Alaska Travel Guide: 2025's Best Destinations, Events, Attractions and More

by Scott Laird
Last updated: 1:00 PM ET, Sun January 12, 2025

Alaska – The Great Land. The 49^th state has long been on the travel lists for many travelers, and it's not difficult to understand why. Whether they come seeking the awesome majesty of Alaska's glacier fields, the stupefying array of wildlife ranging from humpback whales to bears, moose, and everything in between, fascinating Indigenous culture or simply the never-ending vistas of pristine wilderness, Alaska has something to intrigue even the most jaded of travelers.

Each summer, travelers come in throngs, boarding cruise ships or flying directly to the state for sport fishing, sightseeing, or relaxation. But as the country’s largest state (it’s over twice the size of Texas), figuring out logistics can be daunting. The state has few roads, and although cosmopolitan in many places, it’s still remote and wild in many others.

Read on for more detailed information about planning the perfect Alaska vacation in 2025.

A Destination for Cruising

The vast majority of Alaska travelers will visit the state onboard a cruise ship. How to choose a cruise could be the subject of its own story (and it is), but there are a few quick tips to consider:

Big or small ship? The itineraries are similar among vessels based on size. Smaller ship lines like UnCruise Adventures, National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions, Alaskan Dream Cruises, American Cruise Lines and H|X can visit smaller ports and more out-of-the-way destinations. Big ship cruise lines such as Princess, Holland America Line, Cunard, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity, Silversea, Norwegian, Viking, and Celebrity tend to stick to larger ports.

Once travelers have figured out the “personality” of the cruise line they want, then it’s time to pick an itinerary.

One-way or roundtrip? Fitting Alaska into a week? A roundtrip cruise from Seattle, San Francisco, or Vancouver can be most convenient. Going on a longer trip or extending travels to other parts of Alaska? A one-way trip berthing in Whittier or Seward is a better bet.

Cruise-only, or Cruisetour? Many cruise lines offer pre-fab “cruisetour" packages, combining the cruise with a package tour of Alaska's interior. They're great seamless products, with all the components like rail travel and accommodations included, but they're also regimented—think plenty of early morning coach or rail departures. Independent-minded travelers can easily cruise to Alaska and make their own onward arrangements.

Best Destinations in Alaska

With a state so vast, and a number of cities welcoming visitors, it can be hard to pick out one to focus on. The smaller communities in Southeast Alaska seem well-suited for cruising, while in Southcentral Alaska, Anchorage, the Matanuska-Susitna Valley (locals call it the MatSu Valley or simply, The Valley), and the Kenai (KEE-Nye) Peninsula are all easily accessible by car (and by little else).

It's also possible to sort destinations by interest. In Southeast Alaska, Skagway and Juneau (JOO-noh) have mining heritage, while Sitka was once the capital of Russian Alaska. Gold is also a historic driver for Fairbanks and Nome.

In Southcentral Alaska, Anchorage is the vibrant cosmopolitan commercial hub for the state and a transportation hub for travelers bound for Seward, Denali, or Fairbanks on the Alaska Railroad or on the state’s road system. There are also plenty of day trip opportunities from Anchorage, from flightseeing in Denali National Park to glacier cruises on Prince William Sound or wildlife cruises to Kenai Fjords National Park from Seward (SUE-erd).

Going to Alaska to fish? The Kenai Peninsula, remote lodges accessible by air from Anchorage, and fishing lodges near Ketchikan are all top fishing spots.

Wildlife viewing opportunities abound in each of the destinations, but a highlight for many intrepid travelers is a visit to Katmai National Park in the late summer and fall for peak bear-viewing season.

In addition to cruises, travelers wanting to join a multi-stop tour without the cruise portion can also book land tours, such as destination expert John Hall’s Alaska.

Best Attractions in Alaska

The crown jewel of Alaska is its national parks. The state has eight national parks, with total acreage accounting for some 60% of the entire national park system. The vast majority of Alaska visitors will go to Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve and Denali National Park & Preserve.

In Anchorage, the Alaska Native Heritage Center is perhaps the best place to learn about the diverse Indigenous cultures from throughout the state, representing over 20 language groups and over 200 federally recognized tribes. Volunteers and staff tell oral histories about their culture and land, often debunking widely-held myths about Alaska Native lifestyles and histories.

A popular cruise port is Icy Strait Point near Hoonah. It’s only accessible to passengers traveling on pre-set cruise itineraries, so visitors wanting to go ziplining or on a guaranteed whale watch (they’ve never once paid out on the guarantee—every single trip in 20 years has seen whales) can look out for that port call when they’re booking Alaska cruises.

Must See 2025 Events in Alaska

In the depths of winter, head to Fairbanks for the World Ice Art Championships.

The annual Fur Rendezvous (locally known as Fur Rondy) takes place in Anchorage each February. Originally a fur traders’ get-together, it’s now a winter festival that allows locals to blow off steam and counteract cabin fever, culminating with the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

In August and September, the Alaska State Fair is held near Palmer, showing off produce and livestock from around the state, but mostly from the "bread basket" of the MatSu Valley. Glacial soil and nearly round-the-clock summer growing days produce monster-sized cabbages and other vegetables. The winning cabbage routinely weighs in over a thousand pounds!

