The 15 best things to do in Alaska

One of the world’s wildest places, you might still be in the United States, but these dramatic landscapes, unforgettable wildlife and natural wonders mean you could hardly feel further away from New York and LA.

With more than 85,000 grizzly and black bears, along with moose, grey wolves, caribou and other creatures, Alaska is unmissable for those looking to witness some of the planet’s most impressive creatures in their natural habitats.

It’s also one of the most remote corners of the globe; the state capital Juneau can’t be reached by road, while some of the most spectacular scenery is only accessible by water, especially along the famed Inside Passage. If you’re ready to discover the adventures that Alaska has in store, we’ve picked out the 15 best things to do in Alaska – and how to do them – to inspire your itinerary.

To visit Alaska without cruising along its magnificent coast would be to miss out on one of the most memorable things to do in Alaska.

The Inside Passage is often called one of the most scenic stretches of coast in the world, one of the few places deep enough that larger ships can sail close to steep mountain walls.

Lined with towering fjords, dense forest and snow-capped peaks stretching into the distance, you can see everything from whales and seal to bald eagles around the waters here. With a chance to stop at some of Alaska’s must-visit locations, cruises will also take you to different stretches for an opportunity to appreciate this astonishing wonder of nature.

Alaskan cruise

Head into Prince William Sound, a vast fjord created by Alaska’s iconic Columbia Glacier, to see the ice cascading into the ocean, or marvel at the ancient glaciers within College Fjord, where you can often see giant blocks of ice calving. The name comes from the scientific expedition of 1899, funded by the Ivy League colleges, with different glaciers named after the specific colleges.

At Stephens Passage, you could spy brown or black bears foraging on the shoreline, with forest and glaciers rising from the water, as well as spotting humpback whales and orcas. Or some of the ancient forests along Tracy Arm have existed since the end of the Ice Age, with the North and South Sawyer Glaciers proving that those ancient icy landscapes haven’t vanished entirely, creating a frozen wilderness that’s home to harbour seals, Arctic terns, wolves, bears, whales and seals.

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Totems, Ketchikan

At the southernmost entrance to the Inside Passage waterways, Ketchikan is often the starting point for Alaskan adventures, as well as being one of the state’s most important locations for Native American heritage. Head to the Totem Heritage Centre and Totem Bight State Park to learn more about native arts, as well as finding out about Tlingit culture at Saxman Village. With historic and contemporary works on display, you’ll come across some eye-catching totem poles as you explore, while more than 350 Ketchikan residents are registered artists so you can expect to spot plenty more native-inspired art in galleries in the harbour town.

For a taste of Alaska’s wild side, the Misty Fjords National Monument is only a short distance from Ketchikan. Known for its steep-walled fjords, dramatic rock faces, thundering waterfalls and lush rainforest, the scenery alone is enough to make it one of the best things to do in Alaska. But as well as discovering the crashing cascades which fall into the ocean, or marvelling at the snow-capped mountains in this part of the Tongass National Forest, you’ll also find old lava flows and mineral springs.

Bull moose

The protected reserve is also home to wildlife galore, including brown and black bears, moose, wolves, orcas and Dall porpoises, not to mention birds from tiny hummingbirds and comical puffins up to majestic bald eagles.

Perhaps the only thing more awe-inspiring than seeing Alaska’s towering icy glaciers is the chance to see one ‘calve’, where vast chunks break off into the water, creating icebergs. And Glacier Bay National Park has more actively calving tidewater glaciers than anywhere else in the world, so you can spot some of these huge icebergs and – if you’re lucky – see and hear the cracks and crash as one falls into the ocean.

Glacier Bay National Park

This US national park stretches for 3.3 million acres, set west of the state capital Juneau, with almost 30% of the park covered by glaciers - there are around 1,000 in total, with 50 of these large enough to be named. This icy landscape is far from barren though; a haven for wildlife, rangers and local Huna Tlingit guides share their expert insight into the area’s millennia-old culture as well as the unexpected diversity of the ecosystem.

