Alaska Bucket List: Top 10 Creative Travel Experiences
Known as the last frontier, Alaska offers breathtaking landscapes, abundant wildlife, and many unique travel experiences to boost creativity and well-being. Here are the 10 unique creative travel experiences for your Alaska bucket list.
When it comes to US travel destinations, Alaska is the largest state, nearly two and a half times as large as Texas. What that means is there’s plenty to see and do. This creative travel bucket list is limited to 10 items, but with how big Alaska is, there are seemingly endless ways to plan an Alaska trip to support creativity.
Whether you’re planning a creative retreat or vacation with your family, personalize your trip with unique and creative Airbnbs and personalize your trip to match your creative travel goals to get the most out of your visit.
Whale Watching in Kenai Fjords National Park
One of the first inspiring creative experiences for your Alaska travel bucket list is to go whale watching, and the Kenai Fjords National Park is one of the best places to do that.
Kenai Fjords National Park offers some of the best whale-watching opportunities in Alaska. You’re also bound to see seals, sea lions, puffins, sea otters, and other forms of wildlife.
Planning Your Whale Watching:
- Humpback Whales
- Viewing Time: April – October
- Best Time: May – August
- Orca (Killer whales)
- Viewing Time: Year-round
- Best Time: May – June
- Gray Whales
- Viewing Time: March – May
- Best Time: April – May
- Fin Whales
- Viewing Time: May – September
Tips
- Choose a good operator with education and awareness to support and understand these beautiful creatures.
- Major Marine Tours is one of the most recommended whale watching tours.
- Dress in layers and bring waterproof gear.
- Have your camera ready and use burst or video mode to not miss a shot.
- Consider bringing or taking motion sickness medicine if you have trouble on boats.
See the Northern Lights
A must for any Alaska bucket list is experiencing the northern lights. The northern lights can be viewed in all seasons, but the best time is between August and April when there are darker night skies. It’s also important to note that they are harder to see under the Midnight Sun during the middle summer months.
Best Places to See the Northern Lights:
- Fairbanks
- Denali National Park
- Nome
- Barrow
- Anchorage
Tips
- Wear warm clothing and gear.
- Plane a creative retreat at a unique Airbnb under the northern lights.
- Alaska Photo Treks has some great secrets spots and tours to guide your creative experience.
- Borealis Basecamp offers great accommodations and activities to view the northern lights.
Relax in the Chena Hot Springs
The Chena Hot Springs near Fairbanks, Alaska, is a resort and sustainability project centered around a natural hot spring. Founded over 100 years ago, it now features cabins, camping, yurts, and year-round creative activities and events to enjoy and support creative travel.
Traveling to Alaska is a very active endeavor. To get the most out of your trip and creative travel bucket list, you will want to make sure you also prioritize rest. And what better place to relax than a natural hot spring.
Tips
- Chena Hot Springs Resort is home to the world’s largest year-round Aurora Ice Museum and Ice Bar.
- The best time to see the northern lights is from November to April.
- Experience traditional Alaskan dog sledding.
- There are plenty of activities, including hiking trails, ATV adventures, snowshoeing, biking, and more.
Visit Alaska's Glaciers
Alaska is home to over 100,000 glaciers. Not only is visiting these beautiful glaciers a creative travel bucket list experience but also educational as they’re melting faster and faster if we don’t start doing something about climate change.
There are many creative ways to experience these majestic glaciers, from cruises, kayaking, plane tours, hiking, and more.
Best Alaskan Glaciers to Hike
- Matanuska Glacier
- Knik Glacier
- Mendenhall Glacier
- Exit Glacier
Unique Alaskan Glacier Experiences
- Prince William Sound – Day Cruise
- Knik Glacier – Flightseeing and ATV Tour
- Spencer Glacier – Railroad and Rafting Tour
- Glacier Bay National Park – Catamaran tour, Kayaking, Fishing, Flightseeing
- Ruth Glacier – Flightseeing
- Childs Glacier – Rafting
- Columbia Glacier – Day Cruise and Kayaking
- Twin Sawyer Glaciers – Large Cruises and Day Tours
- Hubbard Glacier – Cruise
Tips
- Dress warm and bring raingear.
