Choose from 110 Fun Things to Do in Alaska
ShowingFilter 101-110 of 110 listings.
Zabriskie Point
Experience one of the most iconic views in California's Death Valley National Park from the overlook at Zabriskie Point. Located in the Amargosa Range on the east side of Death Valley, Zabriskie Point is surrounded by an otherworldly, maze-like landscape formed by the erosion of long-arid sediments in the Furnace Creek Lake area.
This view, often coveted on day trips to Death Valley from cities like Las Vegas, is best seen at sunrise or sunset when the sunlight paints beautiful colors across the crags and canyons of the badlands.
Practical Info
Zabriskie Point sits just off Hwy 190, and it’s easily accessible on foot from the nearby parking area. For visitors who wish to explore further, a hiking trail leads down the slope to Gower Gulch and beyond to Golden Canyon.
Address: Hwy 190, Furnace Creek, California 92328, USA
Admission: $20/car
From $ 80
Zion Canyon Scenic Drive
Though the sprawling Zion National Park covers 229 square miles, the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive is the most popular section of the park. In fact, this winding drive up Zion Canyon is so popular that from March 15 until mid-October, the nine-mile drive is only accessible by riding the Zion Park Shuttle. Along the way, there are stopping points for major sights—from Zion Lodge and the Court of the Patriarchs to the trailhead for Emerald Pools—and the scenic drive reaches its terminus at the Temple of Sinawava. While visitors must ride the shuttle in summer, the road is open to private vehicles during the late-fall and winter. There is a decent amount of parking at most of the stops, although during the holiday visiting season the road can be congested and parking can be a bit tough. Nevertheless, this is the main vein that leads through canyon and offers accessible day hiking and views, and takes an entire day to explore properly from the south end of the canyon to the top.
Practical Info
The cost of the shuttle system is included in the park entrance fee, and shuttles run every six minutes during the busiest times of the year. The Zion Canyon Scenic Drive has eight different shuttle stops, and winter visitors will find numerous pullouts for pulling over to take photos.
Address: Springdale, Utah 84767, USA
From $ 80
Liarsville Camp
Located in Skagway, the Liarsville Camp brings Gold Rush history to the present. The camp offers a number of memorable experiences and is especially great for families wanting an educational yet fun experience. Along with its beautiful surrounding scenery that includes a waterfall and White Pass, the camp is also known for its salmon bakes. Meals at Liarsville are all-you-can-eat and consist of wood-fire grilled Alaskan salmon, chicken, rice, corn bread, pasta beans, salad and cake.
Even with the enticing food, the main draw is the gold panning experience. Visitors get to try their hand at the historic activity and can even keep their findings. The camp also has a comedic performance involving sourdoughs and dancehall girls that keeps the audience laughing and is complemented by a reading of the poem, "Bard of the North" by Robert Service, who was known for his Yukon-inspired poetry. Don't leave without exploring the old trail camp, which adds to the exposure to local history and culture that Liarsville provides.
Practical Info
Liarsville operates in May through September and offers lunch and dinner daily.
Address: Mile 1 Liarsville Rd, Skagway, Alaska 99840, USA
Hours: May-September, lunch & dinner tours
Admission: Adults $59, Children $39
From $ 48
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
The Klondike is synonymous with the gold rush days of the late 19th century, when the frontier settlement of Skagway exploded from a population of just two to 20,000 in a mere 10 years.
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park protects the memory of these days, preserving the trails, towns and buildings of the gold rush era. Skagway was the gateway town to the gold of the Klondike, which lay 550 miles (885km) north, near the junction of the Klondike and Yukon Rivers in Dawson City.
The Chilkoot Trail is the most famous of the gold rush routes followed by the miners, originally created by the Tlingit people. The park also preserves the downtown Skagway Historic District and its prized collection of authentic 100-year-old wooden buildings, including the fun Mascot Saloon and historic Moore House and Cabin.
Drop into the park's visitor center to watch the video about the area's gold rush history and pick up information about the local trails, including the famous Chilkoot Trail.
Rangers lead a range of activities, including walking tours and talks through the historic buildings and countryside.
Photo by Reywas92 sourced from WikiCommons
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park protects the memory of these days, preserving the trails, towns and buildings of the gold rush era. Skagway was the gateway town to the gold of the Klondike, which lay 550 miles (885km) north, near the junction of the Klondike and Yukon Rivers in Dawson City.
The Chilkoot Trail is the most famous of the gold rush routes followed by the miners, originally created by the Tlingit people. The park also preserves the downtown Skagway Historic District and its prized collection of authentic 100-year-old wooden buildings, including the fun Mascot Saloon and historic Moore House and Cabin.
