Alaska Travel Blog
Even though we're lucky enough to live and work in beautiful Alaska, we still have the curiosity of first-time visitors. That's what our Alaska Travel Blog is all about: Discovering Alaska's oddball history, exploring favorite places, planning new trips, adventuring in the backcountry, and sharing it all with you.
We'll see you out there!
![]( "Alaska's version of beach weather in Homer.")
Staff Picks - Favorite Eats, Hikes, and Things to See
Our favorite places to eat, hike, sightsee, and generally have a grand time all through Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Reboarding the boat after an exploration of Northwestern Fjord.")
How to Choose the Right Alaska Activities for You
The low down on top picks for excursions based on how you like to explore a new place. Dip your toe, or go big? Learn More >
![]( "Bald eagle during the wintertime on the Kenai Peninsula.")
3 Reasons to Read Your Travel Documents
The secret to easy travels? Check your travel documents! Learn More >
![]( "View of Knik River Lodge and valley.")
Tranquility at the Knik River Lodge
Take a deep breath, relax, and unwind at this backcountry lodge just an hour from Anchorage. Learn More >
![]( "Day cruisers enjoying the views of a tidewater glacier.")
What to Pack For Alaska: Your Itinerary Edition
Our best advice on what to pack and bring along on each activity in our most popular trip itinerary. Learn More >
![]( "Experience a full-day narrated bus tour to see wildlife and big landscapes.")
How it Works: Denali Park Bus Tours
Pickup details, seating info, and what you'll experience on your tour. Learn More >
![]( "Three bears anxiously await leaping salmon in Katmai National Park.")
How to Book Alaska When It’s THIS Busy
Our reservation agents share five tips on how to get your top experiences reserved first and booked quickly. Learn More >
![]( "Alaska Railroad locomotives past Hurricane Gulch on the way to Denali National Park.")
All About the Alaska Railroad
Where does it go? How do I book tickets? What's it like onboard? Find the details here. Learn More >
![]( "49th State Brewing Company restaurant in Denali National Park.")
Alaska’s Best Breweries
Our top picks for craft beer in Seward, Homer, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, Valdez, and Fairbanks. Learn More >
![]( "Day cruise ships in Seward's Small Boat Harbor.")
5 Things You Can’t Miss on Your First Trip to Seward
Must-sees in one of Alaska's must-visit destinations. Learn More >
![]( "Resident wolf at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.")
Infamous Alaskans: Adolph Murie and the Wolves of Denali
Meet the biologist whose study saved Denali's wolves. Learn More >
![]( "2021 Alaska Travel Photo Contest winner, taken by Molly McCormick.")
Best Alaska Photo of 2021
It was the shot of a lifetime, even for the avid wildlife photographer whose photo took the top prize in this year's photo contest. Learn More >
![]( "Pair of eagles fly in front of a large beached iceberg in Frederick Sound near LeConte Bay.")
Common Alaska Travel Planning Mistakes
Our Alaska travel experts chime in on the most common mistakes Alaska travelers make when planning their first trip to the 49th state. Learn More >
![]( "Exit Glacier from the Harding Icefield Trail.")
Top 5 Seward Hikes for Visitors
The diversity of Alaska's wild places shines in these favorite hikes near the coastal town of Seward. Learn More >
![]( "Deck at 49th State Brewing Co. in Anchorage, Alaska.")
Best Places to Eat in Alaska
Our top picks for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks in Alaska's most popular destinations. Learn More >
![]( "Shot taken along the Savage River trail in Denali National Park.")
Top 5 Denali Park Hikes for Visitors
Easy, moderate, and downright difficult trails you can't miss in Alaska's best-known national park. Learn More >
![]( "Denali in a heavenly light.")
4 Unique Ways to Experience Denali National Park
In a destination unlike any other, here's how to experience Denali National Park in a whole new way. Learn More >
![]( "Full rainbow in Denali National Park.")
