Alaska is not just any place, not just among the US states but in the entire world. Travelers who go there are not looking for the grandeur of New York’s skyscrapers or the winding streets of San Francisco, the nostalgic rhythms of New Orleans or the excesses of Las Vegas. If you choose Alaska, you know that the great works of man, even the most incredible ones, will never be able to gift the same emotion as a wild territory where uncontaminated nature reigns.
In Alaska man still depends on nature and the resources it offers: for this reason Alaskans have a reverential respect for the animal and plant world in the midst of which they feel like guests. The experiences that allow you to feel this strong relationship between man and nature are countless, but I have selected five unforgettable activities for everyone can find their ideal experience. Let’s see the Top 5 Things to Do in Alaska, the things you have to do if you want to make your trip unique.
PS: to prepare for your trip, I suggest you read this article with the one dedicated to the best things to see in Alaska.
Contents
1 See the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)
The fear of extreme cold makes most tourists go to Alaska during the summer months. Indeed, summer offers more opportunities for excursions and it is easier to move around independently, but only in winter can you enjoy one of the most incredible shows that Mother Nature stages: the Northern Lights. The yellow and green lights that intertwine and dance in the northern skies leave even the most seasoned travelers, who have seen everything and more around the world, speechless. And even those who have already experienced this emotion will realize that each aurora is different from the previous ones. In 1958, for example, the Alaskan skies turned such a bright red and orange that many mistook the aurora for a gigantic fire.
Once past the Arctic Circle, since the sun does not set in summer, one encounters the peculiar phenomenon of the midnight sun, so during the winter months there is constant darkness and the wait for the next sunrise lasts many weeks. This particular atmospheric effect illuminates the endless winter nights, lending the landscape a magical appearance. Contrary to popular belief, however, it’s not just the latitude that counts: the chance of seeing the Northern Lights does not increase if you head towards the North Pole. Fairbanks, in fact, is the American city that offers the greatest possibility of sighting the dancing lights. Just think that while at the North Pole the average number of nights with northern lights is 100 per year, in Fairbanks the chances grow to 240. If you go to Alaska between September and April, then, remember to include a stop in Fairbanks in your itinerary: you will not regret it!
- Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs from Fairbanks
- Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) Chasing with Photography and Pick up Service
- Arctic Circle and Northern Lights Tour from Fairbanks
2 Take a dog sled ride
Who doesn’t remember the story of Balto, the Siberian husky at the head of the pack that in 1925 brought the antitoxin needed to fight the diphtheria epidemic? One of the most famous Alaskan stories could only have sled dogs as protagonists. Before the arrival of airplanes and helicopters, dog sleds were the only way to get around in areas not served by roads and they are still the only option in the event of bad weather for some places.
In almost every city in the interior, where the long winters see snow as the protagonist, tourists are offered the opportunity to take a ride on a dog sled. Whether it’s a long ride through the whitewashed woods or a short attempt at driving near town, it’s one of the most accessible yet engaging activities you can enjoy in Alaska. During the summer, the lack of snow doesn’t completely rule out opportunities; some people put wheels on their sleds so they can travel over grass and dirt roads. Throughout the year, visiting a dog farm allows you to learn about the history and activities of the breeders, learn about the potential of these offbeat pets, and have fun playing with the pups.
- Helicopter ride over the glacier plus sledding tour from Anchorage
- Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience in North Pole
- Helicopter Glacier Dogsled Tour with Lower Glacier Landing
- 1-hour Winter Dog Sledding in Fairbanks
- Dog Sled Adventure from Fairbanks
- Husky Dog Sledding & Mushing with Pick up and Photo Service in Fairbanks, Alaska
- Sled Dog Discovery in Skagway
3 Salmon fishing with locals
Salmon has always been a fundamental resource for Alaskans, who have made it one of their main dishes. Smoked or roasted, the meat of this fish is definitely worth tasting during a trip to Alaska. But why settle for ordering it at a restaurant, when you can fish for it directly? The streams of the wildest areas are stormed by bears and challenging a grizzly bear to a fishing contest is not a wise idea, but you don’t have to go far from the cities to grab your fishing rod.
