It’s not all college rankings. U.S. News and World Report’s editors frequently rate travel destinations too, and circle round to Alaska’s splendid scenery each year. The most recent of those Alaskan must-see lists includes 17 national parks, historic towns and spectacular sights.
The Last Frontier’s “rugged beauty, fascinating wildlife and charming seaside towns… magnificent glaciers, rich Native American culture and breathtaking views of the aurora borealis” make Alaska a must-see for any adventurer, writes travel editor Alissa Grisler.
Her list includes Kenai Fjords National Park (No. 4), an icy wonderland fed by nearly 40 glaciers from the Harding Icefield. The gateway to the park, the port city of Seward, stands at No. 9. And the nation’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias (No. 8) belongs on any bucket list. Its 13.2 million acres run from sea level to 18,000-foot mountains. It’s an expanse so enormous, say park rangers, it’s larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite and Switzerland combined.
Find all 17 sights and details on each at https://travel.usnews.com. Meanwhile, here’s just a peek.
Top 10 places to visit in Alaska
1 Fairbanks
2 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
3 Ketchikan
4 Kenai Fjords National Park
5 Denali National Park and Preserve
6 Kodiak
Historic cars line the road at Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park in Skagway, Alaska. (Getty Images)
7 Skagway
Related Articles
The most spectacular new hotels in California, Hawaii and around the world
The 10 most spectacular castles around the world include a California treasure
US News and World Report’s 10 most gorgeous islands on the planet
The top trends inspiring travel in 2024
One California street makes Time Out’s ‘world’s coolest’ list for 2024
8 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
9 Seward
10 Talkeetna
For more travel coverage in the Bay Area and beyond, follow us on Flipboard.