Alaska isn’t necessarily on everyone’s bucket list. It’s either too cold, or it’s merely a quick port stop on a cruise. But there’s a lot of reasons why this state should be on bucket lists everywhere. Call it a feeling — the very essence of a vibe — you get the moment you set foot here. You can immediately see this place is different. If the 48 contiguous United States is all you’ve ever seen of the nation, the vast, rugged, wildness just begs you to discover its wonders. And with one of the lowest state populations, you’ll have plenty of room to do just that. Alaska: immersion in the wild frontier.
If you love being in the outdoors, you could spend your life exploring and still not see everything Alaska has to offer. People who’ve visited twice or more say barely even begun to see all there is to see.
The state is over 650 square miles, has most of the continent’s tallest peaks, and yet has a population of less than 750,000 people, the majority of whom live in urban areas. Those postcards, Pinterest pins, and Instagram snaps you see of Alaska’s unbridled scenery — all of that is mostly uninhabited wilderness, unspoiled by humans. In fact, if you love solitary and hiking through nature, this is a state where you can camp and hike for days and never see another person — much less even signs that humans exist. It’s a feeling you can’t describe even after you’ve experienced it.
If you really want to experience the up-close-and-personal Alaska, opt to land here, not sail. The greatest beauties and glories of this state require boots on the ground, your head on a pillow, and a vast blanket of unpolluted night sky.
There are glaciers to visit, mountain trails to hike, and the nation’s largest national park.
Alaska isn’t just a state — it’s a state of mind.
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