In Anchorage itself, the waterways overflow with salmon that come upstream during the summer to spawn just a few feet from busy roads, oblivious to the concrete that encroaches on the land. One of the Alaskans’ favorite leisure activities is to arm themselves with a rod and try their hand at salmon fishing, even during lunch breaks or at the end of a working day, without leaving town.
In Anchorage, for example, the Ship Creek is taken by storm by fishermen and there are some areas called just “downtown” Salmon viewing areas. The large king salmon (which can reach record sizes of 130 lb) and the very special Alaskan red salmon are already a spectacle in themselves when they come up the streams. Even those who are not avid fishermen can rent the essential equipment and bring home a worthy catch without too much difficulty.
4 Flying over the Bush in an airplane
75% of Alaska’s territory is inaccessible by car. This means that most of the state is still unspoiled and nature still offers its most intact and wild aspect. At the same time, it means that you can’t just rent a car to completely visit Alaska at your leisure. Above all, the northwest of Alaska is almost devoid of connections and the only means of transport are small airplanes, called bush planes by the locals because they are used mainly to fly over the Bush, all that vast area not accessible by land. Some planes fly a fixed route between the most remote towns, others are available to those who rent them.
A scenic flight of a few hours can be very expensive, but to admire the mountains, tundra and glaciers from above is an experience that is difficult to forget, as well as a take-off and landing on the water (in the case of small seaplanes) or on dirt tracks in the middle of green expanses. To amortize costs, it is possible to rent airplanes that can carry a larger number of people as a group. In every town, there are pilots who offer tours of varying lengths in their aircraft vehicles and the attractions to see differ depending on the area.
- Misty Fjords National Monument Floatplane Tour
- Juneau excursion with helicopter tour and glacier hike
- Helicopter Glacier Landing Tour from Seward
5 Getting to the Magic bus of Into the wild
Warning Update June 2020: Unfortunately, due to constant distress calls from inexperienced tourists trying to reach this location, the bus has been permanently removed by local authorities. At the time of writing this update, a possible new location has not yet been decided.
The adventures of young Chris McCandless, narrated in the book by Jon Krakauer, became famous with the Sean Penn film Into the wild. The young man died in August 1992 in an abandoned bus (the 142 Fairbanks City Transit System Bus), left in the taiga by road builders in 1961 and still standing there rusting in the grass. Called the “Magic bus” in Krakauer’s account, the bus that served as home to the last weeks of McCandless’ life is now a popular destination for excursions.
Getting to the famous bus is not for everyone. So many hikers dream of being able to take a picture of themselves sitting with their backs against the green and white metal, but few have the skills to reach it. The Stampede Trail, the path inside Denali National Park that allows you to reach the bus, is about twenty-five miles long (each way) and would not in itself be one of the most inaccessible that you can choose, except for one major difficulty: the crossing of two streams.
The Teklanika in particular is almost impossible to cross at any time of the year, also due to the unpredictability of its currents. In general, the winter and summer months are definitely not recommended, one because of the excessively cold temperatures, the other because when it gets hotter, the glaciers melt, causing the water level to rise significantly (meaning you find yourself in the same situation as Chris McCandless) and because of the presence of swarms of mosquitoes determined to do anything to make your life impossible.
This leaves the autumn and spring when, theoretically, the layer of ice that forms along the river bed should help you cross the river. However, temperatures in this period can reach -20 degrees at night. The rain and bad weather must also be considered, which can affect the level of the currents, making it impossible to cross the river even when in theory it would be easier.
Walking the Stampede Trail means being isolated for a few days in nature: it is therefore essential to be physically prepared and to start with the right equipment, but above all to always travel in a group. The group allows you to avoid attacks from bears and other animals and increases your safety and chances of reaching your destination unharmed. For those who can’t budget for a strenuous trek, there is always the option of seeing the replica of the bus that was used in the film. It is located in front of the 49th State Brewery in the town of Healy, the closest to the Stampede Trail.
In the same town you will also find many tours that can take you around the area (but not all of them go as far as the bus) at prices that are definitely not cheap, but for some may be the only way to venture out safely and without too many worries.
