7 Amazing Experiences You Can Only Have In Alaska

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US Travel Alaska

If you haven’t put a vacation to Alaska at the top of your radar, you are missing out. Mother Nature delivers big time in the 49th state. Whatever activities you choose, Alaska will blow your mind.

Here are seven only-in-Alaska adventures for your vacation.

1. Ride the Rails

White Pass & Yukon Route is known as “The Scenic Railway of the World.” This narrow-gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush. Built in just 26 months—despite mountainous terrain, heavy snow, and below-zero temperatures—the 110 miles of track along the White Pass foot trail opened in 1900.

Guests ride this narrow-gauge route, which climbs nearly 3,000 feet, in restored and replica railcars with guides who share railway and Gold-Rush lore. Experience the breathtaking panorama of mountains, glaciers, tunnels and trestles from the comfort of vintage rail cars.

2. Marvel at the Largest Tidewater Glacier in North America

Of the many jaw-dropping experiences you can have in Alaska, witnessing the massive Hubbard Glacier is tops. At 76 miles long and up to 600 feet high, Hubbard Glacier is famous for being the largest tidewater glacier in North America, and it is best viewed from a boat or ship.

Cruise Lines offer itineraries with stunning views of Alaska’s pristine wilderness and Hubbard’s wall of ice. When the glacier sheds a hunk as big as a building into the sea, the blast is called “white thunder.”

3. Go Dogsledding in the Home of the Iditarod

In the past, mushers and teams of Alaskan huskies delivered essential supplies to hard-to-reach Alaska Native communities. And every March, the extreme 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race commemorates that history.

Dog training occurs year-round, and some professional mushers open their facilities to visitors. In summer, thrill-seekers can take a helicopter tour across the Juneau Icefield to the top of a glacier for a dogsled ride on snow and ice. Or you can help the huskies exercise by riding in a dog-pulled, wheeled cart.

4. Watch for Wildlife Near North America’s Tallest Mountain

Head to Denali National Park, which covers 6 million acres of wilderness in Alaska’s interior region, for glimpses of Denali, the tallest peak in North America, and the park’s Big Five: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears.

Most visitors stay in nearby lodges and explore the park via guided tours along its single, 92-mile road. With animals roaming freely across the Arctic tundra, you’ll experience a thrilling wildlife safari.

5. Hike at Mendenhall Glacier

About a 12-mile drive from Alaska’s capital city of Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is accessible by land and is one of the most-visited glaciers in the world.

At the U.S. Forest Service-operated visitor center, you’ll learn glacier facts, watch a 15-minute film, and catch glacial views through large observation windows. But the real fun is hiking the well-marked trails. The 2-mile round-trip hike to Nugget Falls gets so close to glacial water that you might feel the chill on your cheeks. Another easy walk is on a raised platform overlooking a creek sometimes occupied by salmon-fishing bears.

6. Sail the Inside Passage

The 500-mile-long Inside Passage, known for its calm waters, is Alaska’s prime cruise destination in the state’s scenic southeast. Port calls provide access to remote coastal communities.

Ships sail past vast expanses of wilderness—rainforest as green as emeralds, isolated islands where bears are the main residents, and snow-capped peaks—into breathtaking fjords, around blue icebergs, and close to immense, active glaciers. Keep your binoculars ready to spot whales, including humpbacks.

7. Reel in a Big One in the ‘Salmon Capital of the World’

Fishing is one of the most popular excursions in Alaska. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced angler, you can try to reel in salmon or halibut from the waters off Ketchikan, a historic fishing port and self-proclaimed “salmon capital of the world.”

Some tour companies will process your catch and ship it directly to your home. If you’re on a Princess Cruises ship, you can enjoy your fish cooked by on-board chefs.

When you are ready to plan your Alaska vacation, I will be honored to help you.