Alaska Travel Guide
It’s called the Last Frontier for a reason…
Alaska is famous for its large, rugged, unspoiled wilderness. Glaciers, fjords, dramatic mountains, wildlife, and incredible sky gazing are all things you can enjoy here.
We were blown away by the sheer beauty during our brief visit and do plan on coming back for a much more extensive visit.
One of our most cherished memories here is a travel mishap and a cautionary tale. After spending a few days around Anchorage and Girdwood, we made our way to Denali National Park with friends on shoulder season to stay in a beautiful cabin and explore the park.
After an exciting time meeting the mayor of Talkeetna (spoiler alert, it’s a cat!), we continued to Denali.
Little did we know, we ran over a fragment of an antler and it caused for a hole in our tire. Luckily we had all of our groceries and made it to our cabin, but being on shoulder season the local mechanic was gone and the only option was to enjoy our time stuck at the cabin and the property around us before a tow truck came and towed us back to Anchorage.
During this time, we didn’t get into Denali National Park, but we did get to snowshoe and hike around our cabin property and enjoy living ‘off the grid’ temporarily, which was still a travel memory we enjoy and a reminder that sh*t happens sometimes and you just have to roll with the punches!
Quick Tips for Visiting Alaska
When is the best time to visit Alaska?
The best time to visit Alaska is generally, the summer months. This is the most popular time of year to visit and Alaska experiences long daylight hours, mild temperatures, and the best wildlife viewing opportunities during the summer months of June to August.
However, Alaska’s vast size and diverse geography mean its regions have different climates.
Southern Alaska, including places like Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula, enjoys a maritime climate with cooler, wetter conditions, while Interior Alaska like Fairbanks, experiences more extreme temperature variations, with warm summers and very cold winters.
The shoulder seasons of late spring (May) and early fall (September) are also great times to visit with fewer crowds.
Aurora Borealis is best seen in the months of late August – mid April.
Keep in mind the days are much shorter from November through March!
How Much Time Do I need in Alaska?
How much time you need for a visit to Alaska depends on what you want to do and the area you want to cover. Alaska is a BIG state and things are very spread out.
For a meaningful visit to Alaska, 7-10 days is ideal. This allows you to experience key attractions like Denali, glaciers, and wildlife, with time for scenic drives or cruises.
If you have the ability and flexiblity to, you can easily spend 14 days in Alaska.
What is Alaska most famous for?
Alaska is famous for its breathtaking wilderness, including glaciers, rugged mountains, and national parks like Denali National Park and Kenai Fjords National Park.
Alaska offers extraordinary wildlife viewing (bears, whales, moose), the magical Northern Lights, and outdoor adventures such as hiking, fishing, snowmobiling, and dog sledding.
Alaska is also known for its long summer days and short periods of daylight in winter!
What’s the best way to get around Alaska?
Our preferred way to get around Alaska is by car. This is definitely a driving destination with a lot of area to cover and this gives you the most freedom on your trip.
That being said, make sure that you are comfortable driving in snowy conditions and it’s helpful to have services like AAA handy in case you have a mishap, like we did! We ran over a fragment of an antler at Denali National Park and had to be towed back to Anchorage, OUCH!
If you’re driving, make sure you get AWD or 4WD just in case too and if you’re driving to far away places, fuel up whenever you get a chance.
You can also take advantage of the trains or cruises Alaska has to offer too. In some cases, these are the best options to get to far away destinations.
Must Try Food in Alaska
One of the top regional specialties to eat like a bear and savor is wild Alaskan salmon, best enjoyed during the summer months when it’s plentiful and at its freshest. Try grilled over an open flame or served raw as sashimi.
Another highlight is king crab, harvested primarily in winter and spring, celebrated for its sweet, succulent meat that pairs perfectly with melted butter.
Reindeer sausage, a local favorite available year-round, blends gamey flavors with spices like pepper and garlic, often grilled and served with hearty accompaniments.
And don’t miss Alaska’s wild berries—blueberries, raspberries, and cloudberries especially around mid-summer to early fall and all the specialty products that use them from jams, pies, and desserts.
