Things to do in the summer when visiting Alaska

Alaska, the land once known as unknown, wild, mysterious, and faraway has now been explored numerous times and is crowded by tourist and adventures; just like YOU! If you are planning or going to Alaska in the summer there are many things to do. From exploring the wildlife in the woods all the way to sightseeing the wildlife at sea, there are endless activities to do and places to explore. Here are the top things to do in the summer while visiting Alaska and where they are located.

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• Have you ever wanted to travel back to the past? If so, you should visit the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway that’s carved into the mountain along the Yukon River. Located in Skagway, Alaska and connecting to Whitehorse, Yukon; a town located in Canada. Passengers can ride the scenic route and sightsee while they pass waterfalls, glacier rivers, steep gorges, and forests.    

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• If you are someone that loves wildlife, but is scared to get up close to a wild grizzly bear in the forest. Then you should visit the Kroschel Films Wildlife Center. throughout the trail, you will see 15 different species of animals that live free and unmolested in their natural habitat.

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• If you ever go to Alaska in the summer and want to experience the cold, you should visit The Aurora Ice Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska.

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• Probably the most adorable place to visit in Alaska is the Husky Holmstead. Owned by four-time winner of the Iditarod race, Jeff King. At the Holmstead, you can hear stories, learn about the Alaskan lifestyle, and play with huskies. It’s located within Denali National Park.

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• If you love wildlife, hiking, and exploring then Denali National Park is the right place for you. The park is home to 6 million acres of Alaskan wilderness including the highest mountain in North American; Mount McKinley, the terrain of glaciers, tundra, and spruce forest, and is the place for various wildlife such as grizzly bears, moose, wolves, mountain goats, caribou, and wolverines. You can drive up the long road in a car or bus to see wildlife or you can participate in other popular activities like hiking, biking, and backpacking.

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• While in Alaska you will see a lot of wildlife on land, and maybe you want a change of scenery. If so, you should visit the Sea Life Center in Seward, Alaska. Here you can see sea lions, puffins, and harbor seals. The Center also provides self-guided tours, special behind-the-scenes tours, and animal encounters.

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• Another great thing to do is called the Kenai Fjords Tours, where you can take a guided boat to see the glaciers up close. On the tour, you may also see marine wildlife like humpback whales, orcas, arctic birds, seals, and sea lions.

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• Another tour that is in many locations in Alaska are whale watching tours. On these you will see the famous humpback whales and if your lucky you’ll see orcas too.

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• The number one activity that draws tourist to Alaska is fishing. Whether it’s ocean fishing for halibut in the sea, catching salmon in the rivers, or fishing for crabs. With all the tourist coming to Alaska to fish, the number one spot is the Kenai River. Here tourist compete to catch the biggest king salmon. If you’re a big fisherman then the Kenai River is the place for you, and if you’re not experienced in fishing then you can go with guides at fishing resorts.

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• The last activity on the list is hiking. Throughout Alaska, you can find hikes all over the place, and all are a different difficulty. Some are easy and some are hard. At the top of every hike, you will experience stunning views of valleys and glacier rivers. The views are all breathtaking and definately worth the hike up to experience them. My favorite hike that I ever did was Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska.