Some are perfectly picturesque and totally renowned, while others offer a chilling twist of creepiness and sinister ghost stories. The last frontier is home to so many incredible towns with fascinating amounts of history, but these 13 offer something entirely unique from the next. No matter which region you plan to visit this year, we have somewhere noteworthy for you to go. Get ready to see sides to Alaska that you never knew were out there. Hold on, it’s going to be a wild ride!
- Homer – America’s Happiest Seaside Town
Flickr - Damian Manda America’s happiest seaside town and a truly charming place to enjoy a summer day trip. Known as the ‘halibut fishing capital of the world’, many visit Homer to enjoy world class fishing and outdoor recreational opportunities. We also happen to be madly in love with the kind people in town and the scrumptious restaurants that seemingly everywhere in sight.
- Talkeetna – The Charming Town With Views Of ‘The Great One’
Flickr - Travis This idyllic town offers the most epic views of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. Other fun activities in town include flight-seeing, hiking, rafting and more. Stay for a night or two and enjoy warm hospitality, great restaurants and wildly entertaining stories from the locals.
- Sitka – The Rainforest Getaway That Is Alaska’s Best Kept Secret
Flickr - USDA Forest Service Alaska Region With stunning ocean and mountain views, this idyllic town that is beautifully nestled in the largest national forest in the United States is sure to blow your mind. We can’t think of a better place to enjoy an island escape than this hidden gem in southeast Alaska.
- Kodiak – Alaska’s Majestic Emerald Island
Flickr - Damian Manda Kodiak is such a cool and unique town. Visitors enjoy world class fishing and hunting excursions, as well as ample wildlife viewing and hiking opportunities.
- Utqiagvik – The Northernmost Town In The U.S. That Is Dark For 65 Days A Year
Flickr - Ruth Rainey Formerly known as Barrow, this unique area is not for the faint of heart. The climate can be rough and trying, and the accessibility to the outside world isn’t easy to achieve. But with all that being said, it is still one of the most interesting places in the last frontier. Visit the ’top of the world’ and see a side of Alaska that will make your jaw drop.
- Seldovia – The Charming Coastal Town Where You Can Completely Unwind
Flickr - Andrea Pokrzywinski Just a short boat-ride away from Homer on The Kenai Alaska’s Playground is this sweet little coastal town. It’s impossible to think about Seldovia without smiling. Enjoy peace and quiet in town or head out for a hike to truly escape it all. We love all the great little B&B’s and restaurants here.
- Admiralty Island – Where The Bears Outnumber The Humans
Flickr - Joseph This rugged area off the beaten path is pristine and perfectly untouched. While there are no real developed trails here, visitors enjoy trail blazing through the mountainsides in search for the best hunting spots they can find. Visit the 956,155 acre Admiralty Island National Monument (also known as Kootznoowoo) where the bears roam vast and free.
- Port Chatham – The Abandoned Town With A Dark And Sinister History
Wikimedia The one place in Alaska that people stay far, far away from. It’s a ‘must visit’ because of how truly controversial and terrifying it is. I mean, this is so much better than a horror movie. This eerie area has been completely abandoned over the years after countless bodies were found washed up on the shores and left torn to pieces in the woods.
- Girdwood – The Best Ski Town In The World
Flickr - Lynn D. Rosentrater Ski the slopes at Alyeska Resort or kick back at the base of the mountain and enjoy all the great restaurants that this charming town has to offer. Girdwood is known for having a laid back ‘groovy’ vibe that signifies the true meaning of having the ultimate work/life balance in Alaska.
- Fairbanks – Alaska’s Golden Heart City With Wild Extremes
Flickr - Doug Noon Truly one of the most underrated places in the last frontier is Alaska’s second largest city of Fairbanks. In the summertime you’ll find hot days with unlimited outdoor recreation on the Chena River and beyond. In the wintertime you can enjoy incredible nearby attractions such as the world ice art championships and the nearby town of North Pole that turns into a magical winter wonderland each year. Also, be sure to check out the one place in Alaska that is basically heaven on earth.
- Nome – The Mysterious Place Where Over Two Dozen People Went Missing
Flickr - Sir Mildred Pierce Visit the world’s largest gold pan and stay for all the chilling stories surrounding the towns much talked about history. Located on the southern edge of the Seward Peninsula on Norton Sound, this wildly remote area is known for having more UFO sightings than anywhere else in Alaska.
- Anchorage – The Best City In America
Flickr - Luke Jones Alaska’s largest city of Anchorage truly has so much to offer. Not only are the mountain views breathtaking from everywhere inside the city, but there are so many fun things to do both indoors and outdoors. Not to mention, these 10 amazing hidden gems are just minutes away from your doorstep. If you fly into Anchorage to visit, be sure to stay a while and experience all that it has to offer.
