The Best Way To See Alaska
Alaska is Amazing, No Matter How You See It.
By Robert Schrader | Published on May 22, 2025
What is the best way to see Alaska? You could come in summer and cruise through dramatic glaciers and fjords, or hop a flight with a local guide and find the best fly-fishing spots. Alternatively, you can visit in winter and chase the Northern Lights as they glow overhead. Better yet, you could go cruising in Alaska to combine the best of land and sea — and it’s all possible on Royal Caribbean Alaska cruises.
Is A Cruise The Best Way To See Alaska?
A cruise through the Alaska Inside Passage may be the best way to experience Alaska because it combines sea experiences with land tour opportunities, allowing you to see and do more. You could get the comfort and accessibility of cruising plus all the fun of a road trip in Alaska — and you’ll only have to unpack once.
Another benefit of cruising in Alaska is simplicity. You should consider what time of year you’d like to travel and if you want to add Alaska shore excursions for specific experiences — for example, spotting wildlife or getting a unique glacier view. But the rest is easy: There’s no need to book multiple hotels, decide between different travel methods or plan every second of your itinerary. On a cruise ship, you have access to all the best of the Last Frontier.
This is especially true if you're visiting Alaska in the summer. There's no better way to admire the state's sprawling glaciers than from miles away, before slowly drawing into the bay until the massive sheets of ice are so close you can see the meltwater carving channels through them. Stand out on the deck to feel the fresh Northern air on your face, or watch it all unfold from the comfort of your room — or, with a glass of champagne in one of the onboard restaurants.
Another reason to love an Alaskan cruise in summer is that it's by far your best chance of seeing whales. These amazing animals are especially active in the Icy Strait near Juneau and in the waters of Kenai Fjords National Park. Try not to worry too much about this aspect of your Alaska vacationtrip — your ship's crew will know just where to go to find whales. You'll also be able to see dozens of other wildlife species, including colonies of seabirds and groups of walruses and sea lions sunbathing on the rocks.
For many travelers, a cruise is one of the best ways to see Alaska because of how little planning it requires. While your Alaska cruise packing list should always include a light jacket (the Last Frontier can be cool, even in the summer!) and a pair of hiking boots for optional onshore excursions, you'll spend the majority of your time in the luxurious onboard environment. You'll be able to enjoy the wild, fierce beauty of Alaska without having to trek across the wilderness.
Alaskan cruises primarily focus on the state's long coastline, from the picturesque waterside near Ketchikan in the south to the dramatic inlets and sounds near destinations such as Seward and Anchorage further north. You may even have the option to spend one morning or afternoon kayaking. That's the great part about a cruise: It's not just the best way to experience Alaska, but also the most customizable.
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Fishing And Flying In Alaska
If you’re combining cruise and land travel, flying is another one of the best ways to see Alaska. It’s also your ticket to fly fishing in Alaska, especially if you’re looking for little-known spots.
The Last Frontier has a relatively undeveloped highway network — many parts of the state don't have roads at all! Even when you can drive, taking a plane often shaves hours or even days off your transit time, making it a preferred option for both tourists and locals. If you plan to go flying in Alaska, you'll need to contact a local travel agency several months before you plan to arrive.
Besides the practicality, there's nothing like the beauty of Alaska's mountains, lakes and forests from above. Being in a small Cessna or other propeller plane allows you to look down on some of Alaska's wildlife (like grizzly bears or moose) while keeping a safe distance. Finally, traveling by plane can allow you to access places you'd never find on a map, particularly since the pilot of any smaller plane is likely a guide, too.
Air travel is also a great option if you’re hoping to go fly fishing in Alaska. Many of the best rivers for Alaskan salmon are inaccessible by car. Some are also known only by word of mouth — if you aren't traveling with a local guide, you simply aren't going to find them. This is also often true for hunting expeditions. In both cases, the guide you work with can help you obtain all the necessary licenses and permits.
Traveling by prop plane means packing more carefully than if you're on board cruise ships, which only sail to Alaska in the summer. Pack thick down coats, gloves and heavy boots. You'll also need to plan your gear carefully for a summer fishing trip, or choose a company that can provide it for you after you arrive.
Can You Take A Road Trip In Alaska?
You can take a road trip in Alaska, but it may be difficult because the state doesn’t have an extensive highway network. As you plan your trip, you may notice that online maps don't even offer driving directions between some locations. Seeing Alaska by car can be a rewarding adventure if you only plan to explore a few specific areas, such as the route between Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula or a quick journey to the Chugach National Forest.
If you want to explore on land before or after a cruise, there are a few places you can drive to. If you start your Alaskan vacation by flying into Anchorage, you could drive south to Seward to take a Kenai Fjords cruise or kayaking adventure. Likewise, it's just four hours (a short distance, by Alaskan standards) up Interstate Highway A4 to Denali National Park. If you come in winter, make sure to continue north to Fairbanks — the city outskirts are the best place in the United States to see the Northern Lights. Another worthwhile stop along the A4, no matter which time of year you come, is the charming small town of Talkeetna, a former mining town whose population just broke 1,000 people.
If you do rent a car to go driving through Alaska, you'll likely need to combine it with other modes of transport. For example, the drive between Juneau and Anchorage takes nearly a day, even under the best circumstances. It's often better to fly and then pick up a car at Anchorage Airport. On the other hand, if time is not an issue and your Alaska trip is about the journey as much as the destination, you can take the so-called Alaska Marine Highway, a network of car ferries that allows you to slowly make your way along the coast from Juneau to Anchorage.
When you’re deciding how to see Alaska, don’t forget to try the train.
From Juneau, you can ride the White Pass and Yukon Route Railway to Skagway, a historical town that'll make you feel like you've traveled back to Gold Rush times. Since this train only departs during the summer, you'll bask in plentiful sunshine as you hang out the window and see gorgeous purple lupines and other wildflowers as you speed by on your Alaska tour.
If you want to travel by train from Anchorage to Fairbanks via Denali Park, you have two options: the summer Denali Star train or the Aurora Winter train, which is another fabulous way to see Alaska's Northern Lights. One smart way to fit this adventure into a shorter trip is to take the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks, then fly back to Anchorage (or directly home) when you've finished making your way up north.
How To See Alaska: Explore Your Way
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