{"id":11148,"date":"2019-11-13T06:00:08","date_gmt":"2019-11-13T10:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rvusa.com\/blog\/?p=11148"},"modified":"2023-10-13T11:04:51","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T15:04:51","slug":"best-things-to-do-in-alaska","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rvusa.com\/blog\/best-things-to-do-in-alaska\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Things to Do in Alaska"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taking a trip into the great white north? Check out the best things to do in Alaska!<\/strong><\/p>\n

It will require some trekking to take your RV up to the 49th state in the union, but believe us when we say the trip is worth it. There\u2019s no other place like it in the US – no other state is quite as wild and untamed as The Last Frontier. Alaska is the largest state in the US by about 300,000 square miles, but still has fewer people than the nation\u2019s smallest state, Rhode Island. This sparsely populated expanse lends itself to all sorts of exploratory adventures, from icy glaciers to colorful towns and from discovering national parks to chasing the Northern Lights. If the standard relaxing-by-the-pool vacation isn\u2019t your style, then Alaska is the place for you. Here\u2019s our list of the best things to do in Alaska.<\/p>\n

Hike Denali National Park<\/h3>\n

Sure, a hike at a national park makes the list of things to do in most states. But the hiking here is quite a bit different than what you\u2019re familiar with. There are very few marked hikes in Denali National Park, and the ones that are marked are often short and only near the park entrance. To see more of the rugged scenery lined by snow-covered mountains in Denali, you\u2019ll have to hike off-trail.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry, you won\u2019t get in trouble for blazing your own path here – wilderness hiking is the point in this park that\u2019s the size of Massachusetts. It may seem intimidating, but the adventure of off-trail hiking embodies the spirit of Alaska. Just return to the road after your hike and flag down a passing shuttle at the end of the day. You can also hike with a ranger in Denali, or explore other options like biking the Denali Park Road or visiting the only kennel of working sled dogs in a national park!<\/p>\n

Go Dog Sledding<\/h3>\n

Speaking of which, hanging with sled dogs is a classic activity in Alaska. There are a plethora of places you can book a dog sledding tour, where you can either ride behind the dog sled or even mush the dogs yourself. Some tours require you to take a helicopter to the glacier where you\u2019ll meet your sled dogs. You can hear from Iditarod mushers about the world-famous race and of course, make sure you get in all the puppy cuddles, because all dogs are puppies, right?<\/p>\n

Trek Mendenhall Glacier<\/h3>\n

Another excursion that might require a helicopter ride is trekking Mendenhall Glacier. You\u2019ve probably seen photos of the other-worldly turquoise caves of ice at the glacier, and if you\u2019re in Alaska, you\u2019ll want to see these for yourself. If the helicopter option doesn\u2019t interest you, you can hike to the glacier with guided tours from Mendenhall Lake. Either way, guided tours of the glacier will provide you with the correct trekking gear to get you safely across its icy surfaces.<\/p>\n

Whale Watch in Glacier Bay or Kenai Fjords National Park<\/h3>\n

No zoo or theme park can compare to seeing killer whales in the wild, and Alaska is the perfect place to witness it. If you\u2019re near Juneau, head to Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, and if you\u2019re near Anchorage, Kenai Fjords National Park isn\u2019t far. Either way, you can book cruises that will take you around the icy waters in the area and introduce you to the magnificent creatures that call it home, including orcas, minke whales, sea lions, bald eagles, and puffins.<\/p>\n

Walk Creek Street in Ketchikan<\/h3>\n

For an Alaskan activity that\u2019s slightly tamer (at least nowadays), head to Creek Street in Ketchikan. This historic boardwalk in Alaska\u2019s first and southernmost city was once home to the town\u2019s red-light district that thrived in the prohibition. Today, the wooden walks built over the waters of Ketchikan Creek are much more family-friendly, strolling past restaurants, antique shops, and museums. You might also spot signs for \u201cMarried Man\u2019s Trail\u201d near the boardwalk, which were once muddy paths used by men who fit the trail\u2019s billing and wanted to sneak more discreetly into the area\u2019s – ahem – establishments. Ketchikan is also one of the best spots for salmon watching! Don\u2019t miss the Salmon Ladder, a man-made structure built to help salmon head upstream for spawning.<\/p>\n

View the Northern Lights<\/h3>\n

While you\u2019ll have to time this one just right, seeing the stunning aurora borealis in the Alaskan sky is worth the price of admission on its own. The Northern Lights season in Alaska spans mid-September to late April and peaks in March, thanks to the long, dark nights. A clear night without snow clouds is ideal. While predicting this natural phenomenon is nearly impossible, the lights in Alaska\u2019s interior and arctic region are some of the most active in the world.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll want to get close to or above the Arctic Circle for your best shot at viewing them, so the further north you travel, the better your chances. Places like Coldfoot or Prudhoe Bay provide clear views, but Fairbanks, which is a bit below the Arctic Circle, is known as the best place for aurora viewing as they occur frequently there. Find a spot online that tracks and predicts solar activity during your trip to maximize your chances! If you\u2019re lucky enough to land on a night with Northern Lights during your stay, all you need to do is find an unobstructed view of the sky, and enjoy.<\/p>\n

Best Things to Do in Alaska<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve got a sense of adventure inside you, then Alaska is calling your name. Pack up your hiking boots and cold gear and hit the road north. You won\u2019t regret it!<\/p>\n

Has this list of the best things to do in Alaska inspired you to venture outside of the contiguous United States in your RV? For more ideas on where to go, visit the blog for our favorite RV destinations<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Taking a trip into the great white north? Check out the best things to do in Alaska! It will require some trekking to take your RV up to the 49th state in the union, but believe us when we say the trip is worth it. There\u2019s no other place like it in the US – […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[2280],"class_list":["post-11148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-rv-destinations","tag-best-things-to-do-in-alaska"],"yoast_head":"\nBest Things to Do in Alaska - RV Lifestyle News, Tips, Tricks and More from RVUSA!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Has this list of the best things to do in Alaska inspired you to venture outside of the contiguous United States in your RV?\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rvusa.com\/blog\/best-things-to-do-in-alaska\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Best Things to Do in Alaska - 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