Best Places for Families in Alaska

Families may appreciate the contained environment of a cruise, and it’s worth noting that many excursions in the state are only suited for school-aged children and above.

Families with young children with an interest in wildlife may appreciate Anchorage’s Alaska Zoo, Seward’s interactive Alaska Sealife Center, or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Girdwood. Fans of bald eagles and other raptors will appreciate the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka.

Family-friendly museums include the Anchorage Museum, the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, the Alaska State Museum in Juneau, and the Sitka National Historic Park.

Best Places for Couples in Alaska

Alaska is a great destination for spending time together with one’s loved ones.

Couples seeking relaxation in hot water might try the Alyeska Nordic Spa in Girdwood or Chena Hot Springs outside Fairbanks.

Couples seeking dining with a view might like Girdwood’s Seven Glaciers Restaurant at Alyeska Resort, The Crow’s Nest, or Anchorage's Hotel Captain Cook. In the summer, a secluded weekend at Tutka Bay Lodge on Kachemak Bay could also be just the ticket for a couple's getaway.

Best Places for Group Travel in Alaska

Groups can be difficult to accommodate in Alaska during the peak summer season unless booked well in advance (often up to a year before departure). Groups needing large room blocks will find the best availability and variety in Anchorage, but there are also larger hotels with group space in Fairbanks, Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Homer, Seward, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and other areas around the state.

Groups are particularly well-accommodated on cruise lines serving Alaska during the summer—and on both the cruise and land portions of the cruisetours offered by many of them.

Best Places for Solo Travel in Alaska

Alaska has always been a destination well-suited for solo travelers, and there isn't one destination that stands out among them as being better for solo travelers.

There are a couple of extra safety tips for traveling solo in Alaska.

Resist the urge to go hiking on your own—try to join an organized group or tour. Stories abound in Alaska about hikers getting lost or stranded and having to be rescued. Unfortunately, those stories don't always end happily, so stick with a group when possible.

Also, heed warnings about the tidal mud flats surrounding Cook Inlet and other coastal areas. The flats can turn into a sort of quicksand that can quickly entrap hikers deep enough to prevent escape. Local first responders have methods to free stuck hikers, but they're not always able to do so before the tides return.

Best Foodie Destinations in Alaska

Alaskan cuisine focuses on the availability of fresh seafood and game meats such as reindeer, moose, or musk ox.

In Juneau, Juneau Food Tours offers several options for foodies wanting to take a historic walk with several tastes along the way. Food tours are also available in many other Alaskan cities, where you can sample seafood, craft beer and spirits, Russian dumplings called pelmeni, and other delights.

Food tours are also available in Anchorage, but most foodies will find it best to strike out on their own, sampling seafood, craft beer and spirits, Russian dumplings called pelmeni, and other delights. Favorites include beer-battered Alaskan halibut or cod, fresh crab, shrimp, rockfish, and of course, smoked or simply cooked Alaska salmon.

Visitors in May and June will “catch” the best availability of Alaska’s famous Copper River salmon in restaurants around the state. The fast, cold waters of the Copper River drive salmon spawning there to be extra fatty to brave the trip to the river’s headwaters, so when they’re caught, they’re flavorful and decadently rich.

Denali Backcountry Adventure, Denali Alaska, Alaska

Best Places for Adventure Travel in Alaska

All of Alaska is adventure travel! Whether soft adventure like ATV trips, ocean kayaking, or dog sledding (in the summer, they put the sleds on wheels), there’s plenty for adventure travelers to do in Alaska.

For more challenging adventures, like glacier hikes, mountain climbing, or backcountry trekking, even visitors experienced in those fields should work with local guides who know the terrain and can read the conditions.

Most backcountry outfitters running multi-day itineraries will gear up and depart from either Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Travelers planning to fish in the ocean or the state's many rivers, streams, and lakes should also plan on going with a guide and must ensure they buy a fishing license before baiting their hooks. Alaska's fisheries are some of the best managed in the world, and the regulations on where fishing is permitted are fast-changing. Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Homer are top spots for ocean fishing excursions.

Best Places for Sports Enthusiasts in Alaska

For summer visitors, Southcentral Alaska has a collegiate baseball league that has served as a farm for many major league players. The season runs from June through August, with games in Anchorage, Chugiak, Palmer, and Kenai.

In the winter, the University of Alaska campuses at Anchorage and Fairbanks have popular spectator sports, including hockey, basketball, and volleyball.

Unique to Alaska

Perhaps the most unique aspect of Alaska is its Indigenous culture. As a percentage of the population, Alaska is the most Indigenous state in the union—nearly 22% of Alaska's population is Indigenous (number two, Oklahoma is 16%).

As Alaska is a massive state, with diverse terrains ranging from Arctic ice to subarctic tundra, temperate rainforest, windblown marine island and coastal marsh, Alaska Natives are also an immensely diverse group, with lifeways that and languages quite different from Natives in other parts of the state.

Alaska is also a land of superlatives. It’s the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost state in the union (the westernmost Aleutian Islands are in the eastern hemisphere), the largest state with the highest peak (and the next nine highest—all of the top ten are in Alaska).

Above all, Alaska is an exciting place to visit, whether during the summer peak season or throughout the rest of the year.

To plan an Alaska vacation, visit travelalaska.com.

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