I still remember the first time I saw a glacier calve into the ocean.
The thunderous crack echoed through the fjord, and I stood there, completely frozen, watching chunks of ancient ice crash into the sea.
That was Alaska for me—raw, powerful, and completely unforgettable.
I’m not going to lie, planning a trip to Alaska felt overwhelming at first.
The state is massive, and there’s just so much to see.
But after exploring this incredible wilderness, I’ve narrowed down my favorite places—the ones that genuinely took my breath away.
These are the spots that made me fall in love with the Last Frontier.
Trust me, you’ll want to add these to your Alaska bucket list.
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Get Your Japan Guide NowDenali National Park
Denali National Park is home to Mount Denali, the highest mountain in the United States, located about halfway between Anchorage and Fairbanks.
This place is absolutely massive—the park covers 6 million acres and features a single 92-mile road.
I spent days here and still felt like I barely scratched the surface.
The wildlife viewing is out of this world.
I saw grizzly bears, caribou, Dall sheep, and moose just from the bus tour.
Only portions of the road are accessible to private vehicles, so bus tours are a popular way to explore.
My personal tip: Book the earliest bus tour you can.
The animals are most active in the morning, and the light is absolutely perfect for photos.
On clear days, the views of Mount Denali are stunning—though I’ll be honest, the mountain creates its own weather and is often shrouded in clouds.
I was lucky enough to see it on my second day, and it was worth the wait.
The park feels like stepping into pure wilderness.
There’s something humbling about being surrounded by that much untouched nature.
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When I first landed in Tokyo, I thought I was prepared. Spoiler alert: I WASN’T. 😅
💸 I brought a suitcase that was WAY TOO BIG for the tiny hotel rooms and train aisles. I completely missed the last train because I didn’t understand the schedule. I spent HUNDREDS extra on things I could’ve gotten for cheap. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Japan” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my stressful mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE tips on etiquette, transport, money, and hidden gems that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of confusion.
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Home to towering fjords, tidewater glaciers, and incredible wildlife, Kenai Fjords is one of the most beautiful places in Alaska.
Plus, it’s really easy to visit, and the best way to explore this national park is via boat tours, which give you up-close views of glaciers calving into the sea and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
I took a full-day boat tour out of Seward, and honestly, it was the highlight of my entire Alaska trip.
You can expect to see sea otters, whales, sea lions, dolphins, puffins, bald eagles, and more.
Watching a humpback whale breach just a few hundred feet from the boat gave me goosebumps.
The glaciers here are unreal.
Seeing massive chunks of ice break off and crash into the ocean is something you have to experience in person.
I recommend bringing layers—it gets cold out on the water, even in summer.
And don’t forget your camera with a good zoom lens.
Glacier Bay National Park
Lofty mountain peaks, ice-sculpted fjords, an abundance of marine wildlife, and massive tidewater glaciers have made Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve one of Alaska’s most spectacular settings.
The park is home to over 1,000 glaciers, each contributing to the area’s breathtaking scenery and ecological diversity.
More than 90 percent of the park’s visitors arrive on cruise ships, which typically spend a whole day exploring the park’s stunning scenery and abundant wildlife, stopping in front of tidewater glaciers to watch for calving.
But if you want a more intimate experience, you can fly to Gustavus and stay at Glacier Bay Lodge.
The lodge offers an 8-hour narrated catamaran tour—the only day tour permitted inside the park—where you’ll get a close-up look at the bay’s massive tidewater glaciers, with lunch on board and opportunities to see whales, bears, and mountain goats.
The silence in Glacier Bay is profound.
When the boat engines cut, all you hear is the wind and the occasional crack of ice.
It’s magical.
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I wasted THOUSANDS on travel mistakes you can EASILY AVOID. ✨ My book shares every lesson I learned the hard way in Japan—so you can have the smooth, amazing trip you deserve without the stress and extra cost.
Get Your Japan Guide NowAnchorage
Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage offers opportunities for hiking, biking and other outdoor fun, as well as museums and cultural experiences.
I used Anchorage as my base, and it worked perfectly.
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is an 11-mile paved walkway with views of downtown Anchorage, Mount McKinley and the Chugach Mountains—and it’s also a favorite place for moose to hang out.
I actually saw three moose on my first morning walk, and I couldn’t believe how close they were.
The Anchorage Museum is the state’s largest museum, which has exhibits on Alaska and Alaska Native history.
I spent a rainy afternoon there and learned so much about the indigenous cultures.
The food scene in Anchorage surprised me too.
Fresh seafood, reindeer sausage, and some seriously good coffee shops.
It’s the perfect combination of wilderness access and urban comfort.
🗾 I Wrote a Book About My BIGGEST Japan Travel Mistakes!
