Alaska attractions

How many stretches of sand come backdropped by jagged, snow-capped mountains in two directions? That’s the scene at Eagle Beach State Recreation Area, just 27 miles north of Juneau, Alaska. At 600 acres with access to the Eagle River, visitors will find—in addition to the spectacular views—hiking, camping, picnicking, bird-watching (eagles!), wildlife-viewing, and more.

Relive the historic Alaska Gold Rush with a visit to the Crow Creek Mine. Once one of Alaska’s most prosperous mines, the Crow Creek Mine is one of the most easily accessible and popular gold panning attractions in Alaska. Less than an hour outside of Anchorage, the Crow Creek Mine is the perfect place to explore gold rush history and try your own hand at striking gold.

Vintage cars, history, and fashion collide at the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum. Located in Fairbanks, this museum traces the evolution of fashion and cars, from the Victorian Age to the 1930s. Visit to see its collection of more than 95 vintage cars and the largest display of vintage fashion in the Pacific Northwest.

Home of four-time Iditarod (long-distance dog sled race champion Martin Buser, Happy Trails Kennels is a training facility, kennel, and sled dog educational attraction in south-central Alaska. With a Happy Trails Kennels tour, you’ll see the inner workings of a sled dog training center, meet dogs that have raced in the Iditarod, and learn about life on this 938-mile (1,509-kilometer quest from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.

Located on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, the Georgeson Botanical Garden is one of the northernmost gardens in the world, home to an array of flowers, vegetables, herbs, and Alaska native plants. Considering Fairbanks receives over 21 hours of sunlight during the summer months, the garden acts as an experimental plot to see what can grow in this extreme subarctic environment.

Located near the Alaskan city of Valdez, the Worthington Glacier is one of the few glaciers in the United States accessible by vehicle and, therefore, is one of the most visited on foot. This 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) long glacier is part of the Worthington Glacier State Recreation Site, which offers 113 acres (45.7 hectares) to explore.

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.

Alaska’s only mountaintop museum, Roundhouse at Alyeska, is dedicated to preserving the history of Girdwood, Alaska. Sitting on an exposed ridge of Mt. Alyeska at 2,260 feet (689 meters above sea level, the museum showcases the development of the Alyeska ski resort and offers 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain ranges, glaciers, and waters of the Turnagain Arm.

The Sitka History Museum (previously known as the Isabel Miller Museum) is Sitka’s most comprehensive museum. Exhibits cover all areas of Sitka history, from the original Tlingit culture and the first European explorers to the Russian occupation and the sale of Alaska to the United States in 1867. The museum also features exhibits on mining, logging, and fishing—important industries in Sitka today.

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.