Things to See in Alaska: Top 10!

If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, you definitely need to know the 10 things to see in this incredible land—but also that nature is in charge here. If you’re ready to let it lead the way, keep reading...
 

What to see in Alaska: the top 10!
 

1. Anchorage, Alaska’s non-capital

Let’s start with the basics. To begin with, among the 7 things to see in Alaska, we find a city. Alaska’s capital is Juneau, but many people think it’s Anchorage because it is the country’s only major city. In fact, more than 40% of the population lives here, around 300,000 people. Even if it’s not one of the absolute must-see stops of the trip, it’s still worth a visit! If nothing else, it may be the only city you’ll see for the next 15 days.
 

2. Denali National Park and the highest peak

Incredible. This is where Denali rises, the highest peak in North America at 6,190 meters, also known as Mount McKinley, named after the 25th U.S. president. This mountain belongs to the Alaska Range, which is part of the park. The only road crossing the park reveals an extraordinary variety of landscapes: plains, mountains, forest, tundra, taiga, glaciers, and then moose, beavers, lynxes, foxes, and bears. This place truly has everything. 

3. Mendenhall Glacier, a spectacular glacier

Just 20 minutes from Juneau (which, as we learned earlier, is the real capital of Alaska!!) inside Tongass National Forest, you’ll find the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier, which unfortunately is retreating due to rising global temperatures. A must-see. Wow.

4. Alaska Highway, an amazing road

An incredible 2,232 km road, open year-round, built to connect the contiguous United States to Alaska. It begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, passes through Whitehorse in the Yukon, and reaches Delta Junction in Alaska. Along the way it also crosses Tok, Alaska’s sled-dog capital. The scenery is breathtaking. It’s absolutely worth it!

5. St. Elias National Park and Mount Wrangell volcano

Within the St. Elias Mountains, the park includes waterways and the highest peaks in the United States. The highest point is Mount St. Elias at 5,489 meters, the second-highest elevation in the U.S. And of course—could a volcano be missing? Mount Wrangell is a 4,317-meter volcano completely covered in ice that has nevertheless emitted clouds of steam and smoke throughout history. Salmon, trout, caribou, beavers, coyotes, black bears, brown bears, and grizzlies inhabit this area.  Anything else? Yes—because the park stretches all the way to the coast, where you can spot seals, otters, whales, and sea lions.

6. Glacier Bay, the bay shaped by melting ice

Northwest of the Inside Passage lies a place that feels like a journey thousands of years back in time, into the Ice Age—yet it did not exist until two centuries ago. This area was once an immense and impenetrable expanse of ice, hundreds of meters thick. Part of the ice melted, revealing an 8-kilometer bay. Glacier Bay continued to expand as the ice melted: now ships can travel up to 105 kilometers into the bay, which keeps widening with numerous branches.
 

7. The Kenai Fjords

One of Alaska’s absolute highlights. Did you know that fjords aren’t only found in Norway? Even though Alaska is not globally known for them, there’s one place where the fjords will truly take your breath away: the Kenai Peninsula, a region south of Anchorage, almost as large as Belgium, home to Kenai Fjords National Park. The park is one of the best places in Alaska to see glaciers.

8. The mini Magic Bus

In the town of Healy, specifically in the yard of 49th State Brewing, you’ll find the bus used in the filming of “Into the Wild.” You can go pay tribute to it—for everything it represents and the meaning it holds—without risking your life, while enjoying a local craft beer and raising a toast to Christopher McCandless.
 

9. Fairbanks

Fairbanks is a key city in the state. Isolated and in the middle of nowhere, it is truly one of a kind and very interesting to visit, also because of its history, having grown and prospered during the gold rush.
 

10. Sto Gran Tour in Alaska

We’ve listed 9 things, but we needed point number 10 to tell you that this whole list still isn’t enough to express Alaska’s beauty. You need to experience every point in person—and you can do that by taking a look here, at our ALASKA ADVENTURE TRIP. Check out the expedition!