- Don’t go into ice caves unless told it’s safe.
- A great creative attraction for photographers.
- Glacier Bay is open year-round, but visitor services are limited outside of the summer.
- Birdwatching also is a popular creative activity in Glacier Bay.
Visit the Top of the World in Utqiagvik
Just like creative thinking, creative travel is often about experiencing new perspectives, and what better way to gain perspective than at the top of the world.
Utqiagvik, Alaska, is the northernmost point in the United States, formerly known as Barrow. With a population of 4,927, it is the 12th-most populated city in Alaska. Its extreme location means this Iñupiaq settlement experiences 24-hour daylight from May 12 to August 2 and 24-hour darkness from November 18 to January 23.
Creative Things to Do
- Learn about the history at Iñupiat Heritage Center
- Iconic Whale Bone Arch
- World Eskimo Indian Olympics (July 4th)
- Arctic Tours – Polar Bear and Wildlife Spotting
- Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station
- Experience 24 Hours of Daylight
Tips
- It goes without saying, dress warmly.
- If you’re brave, try the Polar Bear Plunge (a dip in the Arctic ocean)
- There are many cultural festivals throughout the year to experience and learn about, including Kivgiq (the Messenger Feast), Nalukataq (the Blanket Toss Celebration), World Eskimo Indian Olympics, Piuraagiaqta (the Spring Festival), and Qitik (Eskimo Games).
Take a Flightseeing Tour
Flightseeing tours are the ultimate way to experience the last frontier and gain a new perspective. It’s incredibly humbling and inspiring to drift over Alaskan nature and see things from a different point of view.
Especially for photographers, this unique travel bucket list item shows a new side of Alaska, from seeing the shifting patterns of nature to even viewing spots inaccessible by land. There are many tours to choose from for different types of creative experiences like bear viewing, fly-in fishing, hiking, glaciers, and more that require a plane to access them.
Unique Flightseeing Tours
- K2 Aviation Denali Experience Flightseeing Tour
- Helicopter Air Alaska
- Natronair Flightseeing Tours with Bear and Wildlife Viewing
- Misty Fjords Seaplane Tour
Tips
- Minimize reflections by getting very close to the window when shooting, choosing the right lens, wearing dark clothing, or buy a Lenskirt.
- Know your camera settings for aerial photography.
- Have a general plan of what you want to shoot and what conditions will be.
- Don’t overthink the weather. Clouds can add a lot of drama to scenes.
- Wear gloves for comfort when shooting in cold weather.
Spot the “Big Five” (Bear, Moose, Dall Sheep, Caribou, and Wolf)
With more than 57 million acres of designated Alaskan wilderness and over 1,100 vertebrate species, traveling to Alaska is a great opportunity to see unique wildlife in its natural habitat.
A creative bucket list item that’s fun for the whole family and considered a major accomplishment is to try and spot the “Big Five” (grizzly bear, moose, caribou, wolf, and Dall sheep).
I would also add a bonus one of whale watching.
There are many creative and unique ways to do this. You can personalize your creative travel to fit your needs and creative field. With many wildlife tours, from flightseeing to art workshops, you can check off the big five and many ways to boost creativity.
Tips
- Great travel activity to pair with gamification and education if traveling with kids and stacking on other great travel bucket list experiences.
- More animals to add to your wildlife travel list, include polar bears, walrus, salmon, otters, bald eagles, orca, whales, puffins, Muskoxen, and more.
- If you’re traveling to see wildlife be sure to be up to date with wildlife safety and travel with tours for added safety.
Hiking and Camping in Denali National Park
Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses 6 million acres of Alaska’s interior wilderness with plenty of options for camping, hiking, and more wildlife experiences. Named after the highest mountain peak in North America, this national park is a must for any creative bucket list, especially for photographers and landscape artists.
