Alaska attractions

Situated in the Chena River State Recreation Area, within easy day-tripping distance of Fairbanks, the Angel Rocks Trail is a great option for hikers looking to explore Alaska’s alpine tundra. Come here to see rock outcroppings known as tors and beautiful views of forests and mountains. Afterward, soothe any tired muscles at Chena Hot Springs.

The Stedman-Thomas Historic District is one of Ketchikan’s oldest neighborhoods—and one of the most significant, serving as a hub for Asian and Pacific Islanders who worked for Alaska’s fishing industry in the first half of the 20th century. Complete with boardwalks and original restored buildings built on wooden pilings from the early 1900s, it’s one of the most visited areas in Ketchikan, especially for cruise ship passengers.

Surrounded by toppling mountains on the northern edge of Resurrection Bay, you can feel Alaska’s hard-working spirit come to life at the Seward Boat Harbor. With sea birds scouting out the salmon from the sky, fishing boats recounting their catch, tour boats heading off for an adventure, and all walks of life visiting nearby shops and restaurants, there’s never a dull moment at the harbor.

The historic Guard Island Lighthouse lit up for the first time on September 15, 1924. The original 34-foot wooden structure was particularly important during the Klondike Gold Rush as it aided in shipping along the Southeast Alaska Inside Passage. Today, it’s known for its historical significance, peaceful beauty, and abundance of seals.

For many visitors, a trip to Alaska just isn’t complete without catching a glimpse of the massive, snow-capped centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. Topping out at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), the Alaska Range mountain federally known as Mount McKinley (aka Denali) is the highest in North America. The peak is often shrouded in clouds, so there’s only a 30 percent chance of seeing it on a given day.

No visit to Juneau is complete without a close-up look at the Mendenhall Glacier, one of Alaska’s most popular attractions. The 13-mile-long (19-kilometer-long) glacier ends at Mendenhall Lake and is easily viewed from the historic Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The glacier is beautiful on sunny days, but arguably even more impressive on cloudy, drizzly afternoons when the ice takes on a deeper shade of blue.

Comprising more than 2,500 islands, islets, rocks, spires, and reefs stretching from Cape Lisburne on the Arctic Ocean to the westernmost tip of the Aleutian Islands, the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge is America’s largest protected marine habitat. The refuge protects breeding habitat for millions of seabirds and offers incredible birdwatching and wildlife viewing opportunities for visitors.

Not far from the town of Seward, Alaska, dozens of glaciers comprise an icefield spanning more than 300 square miles (780 square kilometers) within Kenai Fjords National Park. The longest of these glaciers, Bear Glacier sits in a lagoon of the same name that draws adventurous campers, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders (SUPs) from Alaska and beyond.

Resurrection Bay on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula—dotted with glistening glaciers, majestic fjords, and secluded coves set against a backdrop of snowy mountains and dramatic fog—is a haven for those who enjoy striking landscapes. Not only is this pristine wilderness beautiful, it’s also filled with opportunities for outdoors recreation.

Encompassing more than 1,000 square miles (2,700 square kilometers), Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park is named after its numerous glacial-carved fjords—beautiful ice valleys unlike anywhere in the Lower 48. The fjords run down the mountains into the iconic Harding Icefield, where some 30 active tidewater glaciers flow. The fabulous landscape is also a wildlife watcher's dream, thanks to its abundant marine animals, birds, and other native wildlife.