Once Skagway was among one of the most important gateway towns for prospectors heading north to the Klondike country of Canada’s Yukon Territory in search of the riches of the gold rush. And for a chance to experience this slice of Alaska history, Skagway is one of the most interesting towns to get a taste of how life at the edge of civilisation was lived. Wandering along the downtown boardwalk, you’ll see gold-rush era buildings, preserved as part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park.

The Red Onion Saloon, Skagway

Back in the 1890s, the town was packed with saloon bars and boarding houses, where larger-than-life characters set off to the wild frontier to search for treasure – or celebrated on their return. The infamous Red Onion Saloon is one unmissable spot, while you can ride the White Pass & Yukon Route narrow-gauge railroad in a replica train to hear more gold rush stories, as well as spotting memorably named landmarks such as Dead Horse Gulch.

On the outer coast of the Inside Passage, Sitka was the capital of Russian Alaska until 1867, and it’s here that Alaska was transferred to the US after the land was purchased from Russia. But there’s still plenty of this unique heritage to be found in the city, mingled with that of the indigenous Tlingit people whose ancestral home Sitka is.

Sitka

Discover the Orthodox cathedral with its green domes and ornate interior, housing some 17th century icons, as well as the Russian bishop’s residence, a two-storey log house which is one of the oldest surviving buildings of Russian America.

With more than 20 attractions listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with museums housing rare artefacts and archives, there’s plenty more history to be uncovered as you explore.

Rising in a snow-capped mound to 3,202 feet, Mount Edgecumbe is easily visible on a clear day from Sitka, part of a huge field of ancient volcanoes which covered around 100 square miles and which may have helped melt the glaciers after the last Ice Age.

Known as L’úx Shaa in Tlingit oral tradition, their histories refer to it as “a mountain blinking, spouting fire and smoke”, although there hasn’t been a major eruption in around 4,000 years.

With bubbling pools and a series of small earthquakes recorded in more recent years, it’s no longer classed as dormant (although there’s no suggestion it’s about to erupt again either). For a real adventure, you can charter a boat to the start of one of the trails to the volcano, leading you above the tree line to ground covered with red volcanic ash until you reach the crater rim for wonderful views to the Pacific and over Sitka. Best for experienced hikers and in good weather, it’s something to add to an ‘Alaska things to do in summer’ wishlist.

Juneau, Alaska’s state capital, is one of Alaska’s oldest cities and packed full of character, as well as some of the best things to do in Alaska. In fact, you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to filling your days, with plenty to entertain in the compact and lively downtown area, plus museums, the state capitol building and historic South Franklin Street not far from the cruise docks.

While the city offers plenty of Alaska’s usual attractions, from getting active to seeing wildlife and spectacular scenery, save time to visit the Alaska State Museum for a chance to walk through the state’s history.

Along the way, you can learn about the everyday items and ceremonial objects of different native Alaskan populations, about Alaska’s Russian heritage, and more recent history, not to mention the opportunity to climb aboard a replica of a sailing ship, see more native plants in the arboretum and enjoy the fine art gallery.

A short drive from Juneau’s downtown area, the Mendenhall Glacier stretches half a mile wide with ice up to 1,800 feet deep, and is one of 38 major glaciers making up the 1,500 square-mile Juneau Icefield. Part of the Tongass National Forest, it’s unsurprisingly one of the most popular attractions to discover around Juneau, with more than 250 hiking trails to follow.

You can even walk on the glacier itself, although don’t try this without an experienced guide. Start at the visitor centre to learn more about the geology and history of the area, before heading to the lookout platform gazing over to the glacier at the aptly-named Photo Point Trail. Or from July to September, you can follow the boardwalks along Steep Creek Trail to spot sockeye salmon swimming and spawning, as well as the occasional black bear doing some fishing of its own – one of the great things to do in Alaska in summer. Or discover the awesome power of the glacier on the surrounding landscape along the Trail of Time route, to get a sense of how the changing size of the ice has affected the area.