When it comes to camping in Alaska, the options are endless, but Denali is certainly one of the best. With abundant wildlife, jaw-dropping landscapes, and other unique experiences to inspire and gain perspective, Denali has something to offer every season for nature lovers.
Best Denali Camping Spots
Riley Creek (Year-round)
- This campground sits in a wooded area connected to the Denali Visitor Center, which is the central hub of trails in the entrance area.
Savage River (Summer only)
- This campground in a spruce forest can get experience beautiful views of Denali on clear days.
Teklanika River (Summer only)
- This campground has bus access and features off-trail hiking.
Sanctuary River (Summer only)
- This is a heavily wooded campground with views of Denali and trails for uphill hiking.
Igloo (Summer only)
- This small campground is at the base of some great mountains that you can summit.
Wonder Lake (Summer only)
- This campground is as off-grid as you can get in Denali without backpacking into the wilderness, which is also available for the more adventurous.
Tips
- Fall might be a little colder, but the colors are breathtaking.
- You can’t drive the entire Denali park road, and the weather can shut down roads. Most visitors are required to visit the park by bus.
- Denali is a mostly trail-less wilderness. If you’re nervous and less experienced, you can join one of the many off-trail hikes led by experienced park rangers.
- Do your research, plan for all scenarios (carry bear spray), and pack for all types of weather.
Go Sea Kayaking
Alaska is the state with the most rivers in the US and a coastline that stretches over 10,690 km (6,640 mi). This opens up a lot of creative travel opportunities and water activities, including kayaking.
There are many unique options to explore Alaska via kayaks, and many Airbnbs even include kayaks. The reason why kayaking should be on your Alaska Travel Bucket List is that it’s a great physical activity, but it’s also a great way to get up close to Alaskan wildlife and nature, not to mention the healing and inspiring benefits of water and the creative mind.
If you want to gain a unique perspective when visiting Alaska, consider Kayaking.
Best Kayaking Destinations
- Kenai Fjords
- Yukon Island
- Eklutna Lake
- Sitka Sound
- Halibut Cove
Best Alaska Kayak Tours
Tips
- Know when to go:
- Early Season (May 1st – June 15th)
- Relatively stable weather, flat water, and fewer people.
- Peak Season (June 15th – August 10th)
- Better weather but more people and boat traffic.
- Late Season (August 10th – September)
- Weather and sea conditions are more unpredictable, but fewer tourists.
- Early Season (May 1st – June 15th)
- Safety is key when kayaking, especially in Alaska. If you’re inexperienced, you should join a tour, and even if you are experienced, be sure to use the Buddy System.
- Be sure to rent or bring your own high-quality rain gear, dry bags, rubber boots, and other important equipment to have a fun and safe trip.
- If bringing a camera or phone, be sure to have the proper rain gear.
- For the more adventurous, combine camping with your sea kayaking.
Ride the White Pass & Yukon Route train
Train travel should be on every travel bucket list. Many elements of train travel boost creativity and add to a travel experience. From the unique perspectives of traveling through the scenic countryside to relaxing with the motion of the engine. Trains are an inspiring and unique experience.
When it comes to bucket-list train experience, the White Pass & Yukon Route in Alaska is one of the all-time best. There are several options on these routes to experience Alaska’s waterfalls, glacial rivers, gorges, landscapes, and wildlife. If you’re looking for a comfortable and still inspiring experience to see the nature of Alaska, travel by train.
Tips
- The Fraser Meadows Steam Excursion adds authentic and historical elements to your train travel on a steam locomotive to White Pass Summit before turning around.
- Once the train is moving and you’ve settled in, try walking through the different cars and meeting other people, especially in the food and drink areas.
- Whether you’re traveling with kids, your partner, or friends, you can add to the experience with fun games that train creative skills.
- Use train travel to catch up with travel habits like journaling.
- If you’re a photographer, be sure to set your camera to a faster shutter speed to counteract the train’s motion.
Zach is an international writer, photographer, filmmaker, martial artist, and creator of Creative Enso, the Zen art of creative living. His goal is to empower and inspire creatives to live healthier, happier, and more creative lifestyles.
