Alaska is more than just the largest state in America it is one of the largest natural untouched places in the world. There is so much to do and see in Alaska whether you prefer to hike on an ice age glacier, skim the wilderness in a “bush” plane or take a dog sled ride, you’ll find plenty of options to experience the Alaska you never knew existed.
Alaska has many famous rivers, lakes and protected coastal waters which offer the opportunity to experience rafting, kayaking or jet boat rides from mild to wild. No matter what your interest, you’re sure to find some adventures tailor-made for you.
Alaska is full of outdoor adventures, from the mild to the wild. Picnic near an Ice Age glacier or raft a raging river. Experience gold rush excitement aboard a sternwheeler or try your hand fishing for Alaska’s world-class halibut and salmon. Skim the wilderness in a “bush” plane or helicopter. Or take a flightseeing trip over some of the most breathtaking mountains in North America. Drive for miles beside a turquoise glacier-fed river.
Endless Summers
Alaska has some of the most incredible scenery to be found in the United States. In order to enjoy all Alaska has to offer, visitors must get out and experience it for themselves.
With an amazing trail system that snakes through most major communities, Alaska has a trail for all abilities – from accessible nature paths to mountain hikes that are physically challenging. Cyclists, joggers and walkers will discover endless possibilities at their feet. Long-distance riders can use the highways – which vary in road surface and shoulder width.
Alaska visitors can experience the state’s unique Native culture through many avenues including totem carving, Native dancing, the blanket toss, traditional music, crafts and festivals as well as cultural and historical museums, heritage centers and academics. Whether you want to explore Alaska’s vibrant Native culture or other artistic and intellectual attractions like music festivals, local artisan handiwork, Russian iconography or museum exhibits, a long list of things to do and see awaits you.
-Fact: Alaska has a longer coastline than all the other U.S. states combined!
-Fact: Of the 20 highest peaks in the United States, 17 are in Alaska. Mt. McKinley, the highest peak in North America, is 20,320 ft. above sea level. Denali, the Indian name for the peak, means “The Great One.”
-Fact: The Yukon River, almost 2,000 miles long, is the third longest river in the U.S. There are more than 3,000 rivers in Alaska and over 3 million lakes. The largest, Lake Iliamna, encompasses over 1,000 square miles.
-Fact: Alaska has an estimated 100,000 glaciers, ranging from tiny cirque glaciers to huge valley glaciers. There are more active glaciers and ice fields in Alaska than in the rest of the inhabited world. The largest glacier is the Malaspina at 850 square miles. Five percent of the state, or 29,000 square miles, is covered by glaciers.
With its myriad islands, Alaska has nearly 34,000 miles (54,720 km) of tidal shoreline. The Aleutian Islands chain extends west from the southern tip of the Alaska Peninsula. Many active volcanoes are found in the Aleutians and in coastal regions. Unimak Island, for example, is home to Mount Shishaldin, which is an occasionally smoldering volcano that rises to 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above the North Pacific. It is the most perfect volcanic cone on Earth, even more symmetrical than Japan’s Mount Fuji.
The chain of volcanoes extends to Mount Spurr, west of Anchorage on the mainland. Geologists have identified Alaska as part of Wrangellia, a large region consisting of multiple states and Canadian provinces in the Pacific Northwest, which is actively undergoing continent building.
So if you are thinking of the wilderness as a place for a vaction there is no better place than Alaska!