Alaska USA: 10 Best Places to See on Your Trip

We’d been talking about visiting Alaska since we started dating. But getting to Alaska from Europe is no joke. Flights alone cost a small fortune, and let’s be honest — Alaska is one of the most expensive parts of the USA. In the end, we made it to Alaska. Below you’ll find how we got there and the best places to see in Alaska.

How We Got to Alaska from Canada

When we got our working visas for Canada, we managed to save enough in three and a half months to travel for a full month — and still had money left over. So we decided to return to Canada for another five months and try to earn enough for a much longer road trip. It worked.

In five months, we saved enough and set off for Hawaii, Alaska, through Canada’s Yukon and British Columbia, and then down into the States. We drove to Alaska non-stop for three days (and three days back to Canada) and spent just over two weeks there. Here are the most beautiful places we visited.

10 Best Places to See in Alaska

Let’s take a look at the best places to see in Alaska and the most beautiful hikes we experienced.

1) Harding Ice Field Trail to Exit Glacier

The best things in life are free. We waited 4 days, praying that the clouds would clear from Seward so we could hit this trail to Exit Glacier. On the fourth day, Mother Nature finally smiled at us. That morning it looked like we’d have to give up on Exit Glacier — it was overcast. But it wasn’t raining, so we decided to drive from Seward to the trailhead, where we spotted a tiny sliver of turquoise sky above the glacier. We decided to risk it. And it paid off.

Thrilled by the sunshine, I practically ran up the trail. The fact that it had about 1,000 metres of elevation gain didn’t dampen our enthusiasm one bit. Someone once told me they call this “nature’s kitsch.” The massive white glacier contrasted with the blue sky and purple wildflowers that covered every green section of the hike. I’d never seen anything like it.

2) Kayaking in Kenai Fjords National Park

The most expensive five hours of my life. When you’re watching every penny, a price tag of $430 per person makes your stomach churn. The deliberation was long, but we knew how it would end. We had to go — because who knows when we’d come back, and whether we’d ever get the chance to kayak near a glacier among fjords again.

Just on the way there, we spotted whales and loads of puffins. While kayaking, we admired sea starfish and sea lions, paddling among chunks of ice. A stunning — and overpriced — experience that you should budget for in advance. If you’re looking for tours and excursions in Alaska, check out GetYourGuide for great options.

3) Hike to Portage Glacier

This easy three-hour hike to Portage Glacier is definitely worth it, even though a horde of mosquitoes will try to eat you alive along the way. You can get relatively close to the glacier and admire the crystal-clear lake with chunks of ice bobbing on the surface.

4) Port Town of Whittier

Our Lonely Planet guidebook described this place as very weird. We didn’t find anything weird about it. It also claimed the weather here is always worse. We didn’t notice that either. What we did enjoy was strolling through the harbour completely on our own.

5) Hidden Gem Between Denali National Park and Anchorage – Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass is a hidden gem on the route from Denali National Park to Anchorage. You need to turn off the main road, but you definitely won’t regret it. Suddenly you find yourself in a valley where wisps of cloud drift above green, rolling hills. There’s an old gold mine that’s been turned into a museum, and you can join a guided tour. Our guide was a bit of a character, though.

6) Spend a Few Days in Denali National Park

Denali is home to the highest peak in North America — Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley). Unfortunately, in this impossibly vast national park, you can’t move around freely and must pay $30–50 for a bus. So we decided to hike only in the more accessible areas. We tackled the Triple Lakes Trail, which offers amazing views of endless mountain peaks — sadly, Denali itself isn’t visible from there.

7) Port Town of Haines

Haines is known for its pastel turquoise waters and amazing hikes for mountain lovers. We headed up Mt. Ripinski — a beautiful trail through the forest that leads to a neighbouring peak. From the top, you can see the entire town and its surroundings. The problem was that strong winds picked up at the summit and we were worried it might be dangerous. Luckily, we made it back safely.

8) The Perfectly Turquoise Town of Valdez

Small, turquoise, and magical. That’s my memory of the port town of Valdez, where we made a very brief stop.

9) The Sleepy Town of Homer

The artsy little town of Homer is famous for its galleries of local artists. You might be surprised that, unlike the rest of the Kenai Peninsula, it’s flat.

But that doesn’t take away from its beauty. Head to Homer Spit like we did — a narrow strip of land stretching into the water, where besides the freezing air, you’ll find lovely painted shops, restaurants, and cafés.

10) Fishing Town: City of Kenai

Our guidebook didn’t have much praise for this town. But we were tired and in a bad mood, so we didn’t feel like continuing to Homer. And we were glad we stopped here. It was my greatest cultural experience in Alaska. We headed to the beach, where people don’t swim — instead, they stand in the water catching salmon by waiting for the fish to jump into their enormous nets.

Recommended Guide for Planning Your Alaska Trip 🙂

If you’re planning a trip to Alaska, we highly recommend picking up a good guidebook. It helped us navigate this vast and remote state, find hidden gems, and plan our route efficiently. For accommodation along the way, we booked many of our stays through Booking.com, which often had the best deals even in remote Alaskan towns.