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Juneau, the Inside Passage and Southeast Alaska. Southeast Alaska (or “the Panhandle”) includes the state capital (Juneau) and the Lynn Canal (the Inside Passage). The region is speckled with small towns and villages, most accessible only by boat or plane. Haines and Skagway are the only towns along the water route that have roads to “the Outside,” while the Inside Passage ties together almost all of the populated places in the region. Here fjords snake between the mountains, timbered slopes plunge to rocky shores, and marine life abounds.
Anchorage. Containing nearly half the state’s population, Anchorage is Alaska’s biggest city. The restaurants, art and history museums, copious espresso stands, and performing arts have earned the city the sobriquet “Seattle of the North.” Alaskans often deride the place as “Los Anchorage,” but the occasional moose ambling down a street hints at the nearby wilderness.
The Kenai Peninsula and Southcentral Alaska. This region offers great fishing, hiking, rafting, kayaking and wildlife viewing. Visit Seward and Homer on the Kenai Peninsula and dip your paddle into marine wilderness. Kodiak, in the Gulf of Alaska, is known for its green-carpeted mountains and brown bears. Charter outfits take you to remote areas and choice fishing spots.
Denali National Park and Preserve. Home to Mt. McKinley—the highest peak in North America—Denali National Park and Preserve comprises 6 million acres of Alaska’s best wildlife, scenery, and adventures.
Fairbanks, the Yukon, and the Interior. Bound by the Brooks Range to the north and the Alaska Range to the south, the Interior is home to a vast expanse of pristine backcountry. The largest city in the region is Fairbanks (gateway to the towns of the Arctic), and includes the Bering Coast, and Canada’s Yukon Territory.
The Bush. Inupiaq people share the tundra with the Prudhoe Bay oil fields, brown bears roam Katmai National Park, and prospectors still pan for gold. Except for the Dalton Highway and a few short roads near Nome, the region is essentially roadless. Traveling here requires planning; the reward is true adventure.