Anchorage
At the western ‘nose’ of the peninsula and southern terminus of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is this beloved 1400-acre park populated by…
Must-see attractions in Alaska
Juneau
Get ready for some spiritual enlightenment. The Shrine of St Thérèse is a natural stone chapel on a beautifully wooded island connected to the shore by a…
Anchorage
The unique wildlife of the Arctic is on display at this zoo, the only one in North America that specializes in northern animals, including snow leopards,…
Juneau
A spectacular sight at Mendenhall Glacier is this waterfall, a mini-Niagara (in season) caused by Nugget Creek diving off a hanging valley into Mendenhall…
Anchorage Region
Trekkies take note: Knik Glacier is best known as the setting where a portion of Star Trek VI was filmed. You can get a partial view of the ice floe at…
Southwest Alaska
Every year, hundreds of brown bears emerge from hibernation and make their way to Brooks Falls, a small but important waterfall in Katmai National Park…
Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
Juneau
This mini-museum holds ranger talks, shows an 11-minute film and displays exhibits relating to the glacier and its formation. There are huge panoramic…
Anchorage
Housed in the city’s oldest wooden-framed home, this little museum overlooks the delightful Elderberry Park. Anderson was the 18th American settler to set…
Kenai Peninsula
Down below the bluffs is an oddity in Alaska: a sweeping, sandy beach, ideal for picnicking, Frisbee-chucking and other waterfront fun. There are stellar…
Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters & Visitor Center
Kenai Peninsula
Opposite Kalifornsky Beach Rd near the Kenai River is the junction with Funny River Rd. Follow signs to Ski Hill Rd, following it for a mile to reach this…
Ketchikan
Ten miles north of downtown Ketchikan is this seaside park that contains 14 restored totem poles, a colorful community house and a viewing deck…
Southeast Alaska
Of the three totem parks on POW, the Klawock Totem Park is by far the most impressive and obviously a great source of community pride. Situated on a hill…
Alaska
The northernmost extremity of the US (though not, as locals sometimes claim, North America) is Point Barrow, but it's tough to get to this narrow strip of…
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Anchorage Region
A nonprofit wildlife center where injured and rescued animals are on display. Particularly of interest are the wood bison, the only herd in the US. They…
Denali National Park & Preserve
This scenic area, at 3500ft, has views of the Toklat River to the south. The pass, which is a regular stop on Denali tour- and shuttle-bus routes, gets…
Sitka
Old headstones and Russian Orthodox crosses lurk in the overgrown and quintessentially creepy Russian Cemetery (located at the north end of Observatory St…
Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark
The Interior
Old mill town constitutes pretty much all of present-day Kennecott. Dozens of old wood and log buildings have been restored, stabilized or purposely left…
Anchorage Region
The Alyeska Ski Resort Tram offers the easiest route to the alpine area during the summer. The resort offers a Dine & Ride combo (adult/child $39/25) that…
Kenai Peninsula
Where Seward ends this wonderful park begins. Comprising 587,000 acres of mountains, the park is home to tidewater glaciers, a massive ice field and…
The Interior
These rustic, privately managed springs can be accessed on a taxing 11-mile overland hike south from Mile 93 on the Elliot Highway. Facilities consist of…
Totem Historic District – Kasaan
Southeast Alaska
This is one of the great Haida cultural centers in Alaska. It's in Kasaan, one of only two Haida villages in the state, and, since 2002, has been listed…
Denali National Park & Preserve
Eielson is the most common turning-around point for day trippers taking the shuttle or tour buses into the park. This remote outpost is built directly…
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
Fairbanks
There are a few contenders for 'best visitor center in Alaska' but this one, an ingenious mix of museum, info point and cultural center, has to be in the…
Alaska
This 24,000-sq-ft facility houses a museum, gift shop and a large multipurpose room where short traditional dancing-and-drumming performances take place…
Kenai Peninsula
Though technically it’s outside the park, this field station operated by the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies provides an excellent introduction to the…
Anchorage
Comprising 4000 acres of forest and muskeg in east central Anchorage, this park features 20 miles of trails. In the center of the park is the Bureau of…
Juneau
Amble out to the end of Basin Rd, a beautiful 1-mile walk from the north end of Gastineau Ave, to the former Alaska-Juneau Gold Mining Company complex. It…
Homer
Situated on the bluffs above Homer, this moose-ridden 140-acre reserve is highly recommended for families and anyone interested in the area’s ethnobotany …
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center
Ketchikan
Three large totems greet you in the lobby of this center run by the National Park Service (NPS), while a school of silver salmon suspended from the…
Skagway
Skagway Museum is not only one of the finest in a town filled with museums, but it's one of the finest in the Southeast. It occupies the entire 1st floor…
Juneau
Demolished and rebuilt in a snazzy new $140-million complex in 2016, the result is impressive. Sometimes called SLAM (State Library, Archives and Museum),…
Ketchikan
Departing from Stedman St is Creek St (a boardwalk built over Ketchikan Creek on pilings), a history book of misshapen wood-paneled houses painted in…
Denali National Park & Preserve
This station, situated at the crossing over the eponymous river, is one of the major stops on both the Denali shuttle route and Denali bus tours. On site,…
Kenai Peninsula
This riverfront site, run by the local Kenaitzie tribe, is a refreshing reminder of what this area was like before the flood of sport fishers. A quarter…
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center
Kodiak Island
This excellent visitor center focuses on the Kodiak brown bear, the most famous resident of the refuge, with an exhibit room that’s especially well suited…
Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center
Kenai Peninsula
This excellent visitors center is among Kenai’s main attractions. The museum features historical exhibits on the city’s Russian heritage, offshore…
Anchorage
Inside the Anchorage Museum, this award-winning center features creative, hands-on Alaska-themed exhibits that include live marine animals in a touch tank…
Homer
This surprisingly spacious gallery features the work of the self-taught homesteading painter. While it can get a little Bob Ross and cheesy, many of the…
Alaska
This park has a desolate, severe beauty, and is best known for its Arctic sand dunes – like a Saharan desert in the midst of the tundra – and migrating…
Homer
This gallery can get good local wares, and has more than just art to hang on your walls: sculptures, carvings, baskets and more are all on offer.
