The Story Behind Alaska’s Most Iconic Towns

Eastern Alaska

Ketchikan

● Among the best towns to visit in Alaska if you love seafood.

● Known as “Salmon Capital of the World.”

● Plentiful outdoor adventure opportunities like fjord kayaking and rainforest hikes.

● Tlingit heritage.

● Colorful and walkable town with cultural institutions like the Totem Heritage Center and art galleries.

● Perhaps the warmest town in Alaska due to milder winters.

Juneau

● State capital.

● Fjords and mountains meet galleries and theatres.

● One of the best towns in Alaska if you can’t decide between nature or culture tourism.

● Festivals like the Alaska Folk Festival.

● Gold Rush history.

● Remote location accessible only by air or water.

● Another of the warmest towns in Alaska thanks to its location.

Sitka

● Russian and Tlingit heritage.

● Originally known by native peoples as Sheet’ká.

● Capital of Russian America until the 1867 sale of Alaska to the U.S. by Russia.

● Natural and cultural immersion opportunities like forest hiking and history museums.

● Whale watching hub.

Southern Alaska

Seward

● One of the best towns in Alaska for outdoor adventure enthusiasts.

● Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park.

● Views of Mt. Marathon.

● Plenty of mountain hiking and kayaking opportunities.

● Among the best Alaska cruise stops due to vibrant harbor and strong seafood scene.

● Alaska SeaLife Center offers wildlife education.

● Named after Secretary of State William Seward.

● Founded in 1903.

Cordova

● Very remote location on Orca Inlet.

● Accessible only by air or water.

● Along the eastern side of the Chugach National Forest.

● Lots of wildlife-centric festivals to choose from like the Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival in May and the Iceworm Festival at the end of January through early February.

● Copper River Salmon Jam in July adds to reputation shaped around salmon.

● Ilanka Cultural Center offers education and engagement with the native Eyak people.

● Founded in 1906 to support mine development amid the railway boom.

● Home to Copper River Red and King Salmon fisheries.

Homer

● “The end of the road” of the Kenai Peninsula on Kachemak Bay.

● “Halibut Fishing Capital of Alaska” and strong farmer’s market network make for great food.

● Historically home to the Dena’ina people.

● Must-visit institutions like the Homer’s Pratt Museum and the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies headquarters.

● Among the best towns to visit in Alaska if you love water activities like kayaking and sea rafting.

● Keep an eye out for bears in this “Ecological Tourism Capital of Alaska.”

● Grab must-buy Alaska souvenirs at Gallery Row.

Western Alaska

Kodiak

● Remote on the “Emerald Isle” of Kodiak Island.

● Originally home of the Alutiiq people and inhabited by Russian fur traders later.

● First capital of Russian Alaska.

● Rugged landscapes.

● Find great hiking at Fort Abercrombie State Park.

● One of the best towns in Alaska for wildlife sightings due to famous Kodiak Brown Bears and whales.

● Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge for nature-lovers.

● Pasagshak Beach for beach combing and fossils.

● Great museums like the Maritime and Baranov museums.

● Best festivals include the Crab Festival over Memorial Day and WhaleFest in April.

Unalaska

● Located on the Aleutians.

● Volcanic and seaside landscapes.

● Home to the Unangan people for 10,000 years.

● Visited by Captain Cook and Russian fur traders.

● Was a military outpost during World War II for the Aleutian campaign.

● Indigenous history at the Museum of the Aleutians/

● Whiskered Auklet at the Baby Islands bird sanctuary just offshore.

● Famous for seafood.

● Among the best towns to visit in Alaska if you love military history.

Kotzebue

● Known as the “Gateway to the Arctic.”

● Situated on the Baldwin Peninsula along the Chukchi Sea 30 miles above the Arctic Circle.

● Known as “Kikiktagruk” (meaning, “almost an island”) in Inupiaq.

● Tundra wilderness access makes it perfect for aurora chasers.

● Barrier Island National Wildlife Refuge and Kotzebue Sound Science Center.

● Home to the first Alaska Native winner of the Iditarod (John Baker) in 2011.

Northern Alaska

Nome

● Among the best towns to visit in Alaska if you love wildlife due to resident reindeer and muskoxen.

● Located at the end of the Seward Peninsula along the Bering Sea.

● One of the best towns in Alaska for Gold Rush history.

● Marks the end of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March.

● Still has conveniences but is very remote.

● Perfect for adventurous travelers.

Utqiaġvik

● Northernmost town in the United States.

● Formerly known as Barrow.

● One of the best towns in Alaska for those interested in learning about Alaskan culture.

● Indigenous history at the Nuvuk village site and the Inupiat Heritage Center.

● The Barrow Whaling Captains Association Museum and the Whale Bone Arch offer tastes of Utqiaġvik’s whaling heritage.

● Hosted weather station and military early-warning systems during World War II and the Cold War.

● Among the best towns to visit in Alaska if you want to see the northern lights.

Wiseman

● Very small village with similar Gold Rush history to other ghost towns in Alaska.

● Visiting Wiseman is one of the coolest things to do in Alaska since it’s the launching point for Gates of the Arctic National Park.

● One of the best towns in Alaska for those seeking solitude and aurora sightings.

● Hike the Brooks Range if you’re an outdoorsperson.

● Ideal for nature photographers.

● Perfectly positioned for major travel trends like “silent tourism” and “dark sky tourism.”

Discover The Last Frontier For Yourself

Whether you’re looking for the most beautiful, wildest, most culturally-rich or warmest town in Alaska, Royal Caribbean can get you there. As the largest state in the union, the Last Frontier is extremely diverse, offering something for every kind of traveler, from the eco-travelers like myself to the gallery hoppers to the salmon chasers.