- Sulzer – The Ghost Town With A Chilling Past
Wikipedia - B.L. Wheeler Prince of Wales is the fourth largest island in the United States, and it is filled with intriguing history. This abandoned town on the shores of Hetta Inlet was formed to support a nearby copper mine, but today it is nothing more than a creepy ghost town. Are you brave enough to visit?
If you thought those places were great, here are 20 reasons why you should drop everything and move to this one magical area in Alaska. For a more historically intriguing experience, head to this abandoned copper mine in Alaska with truly fascinating sights. Also, this drive by town in Alaska is definitely worth stopping for.
Flickr - Damian Manda
America’s happiest seaside town and a truly charming place to enjoy a summer day trip. Known as the ‘halibut fishing capital of the world’, many visit Homer to enjoy world class fishing and outdoor recreational opportunities. We also happen to be madly in love with the kind people in town and the scrumptious restaurants that seemingly everywhere in sight.
Flickr - Travis
This idyllic town offers the most epic views of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. Other fun activities in town include flight-seeing, hiking, rafting and more. Stay for a night or two and enjoy warm hospitality, great restaurants and wildly entertaining stories from the locals.
Flickr - USDA Forest Service Alaska Region
With stunning ocean and mountain views, this idyllic town that is beautifully nestled in the largest national forest in the United States is sure to blow your mind. We can’t think of a better place to enjoy an island escape than this hidden gem in southeast Alaska.
Kodiak is such a cool and unique town. Visitors enjoy world class fishing and hunting excursions, as well as ample wildlife viewing and hiking opportunities.
Flickr - Ruth Rainey
Formerly known as Barrow, this unique area is not for the faint of heart. The climate can be rough and trying, and the accessibility to the outside world isn’t easy to achieve. But with all that being said, it is still one of the most interesting places in the last frontier. Visit the ’top of the world’ and see a side of Alaska that will make your jaw drop.
Flickr - Andrea Pokrzywinski
Just a short boat-ride away from Homer on The Kenai Alaska’s Playground is this sweet little coastal town. It’s impossible to think about Seldovia without smiling. Enjoy peace and quiet in town or head out for a hike to truly escape it all. We love all the great little B&B’s and restaurants here.
Flickr - Joseph
This rugged area off the beaten path is pristine and perfectly untouched. While there are no real developed trails here, visitors enjoy trail blazing through the mountainsides in search for the best hunting spots they can find. Visit the 956,155 acre Admiralty Island National Monument (also known as Kootznoowoo) where the bears roam vast and free.
Wikimedia
The one place in Alaska that people stay far, far away from. It’s a ‘must visit’ because of how truly controversial and terrifying it is. I mean, this is so much better than a horror movie. This eerie area has been completely abandoned over the years after countless bodies were found washed up on the shores and left torn to pieces in the woods.
Flickr - Lynn D. Rosentrater
Ski the slopes at Alyeska Resort or kick back at the base of the mountain and enjoy all the great restaurants that this charming town has to offer. Girdwood is known for having a laid back ‘groovy’ vibe that signifies the true meaning of having the ultimate work/life balance in Alaska.
Flickr - Doug Noon
Truly one of the most underrated places in the last frontier is Alaska’s second largest city of Fairbanks. In the summertime you’ll find hot days with unlimited outdoor recreation on the Chena River and beyond. In the wintertime you can enjoy incredible nearby attractions such as the world ice art championships and the nearby town of North Pole that turns into a magical winter wonderland each year. Also, be sure to check out the one place in Alaska that is basically heaven on earth.
Flickr - Sir Mildred Pierce
Visit the world’s largest gold pan and stay for all the chilling stories surrounding the towns much talked about history. Located on the southern edge of the Seward Peninsula on Norton Sound, this wildly remote area is known for having more UFO sightings than anywhere else in Alaska.
Flickr - Luke Jones
Alaska’s largest city of Anchorage truly has so much to offer. Not only are the mountain views breathtaking from everywhere inside the city, but there are so many fun things to do both indoors and outdoors. Not to mention, these 10 amazing hidden gems are just minutes away from your doorstep. If you fly into Anchorage to visit, be sure to stay a while and experience all that it has to offer.
Wikipedia - B.L. Wheeler
Prince of Wales is the fourth largest island in the United States, and it is filled with intriguing history. This abandoned town on the shores of Hetta Inlet was formed to support a nearby copper mine, but today it is nothing more than a creepy ghost town. Are you brave enough to visit?
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