When I first landed in Tokyo, I thought I was prepared. Spoiler alert: I WASN’T. 😅
💸 I brought a suitcase that was WAY TOO BIG for the tiny hotel rooms and train aisles. I completely missed the last train because I didn’t understand the schedule. I spent HUNDREDS extra on things I could’ve gotten for cheap. Sound familiar?
“Things I Wish I Knew Before Going to Japan” is your shortcut to avoiding ALL my stressful mistakes. ✨ Inside, you’ll find practical, NO-NONSENSE tips on etiquette, transport, money, and hidden gems that will save you time, money, and a whole lot of confusion.
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Lake Clark National Park is one of my favorite places to visit in Alaska—if not my favorite altogether.
It’s fairly close to Anchorage—only 100 miles—but it’s the least visited national park in Alaska because it’s very remote and difficult to get there, and the only way to get there is by plane—there are departures from Anchorage and Homer.
But that remoteness is exactly what makes it special.
This is one of the best bear viewing spots in Alaska—during a boat tour, you can see more than 20 bears in just a few hours.
I visited in late September, and the bear viewing was incredible.
Watching bears fish for salmon in their natural habitat felt like being in a nature documentary.
The bears were everywhere—cubs playing, adults fishing, just living their lives completely unbothered by our presence.
If bear viewing is on your Alaska bucket list, this is the place.
Juneau and Mendenhall Glacier
Juneau’s most popular attraction is the mighty, magnificent Mendenhall Glacier, located just 13 miles from downtown Juneau and only a few minutes from the airport.
What I loved about Mendenhall is how accessible it is.
You can actually drive there, which is rare for Alaska glaciers.
The Forest Service operates an excellent walk-up visitor center that provides regular updates about the glacier and surrounding area.
There are several hiking trails with different difficulty levels.
I did the Nugget Falls trail, which takes you right to the base of a stunning waterfall with the glacier as your backdrop.
The bright blue ice against the rock and forest is absolutely stunning.
Juneau itself is charming—Alaska’s capital city is only accessible by boat or plane, which gives it a unique, isolated feel even though it’s relatively developed.
Love This Post? You’ll Love My Book!
I wasted THOUSANDS on travel mistakes you can EASILY AVOID. ✨ My book shares every lesson I learned the hard way in Japan—so you can have the smooth, amazing trip you deserve without the stress and extra cost.
Get Your Japan Guide NowSeward
Seward is a cute coastal town that serves as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.
Whales, puffins, seals, and other Alaskan wildlife await your visit to Kenai Fjords National Park near the port city of Seward.
Beyond being the jumping-off point for boat tours, Seward has its own charm.
The waterfront is beautiful, and there are excellent restaurants serving fresh seafood.
Located in Kenai Fjords National Park, you’ll find Exit Glacier—the glacier is easily accessible by road and only a 15-minute walk from the parking lot to the ice.
Exit Glacier is one of the few glaciers you can get really close to without a boat or helicopter.
The trail markers showing where the glacier used to be are sobering—you can see how much it’s retreated over the decades.
It’s a powerful reminder of climate change.
Girdwood
Take the Seward Highway to Girdwood, a cozy resort town that sits nestled within a forest, hugged by the Chugach Mountains.
Girdwood is only about 40 minutes from Anchorage, making it an easy day trip or a great place to stay.
The Alyeska Resort is famous for its trails, ski slopes, and perfect bed and breakfast spots.
I visited in summer, and the hiking was fantastic.
You absolutely must check out Virgin Creek Falls—a short five-minute hike takes you to the most picturesque, moss-enveloped falls.
The waterfall is hidden in this lush, green forest that feels almost tropical.
It’s one of those easy wins—minimal effort for maximum beauty.
I also recommend taking the Alyeska tram to the top of the mountain for panoramic views.
The Alaska Railroad
The journey on the Alaska Railroad deserves a high place on your Alaska bucket list—whether you choose the trip between Anchorage and Seward or travel north toward Denali National Park and Fairbanks, you’ll be treated to panoramic views of forests, mountains, and rivers along the way.
I took the train from Anchorage to Seward, and it was such a relaxing way to see the landscape.
Book the GoldStar service if your budget allows—the domed windows and outdoor viewing deck make a big difference.
I splurged on GoldStar, and I’m so glad I did.
The glass dome ceiling meant I didn’t miss a single view, and the outdoor deck was perfect for photos.
The route from Anchorage to Seward travels along the Turnagain Arm and is especially beautiful.
You glide past mountains, glaciers, and coastline without worrying about driving.
Plus, the train stops for wildlife—we paused for about 10 minutes to watch a moose and her calf.
