The cool breeze caresses your cheeks as you breathe in the freshest air you’ve ever experienced. You inhale the natural scents of spruce trees, glacial rivers and saltwater coasts, and your worries somehow depart the body with the exhale. What’s replaced is a state of pure relaxation unlike any other.
Welcome to Alaska. The untouched wilderness of this place has been drawing travelers in for years, and the destination is especially popular right now. According to Your Alaska Link, Anchorage set a new passenger record this past summer. Visit Anchorage shared that more than 14,500 passengers went through security at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport on August 1, 2026, marking the busiest day for this airport. The good news is, there’s plenty of space for each traveler to feel like they’re the only one there.
A trip to Alaska certainly allows for max relaxation, but only in addition to adrenaline-pumping excitement, curiosity that never quits and a sense of humility that only towering mountains and the vastness of Alaska can provoke.
The destination has so much to offer. It’s a place to relax. It’s a place to explore areas you didn’t realize existed. It’s a place to do something new for the first time. Travelers visit Alaska to simultaneously disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with nature, each other and themselves. And while there are endless ways to take in the beauty this state offers, here are five worthwhile experiences for every traveler to consider.
Flightseeing in Talkeetna
Throughout a vacation in Alaska, travelers are almost guaranteed to see majestic eagles soaring overhead. While taking in the sight of these creatures is awe-inspiring, taking in the sight of rugged landscapes from their point of view has a similar effect — and travelers can get this bird’s-eye view during a tour with K2 Aviation. Located in Talkeetna, Alaska, the company has been operating flightseeing tours in Denali National Park & Preserve for more than 50 years.
Travelers can choose from a handful of different tour options, and each one is sure to be memorable. Some even include the option for a glacier landing. Every passenger gets a window seat on these small plane tours (each plane holds no more than 10 passengers), and everyone has a two-way headset in order to communicate with the pilot and each other.
Taking in the terrain from this vantage point is a once in a lifetime opportunity for many visitors. Most aren’t able to peel their eyes away from the crisp white snow, turquoise blue pools of water and the sheer height of the mountains. It’s mesmerizing, and it’s a travel memory that isn’t soon forgotten.
Sea Kayaking in Resurrection Bay
You can’t get much closer to the water without being in it than you do while gliding across its surface in a kayak, and this is an excellent way to get up close and personal to nature in Alaska. Places like Sunny Cove Kayaking allow guests to experience the destination through a variety of tours, some solely focused on kayaking and others combining kayaking with hiking and cruising.
The company has a half-day kayaking tour in Resurrection Bay, which is located in Seward, Alaska. The tour is a great option for families and first-time sea kayakers, but enjoyable for all levels. Guests can take in the towering mountain views while spotting birds, otters and maybe even a whale if it’s during the months of May and June.
Each tour is led by a professional guide and includes a stable two-person kayak, personal floatation device, spray skirt, neoprene mitts, waterproof boots, dry bag and light snack.
Viewing Glaciers at Kenai Fjords National Park
Occasionally, there’s a brilliant sight encountered on vacation where a photo just doesn’t seem to do it justice, and seeing a glacier up close definitely falls into this category. The experience really can’t be captured through a lens, and it’s something that must be witnessed in person. Kenai Fjords Tours operated by Pursuit helps explorers check this unique bucket list item off their lists.
Guests can select a half day or full day tour, and either way, these cruise tours have plenty in store. Depending on the tour, travelers can get up close to glaciers, including the Holgate Glacier and Aialik Glacier, and spot all types of wildlife, from whales and otters to puffins and eagles.
To top it off, a hot lunch is served onboard many of the tours, and guests have the option to purchase other snacks and drinks along the way. Whether it’s swapping stories with other adventurers on board or hearing the distant crackle of a glacier, these one-of-a-kind tours are sure to be memorable.
Meeting the Pack at Seavey Kennel
Happy wagging tails, big canine smiles and husky puppies? Say no more. Most animal lovers have already signed up. Seavey’s IdidaRide Tours in Seward give visitors a glimpse into what kennel life is all about. Guests can choose to either fly to a glacier and mush on the snow or ride a wheeled sled around the kennel grounds.
The Real Alaska Day Tour offers an ideal mix of visiting the kennel and exploring the surrounding area. It includes a tour of the kennel and a dog sled ride, along with lunch at a local restaurant, a trip to Exit Glacier and a Seward city tour. Some guests may also see the salmon spawning along the way. It’s all tied together with a local guide driving the group around and sharing unforgettable stories.
Having Iditarod questions ready is a must, as guests are usually able to chat with someone who has completed this grueling 1,000-mile sled dog race.
Riding the Alaska Railroad
One of the transportation methods that conveniently connects travelers to these various excursions is the Alaska Railroad, and this train ride is an experience all on its own. Instead of getting stuck sitting behind the wheel of a rental car focusing on the road, travelers can sit back, relax and take in the beauty through the large glass windows of the train. It’s not uncommon to see wildlife like moose, bald eagles, mountain goats and maybe even a bear.
Along the way, local guides onboard provide live narration that covers local history of the destinations and detailed insights on the landmarks, and they of course help call out any wildlife spotted along the way.
Travelers can choose to book Adventure Class (the best rate offered) or GoldStar Service. Highlights of GoldStar Service include glass-dome ceilings, outdoor viewing platforms and included meals.
Bonus Experiences To Note
Being in Alaska, similar to anywhere you visit, isn’t always about the things on the itinerary. Sometimes the best moments are those unexpected experiences that end up sticking with you for a lifetime and fueling your next adventure.
It might be stumbling across a local wine bar in Seward while waiting to catch the next train or sitting in complete silence while taking in the wooded view from a balcony at Windsong Lodge. It could be seeing a group of otters floating on their backs without a care in the world or hearing the most unique stories from a local tour guide. Or maybe it’s catching a glimpse of the tallest mountain in North America when checking into a room at Talkeetna Alaska Lodge on a picture-perfect day — a true pinch me moment.
These are the types of moments that can’t always be pre-planned, but they often become the ones that turn into the best travel stories. Alaska has a way of creating space for them to happen, and travel advisors should lean into this when planning vacations for their clients. Build a dream itinerary filled with experiences that wow clients but leave a little room for Alaska to do its part. The tours certainly stick with travelers, but it may be an entirely unexpected moment that has them dreaming about their next trip to The Last Frontier.
Origionally appeared in the Fall 2026 issue of The Compass magazine
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