- After living in Alaska for over 21 years , I’ve seen a fair share of tourists make common mistakes.
- Educate yourself on Alaska Native culture and traditions, and respect them and the land.
- If you want to see the northern lights or the Iditarod, consider visiting in winter.
Alaska is huge . It’s one-fifth of the size of the lower 48 — the contiguous United States — and larger than California, Montana, and Texas combined.
Even though it’s technically possible to visit all of the major spots along the road system over seven to 10 days, doing so will likely leave you exhausted and feeling like you didn’t experience much of anything. So unless you’re planning an extended stay, focus on exploring a single region.
If you want to see southeast Alaska and the Inside Passage, book a cruise or use a combination of planes and ferries to travel between cities. Opt for lodging on the Kenai Peninsula if you want to come home with fresh halibut and salmon or get a close look at glaciers and sea animals.