ALASKA ADVENTURES

The park’s centerpiece is Denali, North America’s highest mountain, rising more than 20,000 feet into the sky.

Flightseeing tours near the park allow visitors a bird’s-eye view of pristine landscapes.

Braided rivers and tundra valleys run through Denali’s 6-million-acre expanse.

For overnight stays, lodges and cabins near the park often feature forests, rushing rivers and more just beyond the front door.

Some 1,800 moose make their home in Denali National Park, along with bears, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and more.

At Denali Park Kennels, a ranger shows off some of the many sled dogs, which have been helping patrol the park since the 1920s.

A bus takes visitors some 60 miles into the heart of Denali on the park’s Tundra Wilderness Tour—ideal for enjoying the stunning views and spotting wildlife.

#5: SAVOR SEAFOOD—AND CATCH YOUR OWN! With more coastline than any other state, Alaska offers up some of the freshest seafood on the planet. Salmon, crab, halibut, shrimp and lobster—plucked straight from Alaskan waters—can be savored just about anywhere, from harborside crab shacks to upscale eateries. Best places to dig in? Ask a local—or search for AAA Diamond designated by town. Keen to catch your own? There are plenty of guides happy to help you reel in a big one—with salmon (five species!) and halibut the most plentiful.

#4: TAKE A SCENIC TRAIN RIDE Riding the train in Alaska takes you through pristine wilderness not accessible by road. Your train car becomes a moving room with a view, as you see birch-tree forests, rushing rivers, snow-capped mountains—maybe even bear or moose. Two to try: Alaska Railroad’s 8-hour journey between Anchorage and Denali National Park is relaxing and informative (opt for the ticket class that seats you in the domed viewing car, if possible); and the White Pass & Yukon Route, out of Skagway, is a historic narrow-gauge railroad taking you past plunging gorges and sparkling waterfalls.

#3: HAVE A WHALE OF A TIME An Alaska whale-watching tour might be one of the greatest shows on earth. And the water is full of performers: Coastal Alaska serves as the summer feeding grounds for some 10,000 humpback whales, along with belugas, orcas and gray whales. The stars are the humpbacks, due to their massive size and propensity for breaching (using their massive tail fin to catapult from the water and land with a splash). Best spots to see them? The nutrient-rich waters of the Inside Passage boast Alaska’s highest concentration of the leviathans. Many boats are so sure of whale sightings, they promise your money back if none are spotted.

#2: GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW Only from above can you admire some of Alaska’s most beautiful treasures, such as the filigreed beauty of braided rivers or the jagged peaks of the Ruth Amphitheater (one of the most dramatic mountain amphitheaters on Earth). If you’re keen to see more of Alaska in less time, or to access remote locations for sightseeing, hiking or fishing, a flightseeing excursion is a great option. Whether you take a quiet helicopter to land on a glacier or a high-flying plane to circle Denali’s peak, you’re sure to gain a perspective you won’t forget.

#1: SEE “THE GREAT ONE” When Denali stands in full view, the sight is jaw-dropping. But seeing North America’s tallest peak can be tricky: The mountain is part of the Alaska Range, where colder, drier weather systems collide with warmer, wetter ones—producing lots of clouds that can shroud the mountain. Best places to try? The road that travels 92 miles into Denali National Park includes excellent vantage points after mile 15 (you must take the park bus). The quirky town of Talkeetna (pop. 800) offers great views, too—including from the deck of Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. Flightseeing trips can clear cloud cover to provide vistas of the peak. And, on clear days, Denali can even be seen from Fairbanks and Anchorage.

A small ship like the 684-guest Oceania Regatta can explore narrow, less-traveled inlets.

Smaller ships stop in off-the-beaten-path ports such as Kodiak and Homer (pictured).

It’s easy to spot wildlife on a smaller ship that can navigate through narrow inlets.

Holland America Line’s Westerdam is perfect for getting closer to glaciers and wonders onshore

Large ships like Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner offer many amenities and the comforts of a nice hotel.

On large ships, a park ranger might board for the day to share his passion for the area with guests.

Large ships can include high-tech features, such as a viewing capsule on Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas that gives a bird’s-eye look of the scenery.

This infographic helps to visualize the difference between a small ship and a large ship.

With a crack, rumble and splash, a massive iceberg calves from Hubbard Glacier.

Cruising is an excellent way to experience glaciers’ enormity and brilliant-blue ice.

Many cruises spend a day exploring Glacier Bay, which features seven tidewater glaciers.

Harbor seals are a delight to watch in Glacier Bay, where they lounge on ice floes.

The 13-mile-long Mendenhall Glacier is an easy drive from Juneau.

Prince William Sound, near Whittier, features the highest concentration of tidewater glaciers in the world.

A flightseeing helicopter lands visitors on a glacier near Juneau.

The Inside Passage is a coastal route for ships. It weaves through the islands and past port towns from Skagway to Seattle.

Majestic mountains and pristine wilderness are the backdrop of a cruise along the Inside Passage.

Inside Passage cruises stop at quaint port towns, each with its own allure.

Sitka’s totem poles reflect the heritage of native Tlingit and Haida tribes.

Local flavor awaits in shops and restaurants such as Juneau’s Red Dog Saloon.

In Ketchikan, historic Creek Street is actually a boardwalk on stilts.

Ports offer a range of activities, such as exploring an old-growth rainforest.