Located at the extreme northwestern part of United States of America, the Alaska is statistically the largest state in the Country. The state is vast land for Alaskans where in only one person resides per square mile while the rest of the area is mostly uninhabited. With so little human intervention, the state assures to offer several unique things to do and places to visit. Besides all the typical adventure spots from hiking, fishing spit, sightseeings and several others. One of the prominent attractions in Alaska includes the thrilling trip to the Arctic Circle, binge aurora borealis (Northern Lights) and laid back along the Lake Iliamna. If you seeking to experience wild side of Alaska, you can surely jump right in to Tongass National Forest and Chugach State Park. This cold capped state is filled with unique and divine tourist hotspots. Read out to know more about Places to visit in Alaska.
Inside Passage
The term Inside Passage refers to network of waterways that starts from Skagway in Alaska to Seattle in Washington through the Alaska panhandle. The passage is mostly utilized by 38,000 cruise ships, freighters, fishing craft and ships of the Alaska Marine Highway. Entire stretch of 1600 kilometers is enclosed with thousands of Islands, coves and bays which is inhabitant by the Haida, Tlingit and Tsimshian peoples. This scenic naturally crafted passage boast massive glaciers employed by dozens of wildlife animals such as eagles, sea lions, porpoises, whales, etc.
Museum of the North
The Museum of the North is integral part of University of Alaska, located in the city of Fairbanks. Museum comprises of several different specimens, artifacts and structures that ages more than thousand years from various categories. These includes archaeology, birds, documentary film, earth sciences, ethnology, arts, fishes, marine animals, insects and mammals. One of the major exhibits is the Fossils of Great Dinosaurs, 2,000 year old spectrum of Alaska art and 50,000-year-old mummified steppe bison.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Located in the cultural capital Anchorage, Alaska Native Heritage Center is renowned cultural center and museum showcasing the native tribes of Alaska. The institution was inaugurated in 1999, with main motive to preserve and display the historical archive of the 11 indigenous groups of Alaska to the current posterity. Along side the archives, the institution also organizes interactive event demonstrating the ancient native folk dances, attires and lifestyle. The houses built on site is particularly interesting and imaginative where one can see the distinct artifacts of polar bear skins embedded on the sides.
Denali National Park
Spanned across 6 million acres of land, Denali National Park easily accounts for most wild part of Alaska. Formerly named Mount McKinley, it was on 1980 when the Alaska Legislature decided to redubbed it to Denali, derived from Koyukon name of the mountain meaning "the high one". And as we mentioned the word Mount, it stands for the highest mountain located right in the center of American national park. Interestingly, it is actually the highest mountain in North America that is measured at 6,190 meters in height. The mountain draw in large amount of tourists that are seeking to hike up to the top and relax along side their camp while alluring the panoramic view of the entire park.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
Affirmed in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge, the entire area around glacier bay in the southeastern Alaska was later established as American national park and preserve. The Glacier Bay National Park is basically large peninsula, enclosed by the North Pacific Ocean to the west, and Canada to the east. This beautiful park features adventurous rugged mountains. crystal white glaciers and thrilling narrow fjords that are spanned across 3.2 million acres of land. One of the highlighted glaciers in the region are namely, Grand Pacific Glacier, Lamplugh and Johns Hopkins Glacier. Not to mention, the park is also awarded as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Homer Spit
Homer Spit is narrow long stretch of land enclosed by the Kachemak Bay. This natural marvel of the 49th state is home to small town, beautiful beaches, snow mountain range and unique old boat dock. The Homer's boat harbor and the cannery draw up stunning sightings of Alaska's fishing heritage and provide the visitors porthole into the thriving economic spot, propelling this small town. Fishing is one of the most popular activity considered in the city of Homer along side hiking, bear viewing, sea kayaking, paddle-boarding, bird sighting, cycling, kite surfing.
Creamer's Field Northern Lights
Otherwise known as aurora borealis, The northern lights is nature's own mystifying light show that can be seen at various times in the night. Although the northern lights is witnessed widely across many regions of Alaska, though the Creamers Field in the city of Fairbanks is majorly reckoned as best place to see the Northern Lights. The Creamers Field is conveniently accessible and very close to city but due to its secluded location in the center of nature, there is very little population, making it the perfect location to chase the wonderful northern lights. Additionally, do remember to carry warm clothes as the temperature is arguably low.
Alaska SeaLife Center
Inaugurated in 1998, Alaska SeaLife Center is entirely non-profit research institution and public aquarium. The place is dedicated knowledge center about the conservation and rehabilitation of Alaska's marine inhabitants and its representing ecosystems. Inside there are bunch of exhibits that is placed as educational place rather than a zoo or park. They also organize interactive events with animals for both adults and childrens and speaking about that it must to say the prices are reasonable. One of the prominent animals in the center are puffins, stellar's sea lions, sea birds and star fishes.
Mendenhall Glacier
Redubbed after the Thomas Corwin Mendenhall the famous American autodidact physicist, Mendenhall Glacier is stunning combination of Ice Field with lake and glaciers on the surroundings. What is even more interesting, this ice pallets and glacier mountains which are spanned across Mendenhall Valley is actually remnant of the last ice age. The place is located less than 20 kilometers from Capital Juneau and takes up around 40 minutes to reach. As the matter of fact, the glacier is indeed free for sightseeings and admire beautiful landscape. However, because the Ice lake and huge glaciers mountains is situated within the boundary of Tongass National Forest, it cost individual reasonable penny. With that being said, the entrance fee cost 5 Dollars for adults whereas the same is free for childrens.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Kenai Fjords National Park is American national park known for its mesmerizing rich glacial landscape and rocky coastline, Entire park is enclosed in 587,000 acres and accounts to house black bear, coyote, river otter, snowshoe hare, lynx, whales, seals, red squirrel, mink and porcupine. The area was formerly established as integral national monument. However, in 1980 the US Department recapitulated it as national park with aim to preserve the fjords, its rainforest ecosystems, abundant wildlife, Icefield and archeological structures. Furthermore, Walking on the pristine coastline, Riding boat through the Fjords, hike up to a ice field are some of best things you can do to truly experience pretty great chunk of nature.
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