Drop into the park's visitor center to watch the video about the area's gold rush history and pick up information about the local trails, including the famous Chilkoot Trail.
Rangers lead a range of activities, including walking tours and talks through the historic buildings and countryside.
Photo by Reywas92 sourced from WikiCommons
Practical Info
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is in Skagway, the northernmost point of southeast Alaska's Inside Passage.
Address: 2nd and Broadway, Skagway AK 99840, USA
Hours: Open: May - Sept daily 8am - 6pm
From $ 55
Zion Canyon
Like a well-irrigated oasis in a dusty sandstone desert, Zion Canyon holds the treasures that make Zion park so famous. Carved by the waters of the Virgin River, this canyon plunges over 2,000 feet from rim to valley floor, where the Zion Canyon Scenic Drive forms a conduit for awestruck travelers. Here in the stunning Zion Canyon, famous sights such as The Great White Throne literally spring up towards the sky. The drive up the canyon is so wildly popular that shuttles are used in summer, but private vehicles are allowed in the canyon during the slower months of winter. For most visitors, the canyon “begins” at the northern end by the Temple of Sinawava, and runs south to the town of Springdale nearly 10 miles away. North of the Temple of Sinawava, the canyon narrows to only 20 feet and is filled by the Virgin River. This part of the canyon forms “The Narrows” trail that’s popular with hikers and visitors, although regardless of where in the canyon you visit, the vertical spires, painted cliffs, and green of the valley floor create a mesmerizing amphitheater in the Utah desert that’s as magical as it is famous.
Practical Info
Zion Canyon runs for approximately 10 miles from the Zion National Park Visitor Center to the Temple of Sinawava. The canyon is closed to private vehicles from March 15 until the middle of October, during which time it’s accessible by park shuttles that run every six minutes. For the best photos inside of the canyon, early mornings offer the most light and the best angle of the sun.
Address: Zion Canyon, Springdale, Utah 84737, USA
From $ 80
Lake Spenard
Lake Spenard (along with Lake Hood, which it is connected to by canals) is the world's busiest and largest floatplane runway. Visiting is a truly memorable experience, and in the summer it's a popular place to enjoy a picnic and watch a free air show. Aircraft are almost constantly taking off and landing"”about 200 per day"“and heading in and out of the lesser-explored parts of Alaska.
Even if you aren't an aviation enthusiast, there are other activities to enjoy at Lake Spenard. Along with a playground and swimming area with a lifeguard"”perfect for families with children"”there are picnic tables, volleyball courts and other areas for sport and recreation. Additionally, photographers will love capturing the action, especially with the sparkling glaciers and soaring peaks in the background.
The Millennium Alaskan Hotel sits nearby and has a terrace restaurant with views of the lake. Here you can watch the floatplanes take off while munching on seafood tacos, prime rib or crab and scallop macaroni and cheese.
Practical Info
Lake Spenard is located on Lakeshore Drive, just off Spenard Road. The best time to visit is the summer.
Address: Lakeshore Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99517, USA
From $ 20
Saxman Native Village
Saxman Native Village celebrates all things Alaskan and Tlingit, and that means totem poles, folklore and dance, lumberjack exploits and woodcarvers.
The native village introduces visitors to the customs and culture of Alaska's native inhabitants, and features the largest collection of totems you're likely to see.
At the Beaver Clan House, members of the Cape Fox Dance group welcome visitors with traditional songs, stories and dance. Woodcarvers show off their skills, and there are examples of their craft for sale in the village store.
While visiting Saxman Village, it's also possible to take in a lumberjack show and wood-chopping competitions.
The native village introduces visitors to the customs and culture of Alaska's native inhabitants, and features the largest collection of totems you're likely to see.
At the Beaver Clan House, members of the Cape Fox Dance group welcome visitors with traditional songs, stories and dance. Woodcarvers show off their skills, and there are examples of their craft for sale in the village store.
While visiting Saxman Village, it's also possible to take in a lumberjack show and wood-chopping competitions.
Practical Info
Saxman is 2 miles (3km) south of Ketchikan, on the S. Tongass Highway.
Address: S. Tongass Highway, Saxman, USA
Admission: Tour: $35
From $ 700
Totem Heritage Center
Historic totem poles from the 19th century are preserved and exhibited at Ketchikan's Totem Heritage Center.
The tall totems were collected from abandoned Tlingit and Haida villages in the region. Other Alaskan displays such as masks, photographs and artwork are also exhibited at the center, which hosts programs and classes to promote and safeguard traditional arts and crafts.
The century-old totems are poignantly weathered, their paint faded and patchy. Tours help fill in the stories behind the various carvings of animals and symbols.
