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All United States Alaska

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Alaska

90 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Alaska

Updated February 10, 2023

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Unusual Attractions in Alaska

Juneau, Alaska

Mendenhall Ice Caves

Breathtakingly blue walls shimmer inside the "Glacier Behind the Town."

Talkeetna, Alaska

Dr. Seuss House aka The Goose Creek Tower

This whimsical stacked cabin looks like something out of a children's book.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Aurora Ice Museum

Mind-blowing carvings and fantasy ice scenes grace the largest year-round ice environment in the world.

Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska

Denali

The king of U.S. high points towers over every other peak on the continent.

Juneau, Alaska

The Upside-Down Forest of Glacier Gardens

Upside-down trees serve as natural flower pots in this hanging garden of Alaska.

Chitina, Alaska

Kennicott Ghost Town

The ghostly remains of what was once the world's richest copper mine.

Yakutat, Alaska

Guyot Glacier Ice Caves

Gorgeous cave resemble a winter wonderland.

Fairbanks, Alaska

Permafrost Tunnel

This frozen tunnel in central Alaska is both an engineering feat and a valuable climate classroom.
See All 90 Things To Do in Alaska

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska

Worlds Largest Chocolate Waterfall

While not recognized by Guinness, this chocolate waterfall is likely to be the world's largest.

Skagway, Alaska

Red Onion Saloon

Originally a brothel during the Klondike Gold Rush, this bar once used dolls to denote when ladies were working.
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Atlas Obscura Itineraries

11 Places Where Alaska Bursts Into Color

Picture Alaska. You might see in your mind's eye the granite and stark white snowcaps of Denali National Park, or the dark seas that surround 6,000-plus miles of coastline, or the muted olive of its tundra in the summer. But as anyone who's been there knows, the country's largest, most sparsely populated state can absolutely burst with color, from the luminous green of the Northern Lights, to the deep aqua of its glaciers, to the flourish of wildflowers fed by its long summer days. Here are some places to see the full spectrum of The Last Frontier. As the pandemic continues, we hope this virtual trip helps you explore America’s wonders. If you do choose to venture out, please follow all guidelines, maintain social distance, and wear a mask.

View Itinerary

Explore Alaska

Gold Rush 9
Animals 9
Museums And Collections 8
Statues 8
Architectural Oddities 8
Abandoned 8
Ghost Towns 7
Ruins 6
Collections 6
Roads 6
Roadside Attractions 6
Gold 6
Places To Stay 3
Unique Restaurants & Bars 1

Alaska Leaderboard

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Recent Alaska Activity

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Stories About Alaska

The Rise and Fall of Alaska's 'Reindeer King'

Carl J. Lomen used legal loopholes and Santa Claus to build his meat business.
by Kirstin Fawcett
December 23, 2022

These Tiny Jewels Come From One of Alaska's Most Unusual Beaches

This microscopic treasure was collected from a remote site near the Arctic Circle.
by Gemma Tarlach
November 15, 2022

How a Centuries-Old Soldier Ration Found a Fanbase in Alaska

Known as "pilot bread," hardtack is ubiquitous across the state.
by Zeb Larson
August 3, 2022

This Remote, Active Volcano Is a Glassblowing Spider

Alaska’s Great Sitkin has been grumbling for nearly a year.
by Gemma Tarlach
April 28, 2022

Why Is This Rippling Alaska Glacier a Research Hotbed?

Malaspina Glacier is the world's most accessible of its kind—but that's not the only reason scientists find it so cool.
by Gemma Tarlach
February 8, 2022

The Tricky Business of Saving a Baby Beluga

For the first time, scientists were able to save a young whale stranded in Cook Inlet. What should happen next?
by Sarah Durn
February 7, 2022

Podcast: Musk Ox Farm

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team
January 25, 2022

Just How Fat Are Alaska's Most Famous Fat Bears?

As Fat Bear Week 2022 approaches, biologists share the results of a novel, noninvasive method to determine the animals' true heft.
by Kylie Mohr
September 14, 2022

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