Alaska’s Top Towns
Every Alaska town is surrounded by spectacular natural beauty. But it’s their determinedly individual and often quirky nature, combined with a “play hard, work hard” attitude that kicks into overdrive during the long summer days, that really makes them special.
Southeast
- Ketchikan houses the state’s highest concentration of totem poles and an impressive stretch of local shops and artists overlooking picturesque Creek Street, where historical houses stand on stilts over the water.
- Petersburg was founded by Norwegian fishermen. It remains a hardworking fishing community to this day, and visitors love that authenticity and the lack of the glitzy, generic shops that often accompany cruise ports.
- Sitka is a beautiful port city with locally owned shops, great fishing and whale-watching, and a phenomenal historical park where you can walk the trails among totem poles or visit with Alaska Native artisans as they demonstrate their art. Don’t forget to visit the many historic Russian buildings, which are maintained as mini museums.
Southcentral
- Seward is sometimes characterized as “a drinking town with a fishing problem.” For many visitors, it’s the perfect mix of tourist amenities, beautiful seaside scenery, and just a few city comforts. There are also some interesting World War II artifacts within a fairly easy boat ride and hike of the town.
- Homer packs some of the state’s best artists, food, and fishing all into one place, along with the highest density of water taxis that I’ve ever seen. The small, isolated seaside communities of Seldovia and Halibut Cove are just a short boat ride away.
- Valdez is one of the most pleasant small towns in Alaska, with some of the state’s prettiest scenery, biggest history, and friendliest people all in one place. This is as close as you can get to rural Alaska without leaving the road system.
Interior
- Talkeetna remains the idealized standard of quirky Alaska towns. Visitors often come here just to wander Main Street, but don’t miss out on a chance to ride the fabled Hurricane Turn train or take a flightseeing trip around 20,310-ft (6,190-m) Denali.
Southwest
- Kodiak feels like a gritty big city set in an island paradise—but if you love fishing, bears, or starkly beautiful beaches, this is the place to be. The helicopter flightseeing over Alaska’s Emerald Isle is absolutely breathtaking.
Arctic
- Nome, the most cosmopolitan town in the Arctic region, is worth a visit to see the Iditarod finish in March. By summer, this is a lovely community for birding and driving its few, but incredibly scenic, roads.
Newsletter Signup
By clicking ‘Sign Up,’ I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Hachette Book Group’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Pin It for Later
