacier is over three thousand years old and is an intricate part of the five thousand-plus acre Mendenhall Valley. Some key points to this awesome glacier include several scenic hiking trails, like the Trail of Time, which showcases what occurs as the glacier recedes over time, the East Glacier Loop, and the Photo Point Trail, both of which provide great photo opportunities of the glacier up close. And, for those who are more into historic aspects of the Mendenhall Glacier, this fantastic Alaskan phenomenon was originally called the Sitaantaago, translated as “the Glacier Behind the Town.”
Kachemak Bay State Park
The last natural “tourist” attraction on this list, Kachemak Bay State Park, located outside the quaint town of Soldotna, is an excellent place to take the entire family. From hiking and camping overnight to fishing, boating, and kayaking, this state park has many amenities. Whether it is hiking the Glacier Lake Trail, the Saddle and Grewingk Lake Trail, or the Grace Ridge Trail, photo opportunities of glaciers, lakes, and even the wildlife abound in this state park. Plus, in case you are looking for even more activities related to the rugged Alaskan wilderness, Kachemak Bay State Park offers ten awesome miles of coastline to explore, as well as a plethora of backpacking trips intended to become one with nature, forgetting about the problems of society, at least for a time.
There are many great attributes in majestic Alaska that are well worth journeying to the 49th state of America to see, including Alaska Botanical Garden, Mendenhall Glacier, and the Alaska Zoo. While these 11 awesome attractions are considered “ the most loved,” several others are worthy of visiting, including Tracy Arm Fjord in Juneau, the Fountainhead Museum in Fairbanks, and Independence Mine State Historic Park near Palmer. Whether you are with friends, with family, or even alone, the great state of Alaska, as well as a plethora of natural and cultural attractions, await.
