The Best Places to Stay in Alaska
Alaska offers adventure to both nature lovers and history enthusiasts alike, offering land tours, cruises, kayaking trips and whitewater rafting options that bring wildlife sightings such as bears, moose and caribou into view. Ketchikan: As one of Alaska’s premier fishing communities, Ketchikan boasts an abundance of culture and stunning landscape.
Anchorage City
Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, features an excellent selection of hotels that boast breathtaking mountain views from their rooms. There is also plenty of restaurants and activities in Anchorage’s vicinity; its peak season for tourism typically falls from June through August when temperatures remain warm and sunny.
Consider staying at the McKinley Chalet Resort for an Alaska stay that exudes luxuriousness, featuring modern interior design and two on-site restaurants, plus hiking and dinner theatre experiences to fill out your itinerary.
Ultima Thule Lodge near Denali National Park offers another excellent luxury Alaska vacation option – its all-inclusive cabins come equipped with heaters and private baths; guests can take guided nature hikes, gold panning trips and fishing expeditions as part of their experience there – making Ultima Thule a top pick among nature and adventure lovers.
Denali National Park
Alaska’s backcountry is rich with wildlife – from bears and moose in forests and mountains, to eagles soaring above. You can stay at either a basic campsite or treat yourself to luxury wilderness lodge like McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge which features modern amenities and private cabins; alternatively Denali Park Road provides more basic campsite options.
Talkeetna is an idyllic town situated between Anchorage and Denali National Park. Famous for offering flight-seeing over Denali Mountain, Talkeetna features many lodges ranging from high end hotels to hostels – Ultima Thule Lodge is especially well regarded by hikers and adventurers. Offering all-inclusive meals served in its main lodge building as well as cozy cabins boasting mountain views; plus it features cedar saunas for relaxation after a full day of adventuring!
Fairbanks
Alaska’s capital city provides the ideal basecamp for expeditions into Denali National Park and other Arctic wilderness areas, providing luxurious accommodations, art galleries, historic sites and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center which showcases Alaska Native culture through film screenings, talks, exhibits and exhibits.
Downtown Fairbanks is the beating heart of the city, boasting restaurants, museums and the Golden Heart Plaza. Here you will find various forms of accommodation ranging from hotels to family apartments or even tiny houses – offering something to meet everyone’s budget!
Out of the city, you can find luxurious lodges and cabins designed specifically to observe the northern lights. Majestic Valley Wilderness Lodge provides excellent opportunities for viewing, including heli-skiing in winter! For something unique in town, Creamer’s Field was once a dairy farm but is now an active bird refuge.
Juneau City
Alaska offers an abundance of accommodations, from wilderness retreats to family-oriented resorts. Deciding where to stay depends on your travel goals, desired attractions and time available in Alaska.
If you’re visiting Denali National Park and want accommodation close by, Denali Sunset House may be ideal. Just minutes from its entrance lies this property nestled within acres of unspoiled woodland where moose are commonly seen roaming freely.
Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge provides more luxurious options with 16 cabins overlooking Pedersen Glacier. As a family-owned lodge, they promise minimal environmental impact. Each cabin comes complete with lounge room, outdoor deck and bonfire pit – they even offer ecotourism adventures such as kayaking and bear watching!
Sitka
Sitka offers visitors plenty of attractions. As an Alaska Marine Highway stop and year-round home for state ferries, Sitka attracts cruise ships from around the globe as well as state ferries from Alaska itself. Scattered across several islands – Baranof and Chichagof in particular – Sitka boasts rich Alaskan history including Russian Bishop’s House and St Michael’s Orthodox Cathedral with onion domes that is worth exploring as part of any visit.
Whale watching and fishing trips are popular activities in Sitka, as are visits to nearby wildlife attractions like Fortress of the Bear and Alaska Raptor Center. Sitka also boasts extensive trails perfect for hiking enthusiasts.
Sitka’s ideal time of year for visit is during summer when long daylight hours and warmer temperatures prevail, although weather in Sitka can become unpredictable at times and rain may occur at certain times of day.
Ketchikan
Ketchikan, Alaska is one of Alaska’s premier destinations for natural wonders, outdoor adventures, and indigenous culture. This coastal city surrounded by towering mountains and sea is sure to deliver.
Original Downtown in La Conner features shops, restaurants, art galleries, totem poles and parks – it has been designated a National Historic District so exploring it should not be missed as part of any visit to La Conner.
Silver Salmon Creek is one of Alaska’s premier places to stay, offering rustic cabins with breathtaking forest and mountain views, complete with lounge rooms, kitchens and bathrooms. Silver Salmon Creek is also well known for using local ingredients in its dishes – you can book your stay through various websites; take a flightseeing tour for an aerial perspective; the weather here tends to be warm and sunny!
Homer
Homer may be best known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, but this small Alaskan town offers so much more. Centered around Kachemak Bay and offering breathtaking views of mountains, glaciers and wildflower meadows; Homer also boasts fabulous restaurants, shopping venues and art galleries to experience!
As part of your visit, stroll along the Homer Spit – a 4-mile long strip of land extending out into Kachemak Bay that offers shops, art galleries, and seafood restaurants – or visit the Pratt Museum that showcases local art as well as an original pioneer cabin.
Hike the trails of Kachemak Bay State Park for stunning mountain and glacier views, or visit one of the Islands and Ocean Visitor Center’s wildlife exhibits before rounding out your day at Grace Ridge Brewing or one of many local breweries!
Kenai Fjords
Kenai Peninsula National Park is famous for its glacier-carved fjords. Home to an abundance of bears and moose, you can explore this park via guided hiking tours or nature photography excursions, as well as taking a cruise of its fjords.
One popular activity at the park is whale watching; you might catch sight of humpbacks, orcas and gray whales as they dive beneath the surface. Furthermore, sea kayak tours allow visitors to discover even more about their park surroundings.
If you want to stay in this region, Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge offers the ideal solution. It features a main lodge and cabins offering breathtaking views of Pedersen Glacier; all-inclusive gourmet meals; private cabin; perfect way to experience Alaska without compromising comfort; nearby town Seward offers numerous hotels and restaurants as well.
Seward Resort
This hotel, situated in historic downtown Seward, is within walking distance to Alaska Sea Life Center and Seward Museum, providing modern accommodations with a distinctive Alaska flair. Additionally, guests enjoy free breakfast as well as an on-site restaurant.
Visitors to this hotel can take part in various activities, such as deep sea charter fishing and discounted ticket and tour packages, with complimentary shuttle service provided as well. Plus, its period-inspired rooms boast flat-screen TVs and fridges!
Seward Military Resort provides visitors with an immersive Alaska experience by offering authentic wilderness lodges at its resort. Not only can visitors book a glacier and wildlife cruise at this hotel, but there is also plenty of lodging ranging from hotel rooms, town homes, log cabins RV parks and campsites available onsite – make Seward Military Resort one of your must-see stops while traveling through Alaska!
Valdez
Valdez, Alaska is an idyllic seaside town characterized by the towering coastal mountains. Serving as the southern terminus of Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline and acting as an oil hub, there are plenty of jobs in this industry here.
Day cruises of the Small Boat Harbor are a favorite activity, giving visitors an intimate look at the region’s majestic glaciers and marine life. Visitors looking for adventure can also raft down the Lowe River’s Keystone Canyon while fishing enthusiasts can spend their days reeling in silver salmon and halibut on charter fishing trips.
Valdez offers visitors a variety of accommodation options, ranging from hotels and cabins to BnBs and VRBOs. Campers are another popular choice, providing access to Alaska’s wilderness while having shelter provided by roofs in case it rains unexpectedly.