Adventure
Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve Steer clear of crowds in one of the least visited national parks, hike to the bottom of a 2,500-foot volcanic caldera, grab a raft and ride down the rapid Aniakchak River to spy bears, moose, and mountain goats. Only accessible by air charter from King Salmon, AK; +1 907 246 3305. Recommended for teenagers and adults.
Chena River State Recreation Area Follow the Chena Hot Springs Trail through this expansive park, watch for moose grazing berries by the side of the road, hire a dog sled team for a backcountry ride, visit Granite Tors during warmer months for rock climbing. Mile 4.9 Steese Hwy., Fairbanks, AK. Fee.
Denali National Park Hike the McKinley Bar Trail to Wonder Lake and fish for rainbow trout, captain a dog sled, take a discovery tour to see grizzlies, bald eagles, and other local species. Alaska Rte. 3, Denali Park, AK; +1 907 683 2294. Limited access Sept.-May. Fee.
Eagle Creek Nature Center Plan a hike of the Rodak Nature Trail to see coyotes, bears, and eagles; rent a yurt for a night of camping, sign up children for weekly learning programs. 32750 Eagle River Rd., Eagle River, AK; +1 907-694-2108. Most programs are free.
Katmai National Park Hike up to Brooks Falls to watch brown bears hunt for salmon, drop a line in Funnel creek and catch a rainbow trout, rent a canoe for a scenic tour around the Savonoski Loop, marvel at magnificent volcanoes at the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, where steam used to come up through vents in the ground following an eruption in the early 20th century. Accessible by air charter or ferry from Anchorage, AK, or Homer, AK. +1 907 246 3305.
Lake Clark National Park Rent a wooden skiff to catch rainbow trout in Lake Clark, search for fossil remains along the coastal cliffs, take the Telaquana Trail to the top of Mount Redoubt and see smoke coming out of this still active volcano. 1 Park Pl., Port Alsworth, AK; +1 907 781 2218.
Misty Fjords National Monument Kayak through fjords and inlets, hike 15 miles of trails, keep your eyes peeled for moose. Cabins by the water can be reserved in advance. Part of Tongass National Forest. Only accessible by boat or air charter. 3031 Tongass Ave., Ketchikan, AK; +1 907 225 2148.
Togiak National Wildlife Refuge Photograph giant grizzlies as they stalk schools of chinook in the Kanektok River, camp along the Kagati Lake. Only accessible by air charter. 6 Main St., Dillingham, AK; +1 907 842 1063. Permit required for some areas; recommended for children 12 and up.
Tongass National Forest Hike along backcountry trails in the nation's largest protected forest; kayak beside glaciers, have binoculars ready to catch a glimpse of bears, eagles, and spawning salmon; spend the night at one of the 150 cabins located throughout the park. 648 Mission St., Ketchikan, AK; +1 907 225 3101.
Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve Meander down calm stretches of the mighty Yukon in a canoe, climb into a raft for a trip down the rugged Charley River, camp in a cabin built in 1934, deep in the heart of the bush. Enter through Eagle, AK. +1 907 547 2233.
Animals
Alaska Raptor Center Watch as injured eagles recover their survival skills at the Bald Eagle Flight Training center; visit the open-air "Raptors in Residence" area to see eagles too injured to return to the wild. 1000 Raptor Way, Sitka, AK; 800 643 9425. May-Sept. Fee.
Alaska SeaLife Center Watch as the Giant Pacific Octopus swims past underwater viewing windows, giggle as the one-ton Steller sea lions tussle and play, touch Alaskan king crabs and sea stars, learn about the fragile local marine ecosystem. 301 Railway Ave., Seward, AK; +1 907 224 6300. Fee.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center View Alaska wildlife up close at this nonprofit center for injured and orphaned animals outside of Anchorage; watch bison meander through 65 acres of tidal flat terrain; snap breathtaking photos of coyotes and bald eagles feasting on salmon remains left by grizzly bears. Mile 79 Seward Hwy., Portage Glacier, AK, +1 907 783 2025. Fee.
Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Watch thousands of salmon jockey for food during a feeding, gape at a massive aquarium featuring over 100 species of fish, take a guided tour to learn how the hatchery fuels the local economy. 2697 Channel Dr., Juneau, AK; +1 907 463 5114. May-Sept.; by appointment only in winter. Fee.
Culture
Alaska Native Heritage Center Expand your knowledge of the rich heritage of Alaska's first people; experience engaging storytelling and Native song and dance; watch artist demonstrations; learn about the tools, artifacts, and traditional lifestyles of Alaskan Native culture. 8800 Heritage Center Drive, Anchorage, AK; +1 907 330 8000. Fee.
Anchorage Museum of History and Art Examine Inuit artwork, imagine how the land looked before colonial settlers arrived, admire new works created by young local artists, take kids through the Children's Gallery or sign them up for art classes. 121 W. Seventh Ave., Anchorage, AK; +1 907 343 4326. Fee.
Sheldon Jackson Museum Uncover native artifact collections of clothing, jewelry, and tools from the Aleut, Athabascan and Eskimo tribes; watch artists shape totem poles and craft ornaments. 104 College Dr., Sitka, AK; +1 907 747 8981. Fee.
Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Decipher the artwork on Tsimshian totem poles, investigate how an arctic state possesses the world's largest temperate rain forest. 50 Main St., Ketchikan, AK; +1 907 228 6220. Fee.
Totem Heritage Center Admire detailed, centuries-old totem poles, wonder over the rich heritage of the Haida, string a beaded necklace to bring home. 601 Deermount St., Ketchikan, AK; +1 907 225 5900. Fee.
University of Alaska Museum of the North Examine ceremonial Inuit ivory jewelry, watch a video of Eskimo dance rituals; encounter Otto, an 8' 9" brown bear; experience a "musical ecosystem" known as "The Place You Go to Listen." 907 Yukon Dr., Fairbanks, AK; +1 907 474 7505. Fee.
Entertainment
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts Attend nightly performances showcasing modern dance, jazz, and classical music; visit during the summer to watch "Aurora, Alaska's Great Northern Lights." 621 W. Sixth Ave., Anchorage, AK; +1 907 263 2900. Fee.
Alaska Railroad Travel in style; take in the stunning, scenic wild from the dining car, atop vista-dome cars, or from open-air vestibules between cars; marvel at the tunnels and alpine grades; interact with knowledgeable local guides onboard. 327 W. Ship Creek Ave., Anchorage, AK; 800 544 0552. Fee.
Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show Watch as agile lumberjacks balance on a floating logs, learn to throw an axe with pinpoint precision, marvel as the performers climb to the top of a hundred-foot log in a matter of seconds. Spruce Mill Way, Ketchikan, AK; 888 320 9049. May-Sept. Fee.
White Pass and Yukon Railroad Climb aboard a 1900s-era diesel locomotive for a trip to the summit of White Pass; have a camera ready for shots of Bridal Veil Falls and Dead Horse Gulch. 231 Second Ave., Skagway, AK; 800 343 7373. May-Sept. Fee.
History
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum Discover dozens of meticulously restored vintage aircraft, climb aboard the cockpit of a 1943 Beechcraft Seaplane, take a flight lesson at the Junior Bush Pilot Training Zone, watch devoted volunteers work on antique aircrafts at the Restoration Hangar. 4721 Aircraft Dr., Anchorage, AK; +1 907 248 5325. Fee.
Alaska State Museum Admire beach grass baskets woven by ancient Aleut's, sit in a 34-foot umiak (boat) made by Eskimos, climb on the scale model of the famous ship, Discovery. 395 Whittier St., Juneau, AK; +1 907 465 2901. Fee.
Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository Uncover the ancient history of Kodiak Island's first settlers, study native artifacts dating back over 7,500 years, admire carved ivory jewelry, learn how people stayed warm by making sod houses and bird skin parkas. 215 Mission Rd., Suite 101, Kodiak, AK; +1 907 486 7004. Fee.
The Clausen Museum Peruse the fishing history of the Scow Bay channel, learn how to catch and clean a fish, discover the local Tlingit culture and their native artwork. 203 Fram St., Petersburg, AK; +1 907 772 3598. May-Dec. Fee.
Fort Abercrombie State Historical Park Hike through mist-filled conifer forests, explore a World War II Naval defense station, pitch a tent seaside and watch puffins play along the beach. Visit the Military History museum on weekends in the summer. 1400 Abercrombie Dr., Kodiak, AK; +1 907 486 6339. Fee.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Hike past the plunging Lower Reid Falls, visit an old mining cemetery where unfortunate prospectors are buried, follow paths blazed during the 1800s gold rush, warm up inside the Mascot Saloon—a genuine 1910 tavern museum. 2nd Ave. at Broadway, Skagway, AK; +1 907 983 2921. May-Sept. Free; fee for hiking/camping.
Pioneer Park Tour a reconstructed mining village at this frontier-themed park; board the riverboat Nenana, which helped to build the Alaskan Railroad; scope out an Athabascan village complete with colorful totem poles and yurt encampments. Airport Way & Peger Rd., Fairbanks, AK; +1 907 459 1087.
Sitka National Historical Park Explore the 1804 battleground where Alaskan natives and Russians fought for dominance of the land; see the Tlingit fort where the indigenous tribe valiantly defended their territory; view native artifacts and displays explaining the contentious history of the region. 103 Monastery St., Sitka, AK; +1 907 747 0110. Call ahead to schedule a ranger-led tour in winter. Fee.
Tongass Historical Museum View photos chronicling South Alaska's past, learn about the fishing, mining, and lumber communities that dot the coastline; explore the culture of the Tlingit, Haida, and other native peoples. 629 Dock St., Ketchikan, AK; +1 907 225 5600. Fee.
Nature
Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Get a sense for what a remote seabird colony looks, feels, and smells like at the "Seabird Experience Theater;" admire stunning nature photography at the annual AlaskaWILD exhibit, learn about the environmental work being done to preserve local assets at the Kachemak Bay Research Reserve. 95 Sterling Hwy., Homer, AK; +1 907 235 6961.
Glacier Bay National Park Explore the rifts left behind by glaciers, sea kayak around the bay, take a nature tour of the tidewater forest, keep watch for black bears, artic foxes, gray wolves, and bald eagles. 1 Park Rd., Gustavus, AK; +1 907 697 2230. Limited service in winter. Free; fee for boating/camping.
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure Marvel at the colors of the Alaskan rain forest, walk through hanging gardens featuring upside-down trees, relax in the atrium and enjoy a cup of tea. 7600 Glacier Hwy., Juneau, AK; +1 907 790 3377. May-Sept. Fee.
Homer Spit Enjoy a stunning walk down this narrow, 4.5-mile stretch of sandy shoal; wander among the shopping, dining, and beach attractions stretched along into the Kachemak Bay; drop a fishing line at the point to catch a trophy-size rainbow trout. Visitors Center: 201 Sterling Hwy., Homer, AK; +1 907 235 7740.
Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge Capture photos of trumpeter swans, sandhill cranes, and other migratory birds; raft the glacier-fed Tanana River; keep watch for moose, lynx, and arctic wolves searching for dinner on the banks. Mile 1.3 on Borealis Ave., Tok, AK; +1 907 883 5312.
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park Glimpse the grandeur where the Chugach, Wrangell, and Saint Elias mountain ranges meet; hike past the Liberty Falls and admire a view of St. Elias, the second highest American mountain peak; visit the Kennecott Mines National Landmark to delve into life as a miner. Mile 106.8 Richardson Hwy., Copper Center, AK; +1 907 822 5234. Limited access Sept.-May.
Science
Alaska at 40 Below Sport a parka and experience what winter throws Alaska's way; conduct experiments at 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit; blow soap bubbles or hammer a nail with a frozen banana; learn how animals adapt to extreme chill and how the cold affects motor oils and housing construction. 1975 Discovery Dr., Fairbanks, AK; 866 479 6673. Fee.
The Imaginarium Wave a wand to create a body-size bubble, watch a massive ant colony at work, crawl into a giant cricket head, touch a real meteorite. 737 W. Fifth Ave., Anchorage, AK; +1 907 276 3179. Fee.