The tall totems were collected from abandoned Tlingit and Haida villages in the region. Other Alaskan displays such as masks, photographs and artwork are also exhibited at the center, which hosts programs and classes to promote and safeguard traditional arts and crafts.
The century-old totems are poignantly weathered, their paint faded and patchy. Tours help fill in the stories behind the various carvings of animals and symbols.
Practical Info
The Totem Heritage Center is a few streets east of downtown Ketchikan.
Address: 601 Deermont Street, Ketchikan AK 99901, USA
Hours: Open May - Sept 8am - 5pm daily, Oct - Apr Mon - Fri 1pm - 5pm
Admission: Adults: $5 (May - Sept)
From $ 700
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Of the 8.5 million acres of land in Gates of the Arctic National Park, every single one of them lies north of the Arctic Circle. This massive, mountain strewn swath of land is larger than all of Belgium"”yet scarcely more than 10,000 people end up visiting the park each year. It's a place where caribou, grizzly bear, and moose roam free across hundreds of miles, and time seems to stop"”or rather, not matter"”when all you can hear is silence. Grandiose in its isolation, this park is truly a wilderness outpost for adventurous backcountry explorers, and offers a look at an ecosystem still largely free of man's touch. The rivers, mountains, wetlands, and wildlife merge just as nature intended, and the best way to see it is with guided day trips that help you to fish the pristine rivers and breathe the fresh mountain air.
Practical Info
Despite the park's enormous size, there aren't any roads, signmarked trails - or even a proper visitor center. The Visitor Center is way back in Fairbanks, and trips begin with a short flight to Bettles or Anaktuvuk Pass. From here, float trips and day trips venture into the park"”which has no backcountry lodging"”though isolated cabins and lodging options exist just outside the boundaries. Since bugs can be brutal in the middle in summer, be sure to pack repellent.
Did You Know? There are 30 straight days of sunlight in summer, and the maximum temperature is above 70 degrees for most of the month of July.
Address: Gates of the Arctic National Park, Bettles, Alaska 99726, USA
From $ 1,600
White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad
Inching up steep tracks carved into the sides of mountains, the narrow-gauge White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is a fun, historic way to see spectacular scenery. A number of routes travel through White Pass, a mountain route that links the port town of Skagway, Alaska, with the Yukon Territory capital city of Whitehorse in Canada. Climb aboard this International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and experience mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, and historic sites from the comfort of a century-old railcar along “the railway built of gold.”
The Basics
The scenic White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad offers three excursions, all of which begin in Skagway, Alaska. The White Pass Summit Excursion rises from Skagway to the White Pass summit, 2,865 feet (873 meters) high, while the Bennett Scenic Journey travels the length of Lake Bennett before arriving in the Yukon Territory, stopping in the old gold-rush town of Bennett Station en route. And the Fraser Meadows Steam Excursion features a historic steam locomotive that hauls passengers beyond the White Pass summit to Fraser, British Columbia. The train is most often experienced by cruise travelers as a shore excursion from Skagway.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Train fanatics, history buffs, wildlife and nature lovers, and families with kids all will thrill to ride aboard this historic train.
- The round-trip summit excursion takes about three hours, the Fraser Meadows route takes four hours round-trip, and the longer Bennett Scenic Journey lasts eight hours round-trip, including a 45-minute layover.
- Most options are sold as round-trip excursions, although the Fraser Meadows route is also offered as a one-way trip.
- Be sure to tote a camera to capture the mountain and forest vistas, and even some native wildlife like bear or caribou.
- Passports are required for the Bennett Scenic Journey and Fraser Meadows Steam Excursion trips.
- Only the White Pass Summit Excursion trains are wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
All White Pass and Yukon Route trains depart from Skagway, Alaska, about four hours north of Juneau by ferry. Ferries take equipment, freight, and passengers through the Port of Skagway, and many cruise ships stop right at Skagway—and a trip on this railroad is an extremely popular shore excursion.
When to Get There
The railroad runs from May to September and is extremely popular, so it’s best to book well in advance. Departure days and times for the three train routes vary depending on the day of the week, the season, and national holidays.
White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad History
Built in 1898 during the Klondike Gold Rush, the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark—a designation shared with the Panama Canal, the Statue of Liberty, and the Eiffel Tower, among others. The 110-mile (177-kilometer) narrow-gauge railroad was completed on July 29, 1900, in Carcross in the Yukon Territory. The route was built to connect the deepwater port of Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse in Canada. Today, a ride on one of the historic train routes ranks among Alaska’s most popular shore excursions—almost a half-million passengers take the trip each summer.
Address: 231 Second Avenue, Skagway 99840, USA
Hours: May - Sept. Reserve seats ahead of time. Some routes require a passport
Admission: Adults: US$85 - US$239, Children (3-12yrs): half price
From $ 51