Down and Dirty Alaska Travel Advice
Enough with the grandeur, here's the practical advice you need to love your trip to Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Woman enjoying glacier trekking.")
What to Pack for your Alaska Vacation
What to bring to make the very most of your time in Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Skyline of Anchorage at sunset.")
5 Things to Do with Your Free Time in Anchorage
What to do with three hours to a full day in Alaska's largest city. Learn More >
![]( "El Green-Go's trio of tacos in Anchorage, Alaska.")
Good Eats in Girdwood
Favorite spots for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks in Girdwood, Alaska's epic little ski town. Learn More >
![]( "Panoramic view of Denali Parks Highway.")
Short List: 3 Picturesque Pullouts
You're going to want to stop a lot on your Alaska road trip. Pencil these pullouts in. Learn More >
![]( "Ship dwarfed by a stunning glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park.")
A Practical Guide to Kenai Fjords National Park
How to get to Kenai Fjords, what to see and do there, and where to stay. Learn More >
![]( "Mountains of Kachemak Bay State Park beyond the Homer harbor.")
Homer Through the Lens
The dazzling water of Kachemak Bay. Artist enclaves and world-class fishing. Glaciers, mountains, and beaches to comb. Discover the picturesque charm of Homer, Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Glacier landing at Pica Glacier from Talkeetna, Alaska.")
5 Alaskan Destinations that Will Make You Go Wow
From the highest peaks to the deepest fjords, discover five of the most wow-inducing destinations in Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Grande Denali Lodge with fireweed in the foreground.")
Deciding on Denali Lodging
A breakdown of Denali National Park lodging to help you pick the perfect place to stay. Learn More >
![]( "Ridge top helicopter landing among autumn colors and snow capped mountains")
5 Alaska Activities Worth Splurging On
If you have room in your Alaska travel budget for a big-ticket item, here's where to spend it. Learn More >
![]( "Lush green day in Denali National Park.")
Best Places to Photograph Denali
When the "mountain's out," capture its beauty from one of these especially scenic vantage points. Learn More >
![]( "Kayaking at Spencer Glacier.")
Alaska Must-Do's
Denali flightseeing, iceberg kayaking, etc. Just a short list of the very best Alaska tours as told by our crew of local Alaska travel experts. Learn More >
![]( "2020 Alaska Travel Photo Contest Winner")
Best Alaska Photo of 2020
Chosen from 300 entries, this is the photo that stole the show! Awe, serenity, freedom. Everything you'll find in Alaska, and everything we all crave in 2020. Learn More >
![]( "Looking into Arctic Valley from the trail up Mt. Gordon-Lyon.")
Top 5 Anchorage Hikes for Visitors
Explore Anchorage's wild side by foot on these favorite hikes near town. For every hiker type, from the casual walker to avid climber. Learn More >
![]( "Anchorage skyline on a clear summer day.")
Short List: Anchorage’s Best Outdoor Dining
Dining outside on your trip to Alaska? Check out our favorite restaurants offering al fresco meals in Anchorage. Learn More >
![]( "Historic Nagley's General Store in Talkeetna.")
Trip Report: One Traveler's Perfect Alaska Roadtrip
Favorite moments and travel tips from a past guest whose Alaska vacation inspired some of our top self-drive trip packages. Learn More >
![]( "Fall colors at Riley Creek capture the beauty of Denali National Park.")
7 Reasons You’ll Love Fall in Alaska
From the changing colors to the Northern Lights and lack of mosquitoes, here's why you should plan your trip to Alaska in the fall. Learn More >
![]( "Lion's Head in Matanuska Valley.")
Short List: 3 Driving Tips for Alaska Travelers
No speed bumps here. It's everything you need to know to make your self-drive Alaska vacation a breeze. Learn More >
![]( "Along the beautiful stretch of highway approaching Denali National Park.")
The Top 5 Best Drives in Alaska
Take to the open road on five of the most scenic drives in Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Spencer Glacier in all its glory as seen from a guided hike.")
