To kick-start our Alaska-themed week we’re looking into the top tourist attractions in ‘The Last Frontier’ – a state as beautiful as it’s big.
The natural beauty of the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’ can be enjoyed while hiking, paddling, and fishing in the great outdoors, especially as the state and national parks here are some of the largest in the United States.
Alaska is also a very popular cruise destination.
1. Kenai Fjords National Park
Protecting much of the fjord-riddled coastline of the Kenai Peninsula (south of Anchorage), this national park offers some of the best sightseeing in Alaska. Not only do panoramas take in the many glaciers of the Harding Icefield and an uninhabited coastline, but the national park is home to monstrously large brown bears that feed on the fat-rich salmon.
Many tourist options converge in the surrounding areas, be it the end of Hwy 1 in Homer, or the terminus of the Alaska Railroad and access to the Exit Glacier, both in Seward.
2. Inside Passage
The most popular way to visit the Inside Passage is to cruise through the fjords on large ships, charter boats, and private yachts, or to stop off the highway at Haines, Skagway, or Hyder.
This section of southeast Alaska offers incredible scenery of glaciers, mountains, and ocean, and is home to an abundance of wildlife. The area is also inhabited by the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples.
3. Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway runs from Dawson Creek in British Columbia (Canada) through the Yukon Territory to Fairbanks, in the centre of Alaska. It was built for military purposes in 1942, during WWII, in the record time of only eight months.
The highway passes through Whitehorse, Canada before crossing the international border into Alaska and ending in Fairbanks. Motels, shops, and gas stations lies at intervals of 30-50 miles.
4. Northern Lights
One of the up-sides to Alaska’s long dark winters are the glowing Northern Lights that appear on many nights from September to mid-April. Some of the best aurora borealis viewing happens in the Fairbanks area.
The peak time to watch for solar particles in the earth’s magnetic field is after midnight. Joining an aurora tour can help keep sightseers warm in this frigid season.