Are you planning a trip to Alaska? If so, you’ve come to the right place! With its vast landscapes, towering mountain ranges and breathtaking coastlines, narrowing down your must-see destinations can be a challenge. As the largest and least densely populated state in the U.S., Alaska is home to thousands of miles of protected wilderness, abundant wildlife and stunning ocean vistas. So, where do you start?

Here’s a guide to some of the best places to visit in Alaska to add to your itinerary.

1. Denali National Park and Preserve

Spanning an impressive 6.1 million acres, Denali National Park is a must-see spot for any Alaska adventure. If you’ve ever wanted to see the “Big Five” — moose, bears, Dall sheep, wolves and caribou — this is the place.

Travelers can drive up to mile 15 of Denali Park Road, but beyond that, the park’s shuttle and tour buses take over. This system helps preserve the park’s environment while managing the nearly 600,000 visitors who explore Denali each year. Tour options vary, with narrated experiences providing insight into the park’s history, wildlife and stunning landscapes.

Looking for adventure? The Denali Natural History Tour provides a narrated experience, while the guided Denali Walking Tour or Denali Adventure Hike takes you off the beaten path with expert naturalists.

If you’re looking for a place to stay, Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is the closest and most comfortable place to stay when visiting the park, with the entrance to Denali National Park located only a mile from the front door. With an expansive deck overlooking the Nenana River with views into the park, this is the ideal spot to unwind after a day of exploration.

2. Talkeetna

Photo Credit: Travel Alaska

If you love quirky small towns with a big personality, be sure to visit Talkeetna. This lively town is known for its local art, cozy cafés and its legendary feline mayor, Mayor Aurora — who you might spot at Nagley’s Store.

Hungry? Stop by Mountain High Pizza Pie for a slice featuring toppings like reindeer gyro and Italian-style reindeer sausage. For a cold drink, try a Spruce Tip IPA at Denali Brewpub — or any of their other beers, ciders and meads brewed locally in Talkeetna.

Explore artisan shops, try river rafting or a horseback tour or take a scenic flight for a bird’s-eye view of Denali. A flightseeing tour with a glacier landing is an unforgettable way to experience Alaska’s wilderness. And if you want to meet some real Alaska locals, try a sled dog tour. You’ll get insights from professional mushers as you explore the trails by dog sled.

If you want to stay nearby Talkeetna, consider the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge. Just located south of the National Park near the Chulitna River, this lodge is a true wilderness retreat that offers stunning views of Mt. Denali.

3. Kenai Fjords National Park

Situated on the edge of the Kenai Peninsula, Kenai Fjords National Park is home to nearly 40 glaciers that flow from the mighty Harding Icefield. You’ll find sea otters, whales, puffins and coastal scenery around every corner.

Get out on the water with a scenic river float to take a look at the abundant wildlife in the park, led by an experienced guide who knows it all. Prefer to stay dry? Get the gold rush experience with a gold panning excursion. They’ll take you through the whole experience, from shovel to sluice box to gold pan. What better souvenir to bring home than your own hard-earned Alaska gold?

For a comfortable stay with easy access to adventure, the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge offers modern amenities set within 47 acres of scenic wilderness, making it a great base for exploration.

4. Seward

Just an hour’s drive from Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Seward offers endless outdoor activities and incredible wildlife views.

Take a cruise through Resurrection Bay and keep an eye out to see orcas, sea lions, otters, beluga whales and more. Hike to Exit Glacier for an up-close look at this famous icefield. Downtown, stop by the Alaska SeaLife Center to experience its interactive exhibits and wildlife rehabilitation efforts. Here, you can catch a glimpse of octopi, sea lions, puffins and more.

Cap off your visit by strolling through downtown Seward, where you’ll find a bustling arts scene, charming cafés and a picturesque harbor. Fun fact: Seward is the mural capital of Alaska!

5. Homer

Photo Credit: ©State of Alaska/Matt Hage

Nestled at the end of the scenic Sterling Highway, Homer is a must-visit destination known as the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World”— just a two hour drive away from the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge.

One of Homer’s most iconic landmarks is the Homer Spit, a narrow 4.5-mile strip of land extending into Kachemak Bay, lined with charming shops, delicious seafood restaurants and local art galleries. While in town, a visit to the Salty Dawg Saloon is all but mandatory — this historic bar dating back to 1897 is a quintessential local experience. Bring home one of their iconic hoodies for a souvenir any Alaskan would recognize.

To dive deeper into Homer’s rich marine life, head to the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and hiking with rugged trails like Grace Ridge Trail offering breathtaking panoramic views of the bay.

Looking for a unique side trip? Book a reservation at The Saltry in Halibut Cove. Not only will the ferry ride be included with your booking, you’ll get to taste some of the finest halibut the state has to offer. The reservation leaves you with time to walk around the cove before your return ferry, so get out and explore!

6. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park

As the largest national park in the U.S., Wrangell-St. Elias is an untouched wilderness of towering mountains, vast glaciers, and abundant wildlife. The park is home to eight of North America’s 16 tallest peaks.

One of its most astonishing features is the Malaspina Glacier, an ice mass so large it could cover the state of Rhode Island. If you’re looking for a true backcountry adventure, this park delivers like no other. Whether you prefer hiking through alpine meadows or trekking across glaciers this park has it all.

Looking for a quick adventure? Try a jet boat tour, which takes you down the world-famous Copper River to a unique trail only accessible by boat. You can enjoy all of the best of land and sea in under two hours.

For more outdoor trips to remember on the Copper River, try salmon fishing or a wild backcountry raft excursion.

Featuring spectacular mountain views and breathtaking scenery of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is situated on 200 acres near the junction of the Klutina and Copper Rivers.

7. McCarthy

Photo Credit: ©State of Alaska/Reinhard Pantke

For a historical adventure, make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge to McCarthy, a remote town within Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Once a thriving copper mining hub, the Kennecott Mines now stand as a well-preserved ghost town, offering a fascinating glimpse into Alaska’s past. Step back in time to life in a small company town. Once populated exclusively by miners and their families, the small town of Kennicott tells a thrilling story of copper mining and Alaska history. The Kennicott Explorer guided tour is the best way to see all of this ghost town’s hidden gems.

Fun fact: The name “Kennecott” comes from a spelling error! The mine was meant to be named after the nearby Kennicott Glacier, but an administrative mistake led to the business being formed as the Kennecott Mining Corporation. To this day, “Kennicott” refers to the town and local geographical features, while “Kennecott” is only used for the mine.

8. Valdez

Photo Credit: ©State of Alaska/Reinhard Pantke

A road trip to Valdez, less than three hours away from the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, takes you through stunning mountain passes along the Richardson Highway. Along the way, stop at Worthington Glacier for an up-close view of this breathtaking ice field.

In Valdez, explore Prince William Sound and Columbia Glacier on a glacier cruise, or opt for a Valdez Coastal Kayak Adventure to paddle alongside waterfalls and hidden coves. The town is known for its stunning fjords, pristine waters and abundant marine life, including sea otters, seals and humpback whales.

For history buffs, the Valdez Museum offers insight into the town’s role in the Gold Rush and the 1964 earthquake. The entire town site of Valdez had to be moved after the largest earthquake ever to hit North America struck Alaska, measuring a shocking 9.2 on the Richter scale.

You can also visit the Solomon Gulch Hatchery to learn about the region’s impressive salmon industry and watch the seasonal salmon runs in action. You might even catch a glimpse of bears, eagles, sea lions or sea otters feeding on returning salmon!

9. Fairbanks

Photo Credit: ©State of Alaska/Michael DeYoung

Fairbanks is Alaska’s “Golden Heart City,” known for impressive summer daylight and dark, cold winters. In the summer, Fairbanks enjoys 70 straight days of usable light. That’s pure, continuous sunlight from May 17 to July 27!

You can’t miss the University of Alaska Museum of the North, which has detailed exhibits featuring natural history, Indigenous cultures and local art. This impressive museum is built to evoke an igloo, honoring the iconic temporary structures built by Inuit peoples. After you explore the museum, you can grab a bite at one of Fairbanks’s many incredible Thai restaurants. For a brewery with lots of local color, try HooDoo Brewing for German-style craft beers and a beautiful outdoor Biergarten.

Soak in geothermal waters at the nearby Chena Hot Springs Resort. Just over an hour away from Fairbanks, this is an essential stop on your trip north. In the winter, the hot springs are a sensational spot to enjoy Fairbanks’s intense cold weather. But the hot springs are worth the trip in the summer too, when you can soak up the midnight sun and explore the local exhibits, like a world-class Ice Museum and geothermally-powered greenhouse.

A stay at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge offers the perfect base for exploring interior Alaska. Located along the Chena River, the lodge provides a peaceful retreat while still being close to Fairbanks’s many attractions.

10. Coldfoot

For an Arctic adventure, head six hours north from Fairbanks along the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot, one of the few road-accessible towns within the Arctic Circle. Due to its northern latitude, Coldfoot is one of the best places in Alaska to see the northern lights in the fall.

The Arctic Interagency Visitor Center provides insight into life above the Arctic Circle. Coldfoot also serves as a launch point for Gates of the Arctic National Park, one of the least-visited national parks in the U.S. Since there are no roads, trails, or cell service in this remote wilderness, hiring an air taxi or guide is recommended for a safe and unforgettable journey.

Any Alaska trip promises adventure, whether you’re hiking glaciers, exploring coastal towns or immersing yourself in cultural history. To make the most of your journey, consider booking your stay at one of the Princess Lodges, where you can relax and recharge after each day’s explorations.