Museum of the North, Fairbanks

If you’re visiting Alaska during winter, it’s almost certainly in order to see the aurora borealis, or northern lights. And Fairbanks, Alaska’s second biggest city, is the best place to base yourself, right under what’s known as the Auroral Oval. Here the aurora dances in the skies on more than 200 nights per year, although it’s only visible during the darkest months, with activity peaking around the equinoxes in September and March. You can learn more about Fairbanks’ particular weather conditions at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, with its two regular shows, Dynamic Aurora and Winter. The first looks at the beauty of the northern lights and the science behind this magical phenomena, while Winter gives an insight into the area’s long, dark months. Elsewhere in the museum, you can see Alaska’s largest gold display, the world’s only restored Ice Age steppe bison mummy, as well as native art and artefacts.

One of the best places to see wildlife in its natural habitat in Alaska, at Denali National Park you could be lucky enough to tick off the Alaskan ‘Big Five’ - grizzly bears, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, and wolves - along with smaller mammals and 169 species of birds alone. But one of the biggest attractions is the ‘Big One’; seeing the peak of Denali, which dominates the national park.

Denali

Formerly known as Mount McKinley, North America’s tallest mountain stands at an impressive 20,310 feet, towering above the protected foothills of the national park. The High One, as it’s known, has been called the coldest mountain on earth, with winds of 100mph recorded at around 14,000 feet.

While you’ll have plenty of opportunity to see some of Alaska’s remarkable marine life on cruises along the Inside Passage and elsewhere across the state, you shouldn’t miss the chance to stop at the Alaska SeaLife Center, a world-class marine research and rehabilitation facility for sick and injured marine animals including endangered Steller sea lions and harbour seals, as well as sea birds.

Set on the shores of Resurrection Bay in Seward, you can look out across the water before seeing various marine creatures and birds in the specially designed tanks and enclosures within the SeaLife Center. As animals are rehabilitated and released back into the wild, the different inhabitants change regularly, but there’s always plenty to see and learn about Alaskan wildlife.

For another chance to spot Alaska’s Big Five, the 140-acre Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is home to grizzly bears, moose, Dall sheep, caribou, and wolves, a sanctuary dedicated to preserving’s the state’s wildlife through conservation, education and research. Set in the Portage Valley, the center has over 200 acres of animal enclosures mimicking the animals’ natural settings, which can be explored by foot, bike or by car, along with learning more about Alaskan wildlife and the steps being taken to preserve it.

As well as spotting inhabitants including reindeer, elk, lynx and bald eagles, there are also talks from naturalists on everything from the wood bison reintroduction program in Alaska to how to feed a porcupine and stay safe around bears.

Alaska’s sunniest agricultural region has its own very unusual claim to fame, with the world’s largest cabbages grown in the Matanuska River Valley. With over 20 hours of daylight during the summer months, vegetables (not just cabbages) can grow to truly enormous sizes – such as a 2,051lb pumpkin. And while the largest are displayed at the Alaska State Fair, you’ll find fruit and vegetable stalls lining the roads, as well as some of the freshest seasonal produce at restaurants and farmers’ markets. Once you’ve had your fill, there’s plenty of scenery to indulge in as well, with the Matanuska River flowing into the mountains, some spectacular waterfalls and the Matanuska Glacier to see.

There may be few better places on earth to enjoy fresh fish and seafood than along Alaska’s coast.

The state is famous for its five species of salmon - king, sockeye, coho, chum, and pink - which you’ll find prepared in countless ways, from traditional smoked versions to mouth-watering sushi. And you’ll find plenty of places serving it simply grilled; King salmon is the most sought-after for its buttery flavour.

Ketchikan calls itself the ‘salmon capital of the world’, and you can see thousands of fish fighting their way upstream during the salmon runs here, but you won’t be short of fabulous fish across the state. Black cod and halibut are two more fish to watch out for on menus as well.

Alaskan King Crab

Alaskan King Crab is another highlight. Also called the red king crab, they can grow up to six feet in length in the chilly waters of the North Pacific Ocean. The huge legs are usually served simply in an equally large tub with butter for dipping and lemon.

The Bridge Seafood Restaurant in Anchorage and Tracy’s King Crab Shack in Juneau are just two of the best-known places to get a taste. Or look out for Dungeness Crab as a more affordable alternative.

Discover the incredible wildnerness for yourself on a touring holiday of Alaska