If you’re looking for a unique adventure you need to look for destinations that can offer you more than just pretty landscapes. Alaska is one of the few destinations that not many people think about but has a lot to offer.
Known as the Last Frontier, this 49th state has a lot to offer. From gigantic mountains to tall standing icebergs, from unique culture (many residents live in places only reachable by bush plane) to untouched nature views Alaska has it all. However, when you are thinking of Alaska for adventure trips you need to know how you can make the most of the options you have.
Cruise to Alaska
Visiting Alaska on a cruise is a great way to have a great outdoor adventure.
Why? You can get to see the best landscapes from the comfort of the cruise. You can take an Alaska cruise that allows you to explore the magnificent views of the mountains and glaciers from a vantage point before you go to explore them yourself.
Various cruise packages also allow you to combine your cruise trips with a land tour as they take you through different accommodations and use railways and roads to help you explore towns like Anchorage, Denali and Talkeetna.
Kayaking in Alaska
Kayaking is one of the popular ways to explore nature and get the best adventure experience.
While you are in Alaska you can pick up some kayak tours that allow you to get up close and personal with the untouched nature in complete silence. You can kayak your way to explore the marine life in Sitka Sound, Icy Strait Point and Lake Bernard.
If you don’t like wild rapids you can kayak in the Talkeetna River and watch some marine life on the banks of the river. You can also find some guided kayaking tours that allow you to find the best locations to kayak in Alaska.
p.s. make sure to choose a tour that prioritises animal welfare.
Witnessing the Northern Lights
Experiencing Aurora Borealis is an outdoor adventure in itself. Hence, you need to witness these Northern Lights when you are here in Alaska. You can go camping in Alaska and that would allow you to witness this auroral show. Although this happens throughout the year, the best time to experience these lights is from September to April. Hence, you can look for places where you can be like Coldfoot and Fairbanks where you can camp to witness this natural phenomenon. You can create your weekend Alaska road trip to camp and witness these lights.
p.s. Did you know the Southern Lights are a thing too? They’re a bucket list experience in New Zealand.
Walking In and On the Glaciers
If you are interested in seeing a glacier upfront personal, Alaska is the place to be.
This place is packed with plenty of glaciers that you can walk on. These glaciers are accessible by rental car or just walking distances from towns and therefore you can hop several glaciers as you explore and seek adventure in Alaska.
If you are in Anchorage, Portage Glacier is one of the popular ones that you shouldn’t miss. You can also climb and walk the Root Glacier in Kennicott, in Wrangell-St Elias National Park. The Matanuska Glacier, Spencer Glacier, Worthington Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier are among the few popular ones you shouldn’t miss.
Experience Alaska Wildlife
While you can find plenty of Alaska vacation and wildlife packages you need to focus on the ones that offer you to experience its wildlife up close and personal.
While you are seeking adventure in Alaska you can witness grizzly bears, sea otters, puffins, orca and humpback whales and even mountain goats that move around the Alaska landscape.
You can do some hiking as you explore Denali national park in Alaska. You can also take a small boat cruise that allows you to enjoy some whale and bird watching. Visiting Kenai Fjords National Park must also be on your list to explore and witness some marine life in action.
Hiking the Mountains
There is no shortage of mountains in Alaska and if you want to experience the Alaskan wilderness you can go hiking up these mountains. You can find many trails here in Alaska that allow you to cover the best landscape on foot. Hiking the Reeds Lakes Trail is one of the easiest and most popular ones near Anchorage. Also, you can look for other hiking trails that offer you different views and landscapes and difficulty levels.
Ready for Alaska yet?
Check out this video, it makes me want to get there!
