12 Wondrous Alaska Day Trips, One For Each Month Of The Year
By Megan McDonald|Updated on April 17, 2022(Originally published April 12, 2022)
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
Alaska has so many things to offer everyone, whether you’ve lived here all your life or are just passing through on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. It’s hard to pack it all in, but these 12 Alaska day trips are great opportunities to explore some of the most magical ways to experience Alaska. Bring your family and mark your calendar for one day each month to enjoy The Last Frontier in all her glory. Without further ado, here are some of the very best day trips in Alaska:
1. January: Alyeska Resort, Girdwood, Alaska
Alyeska Resort, 1000 Arlberg Ave, Girdwood, AK 99587, USA
Our list of some of the best day trips in Alaska starts at the Alyeska Resort. Head to Girdwood, Alaska for your January day trip. Spend the whole day on the mountain on their easy trails or their harder runs. The resort has plenty of great places to eat, including Bore Tide Deli & Bar at the top of the mountain, and Carve in the Daylodge. If you're looking for a little less downhill excitement, Girdwood has a great nordic ski trail loop very close to the lodge. This is a great place to experience an incredible winter day trip! Plus, you can even try your hand at nighttime skiing in Alaska.
Book yourself an aurora borealis tour in Fairbanks, located in the interior of Alaska, for your February day trip. Many northern light tours operate out of this northern city, and with a short drive you will lose the light pollution from the city and be enveloped in darkness. Choose a company like Fairbanks Aurora Tours, that will not only find the aurora for you, but show you the best way to capture these moments on your phone or camera. This is a great day trip for those long winter nights in Alaska! Learn more about all the Northern Lights tours available in Alaska.
The Iditarod celebrates its ceremonial start the first Saturday in March in downtown Anchorage. The mushers run an eleven mile loop throughout the city, but the real race doesn't get started until the next day. That Sunday, all the mushers line up in Willow for the official start to the "Last Great Race." Join hundreds of spectators as you watch the mushers and their dogs head out in two minute intervals. Stroll the 25 booths set up in the Willow Community Center, and soak in the excitement of everyone around you. This is a fantastic day trip for the whole family in March!
Gray whales migrate over 10,000 miles every winter, and they come through the Gulf of Alaska every year. Many tour companies in Seward offer special gray whale watch tours, between early March through early May. You'll also see other wildlife like sea lions, otters, and more while you look for these massive whales. This is a fantastic way to soak up the spring sunshine for a day trip in April! Learn more about what makes the Gray Whale Migration in Alaska so spectacular.
5. May: Nugget Falls Trail and Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau, Alaska
Head to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, a short drive from downtown Juneau. The Nugget Falls Trail is an easy, flat, two mile hike to a stunning 377' waterfall. Mendenhall Glacier sits in the background, and the scenery around you is breathtaking. Take plenty of photos, and bring the whole family, because this trail is easy and very impressive! May is a good time to visit as the tourist season has just started.
6. June: White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, Skagway, Alaska
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, 201 2nd Ave, Skagway, AK 99840, USA
Ride in a vintage railway car high up into the mountain passes surrounding Skagway, Alaska. The White Pass & Yukon Route Railway has many different excursions, from visiting an old mining town to ascending White Pass Summit and seeing gorgeous scenery. Take in the waterfalls, mountain ranges, and more as you ride along on this fabulous June day trip!
The heat of midsummer lends itself to one of the most sights in Alaska: brown bear watching at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park. This river is packed with salmon during their annual run, and the bears eat to their heart's content. A short flight from Anchorage or Homer will get you some of the best bear viewing in Alaska!
When it comes to the best day trips in Alaska, glacier viewing should definitely be part of the list. August is the perfect time to climb on top of some ice. You still have the sunlight and some warmth left of summer, but the crowds begin to die down, especially by the end of August. Book a tour at any of the great glaciers: Mendenhall, Matanuska, Knik, Exit, Worthington, and Root Glacier, among others. There are so many great tour companies that will show you the best way to hike these beauties. The perfect trip for an August summer's day!
Starting in late August all the way through late September, get outside almost anywhere in Alaska and start harvesting your favorite berries. Depending on where you are in the state, you can find salmonberries, blueberries, crowberries, raspberries, cranberries, and so many more. Harvesting the sweet, tart, lovely berries of this state is something every Alaskan should do. This day trip ends with plenty of good food, and hopefully extras for dessert later! Check out this delicious berry hike in Alaska you can take with the whole family.
10. October: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage, Alaska
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, 43520 Seward Hwy, Girdwood, AK 99587, USA
This amazing spot is actually open year round, and October is one of the best times to visit! Located an easy 40-minute drive from Anchorage, this is a great spot to hit during autumn. There are no crowds, and the center is open daily from 10:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., all throughout the month. Walk the trails through the conservation center and see moose, bison, wolves, bears, and more, as they live their lives in this beautiful spot. Due to the month, you may even see all the animals get a special pumpkin treat to enjoy! Learn more about planning your trip to the incredible Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.
Hop on a plane in Talkeetna and see some of the world's most incredible scenery up close and personal. Many people don't realize that flight seeing tours run all winter, and the likelihood of Denali being out in all of its glory, instead of shrouded in clouds, is much higher in the winter. The cold, crisp air lends itself to incredible views, and you won't be sorry that you waited until this season to see them. After experiencing the views by air, be sure to take time to explore Talkeetna itself, voted one of the best small towns in Alaska.
12. December: Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska
Chena Hot Springs Resort, 17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712, USA
Last but not least on our list of the best day trips in Alaska is Chena Hot Springs Resort. The cold weather of December only enhances everything you love about Chena Hot Springs. Soak in their hot, mineral waters during the coldest months of the year, and you may even be treated to a display of the aurora borealis while you're relaxing! Only an hour outside of Fairbanks, this is an incredible way for you to get outside in the middle of winter and still stay warm and cozy.
Have you done an Alaska day trip not mentioned here? Where did you go? Let us know in the comments below — we’d love to hear your thoughts on the best day trips in Alaska!
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best day trips in Alaska
Beth C. |April 17, 2022
Where can I go in Alaska that only the locals know about?
Alaska is a massive state, and one of the best ways to explore it is by taking more of a local approach. Sure, the most popular attractions in Alaska are definitely worth checking out, but there's something rewarding about discovering Alaska's hidden gems. First up on our list of attractions would be the Kennicott Ghost Town. Located just outside of McCarthy, this abandoned mining town will immediately capture your imagination. The National Park Service maintains the remnants of this abandoned destination and exploring it allows visitors to understand the state's unique mining history. Next up on our list of unique day trips in Alaska would be a glass-bottom boat tour of the Sitka Sound. It's a fascinating way to observe the magical sea creatures in Alaska. Our final recommendation would be a sight-seeing tour on an ATV. Imagine experiencing Alaska's iconic scenery from the perspective of a four-wheeler! If you're someone who's looking for an adrenaline boost, this unique sightseeing tour of Alaska is definitely for you. Curious to check out more hidden gems in The Last Frontier? Check out our list of off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems in Alaska.
