Have you visited Alaska yet? The largest state in the union is home to some amazing sights. Folks that visit Alaska can’t imagine how much there is to see and do. A week of vacation just doesn’t seem long enough to take in the gorgeous views. So, visit often.

Alaska is home to the tallest peak in North America, Mount McKinley. This mountain can be found in Denali National Park. Yes, that’s where the name of the SUV comes from. Denali is Alaska’s first national park and the only one in the country that uses sled dogs as guard dogs. These dogs help to provide security in the park.

Denali is accessed by bus or shuttle rides using its one main road. The biggest attraction is not the tree-lined hills or the clean air but the animals. Tourists hope to catch a glimpse of moose, caribou, grizzly bears, sheep, and wolves. In any other setting, these five would send us scurrying for our lives. But these tourist attractions in Alaska and many others are a welcomed sights.

The tourist season for Denali National Park is between May and September. The summers here are short and the winter much, much longer. When the temperatures drop to dangerous levels, visiting is not such a good idea for the average sightseer.

Tourists come to Alaska and Denali specifically for personal challenges. Every climber wants their chance at Mount McKinley. Not even fifty percent of those that attempt the journey make it to the top. I guess the triumph is in the trying not necessary reaching the summit. On their way up, climbers can take a gander at several glaciers floating by: Muldrow Glacier, Traleika Glacier, and Peters Glacier.

Ever see that movie, Snow Dogs? It brings to mind the next point of interest, the Iditarod dog sled race. This famous race, run each year, is a 1,150 mile trek from Anchorage to Nome. Teams consist of twelve to sixteen dogs with a human leader called a musher.

The trip could take as long as two and a half weeks to complete along icy and treacherous terrain. No wonder people are attracted to it. The race draws people from all walks of life to try their hand at leading a dog sled team. Mushers must have a good command of their dogs and their survival skills in order to complete the race at all. The Iditarod travels along a trail that was once a supply route in Alaska. Instead of ponies, the mail and gold was hauled by mushers and their trained sled dog teams.

Avid fishermen visit Alaska to see the largest catch of their lives. Alaska is known for their salmon, but did you also know that they are famous for halibut as well? Some can be as big as 250 pounds. What a fish! Here, it’s not about the number, but the weight of the catch that rules the day. Planning any Alaska fly fishing trip would be the adventure of a lifetime for sport fishermen and weekend fishermen alike.

Taking along an experienced guide is a good idea if you plan a fishing trip to Alaska. A guide can show fishermen where the best salmon and largest halibut are found. A guide worth his salt can keep fisherman unfamiliar with Alaskan waters from getting lost or going around in circles trying to find what they are looking for. The best salmon are found along Ketchikan and Sitka.

People from Alaska travel almost 400 miles to see this next attraction. It is the Aurora Borealis, which is more commonly known as The Northern Lights. The further north you are, the better the light show. The best time to see this phenomenon while on your Alaska trip is between August and April.

After a few days of bright sunshine, the lights seem to grow brighter than ever. Some see the lights as a flowing ribbon of electric light traveling across the sky. Others see it as a shower of bright colors. The important thing is to catch a glimpse of heaven in all its glory.

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