Past Guest Advice for Future Alaska Travelers
Past Alaska travelers give tomorrow's visitors their advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of trip to the Last Frontier. Learn More >
![]( "Princess Cruises Coral Princess cruising in front of a glacier in Alaska.")
Planning Ahead for Cruise Transportation
Cruising through Seward or Whittier? Plan your cruise transportation ahead of time with these helpful tips. Learn More >
![]( "Denali in a heavenly light.")
Elite 8: Tips for Traveling to Alaska's National Parks
Best advice for visiting each of the eight major national parks in the state. Learn More >
![]( "2019 Alaska Travel Photo Contest winner, taken by Sarah Ann Loreth.")
Best Alaska Photo of 2019
Congrats to Sarah Ann Loreth, 2019 winner of our annual photo contest! Learn More >
![]( "Sites to see around McCarthy.")
Trip Report: Weekend Away in McCarthy and Kennicott
We wanted adventures off the beaten path. McCarthy and Kennicott delivered. Learn More >
![]( "Bald eagle shows off its impressive wingspan in Haines Alaska.")
The NEW AlaskaTravel.com
Trip planning tools, online booking, live rates. See the best new features of this brand new website. Learn More >
![]( "Young humpback whale at full breach just outside Resurrection Bay.")
How to Choose a Seward Day Cruise
Tips for picking a boat tour based on where you want to go, what you want to see, how you're traveling through Seward, and more. Learn More >
![]( "Dalton Highway near Atigun Pass.")
Banned Roads in Alaska
Call it typically Alaskan that several of our "highways" are actually gravel roads. Here's how to drive them with a rental car. Learn More >
![]( "Resident moose at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Portage, Alaska.")
Alaska Wildlife Guaranteed Viewing (Really!)
Moose and bears, puffins and sea otters. If you don't want to leave Alaska without seeing wildlife safely, here's where to go. Learn More >
![]( "Relax and take in sights around the Kantisha Roadhouse.")
Getting Lost at Denali’s Kantishna Roadhouse
Disconnect, discover, lose yourself in the wilds. Here's why the Kantishna Roadhouse could be the highlight of your Alaska vacation. Learn More >
![]( "Driving the Seward Highway from Anchorage.")
Four Tips for Saving on Transportation in Alaska
Alaska's big and getting around can be spendy. Make your travel budget go farther with our four top tips to save on rail, motorcoach, and rental cars. Learn More >
![]( "Flower and mountain views in Thompson Pass near Valdez.")
When Should You Travel in Alaska? It Depends
From the bustling energy of the summer months to the serenity of Alaska in the winter, here's how to pick your best time to visit. Learn More >
![]( "National Park sign in front of Fannie's cabin.")
Infamous Alaskans: The Witch of Kantishna
Meet Fannie Quigley, the garden growing, cabin building, berry picking, pie baking, entrepreneurial miner who struck it rich in Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Paddling Northwestern Fjord.")
Explore the Great Northwestern Fjord
How to become one of the lucky few who experience Kenai Fjord National Park's remote reaches. Learn More >
![]( "Exterior view of Wilderness Express.")
Spotlight on the Wilderness Express
The views, the food, the service! Treat yourself to a ride on Alaska's premier private dome train service. Learn More >
![]( "Vista the Denali sled dog snoozes on his house.")
Meet the Huskies Who Call Denali Home
Although you'll come to Denali National Park for the mountain, it's the sled dogs you'll fall in love with. Learn More >
![]( "Iceberg blues especially vibrant on misty days.")
Trip Report: Kayaking Bear Glacier
Kayaking through icebergs in a glacial lagoon protected from the raging Gulf of Alaska by a huge moraine. Just another day in Alaska. Learn More >
![]( "Taking off from a glacier above Girdwood.")
Alaska in Four Days
Don't have the vacation time or budget for a weeklong Alaska adventure? Not to worry, there's plenty to see and do in four days or less. Learn More >