Things to do | alaska.com

Things to do

The lead raft of three from the Nova adventure company splashes through the rapids near the Lions Head on the Matanuska River.

The daredevil rivers of Alaska lure thrill-seeking raft riders and kayakers from around the world.

Glacier viewing

Exit Glacier, in Kenai Fjords National Park, provides a stunning backdrop for a group of picnickers. The glacier, just outside of Seward, is accessible by car and then by foot. Entrance to the park by car costs $5.

Three different ways to see the glaciers.

Two fishing derbies -- for king and silver salmon -- are held each summer in downtown Anchorage. Ken Scott of Phoenix fishes for silvers at the mouth of the creek as it empties into Cook Inlet.

Angler's are drawn not just by the size of Alaska's fish, but also the variety.

A NOVA Riverrunner boat blasts through the second canyon on Sixmile Creek near Hope.

Find the best spots for your Alaska ecotourism vacation.

Denali National Park kennel worker Jessica O'Connor hooks up a dog team during a sled dog demonstration at the park.

Dog-sled tours are available all year long.

Cruise the Inside Passage or many other scenic destinations.

A kayaker collects beached glacier ice along Derickson Bay in Prince William Sound for coolers back at camp. Much of Prince William Sound is accessible to paddlers using water-taxi drop-off services out of Whittier and Valdez.

Whether it's on your own or with a tour, paddling is a great way to see wildlife.

Kayaking and guide services

Books about Alaska Outdoor Activities

Pan for gold on your own, or as part of a tour.

Matt Szundy, a guide for The Ascending Path, leads clients from Minnesota up the north face of Mount Alyeska in Girdwood. The company offers three-hour hikes on the mountain, which in the winter is a ski mountain.

Whether you like a gentle amble or a strenuous climb, Alaska offers world-class hiking.

Services for hikers, climbers and campers

Books about Alaska Outdoor Activities

Aurora borealis

The aurora borealis lights up the sky in a colorful display above Eagle River. The aurora is active all year but can only be seen when the Alaska night sky is dark enough -- generally from late August through early April

It's one reason to go outside in winter -- the North's natural light show.

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Photo Galleries

Northern Lights

The northern lights dance across the sky and are reflected in Potter Marsh.

Scattered clouds can't hide Mount McKinley in this view from an Alaska Airlines flight from Fairbanks to Anchorage recently.

Hiking and Biking

Snow began to gather on Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park, but that didn't deter hikers from climbing it to take in the sunset.

Fall colors and no snow in Turnagain Pass on Friday, September 18, 2009.

Weeding between the rows of head lettuce is done by hand in a field in Palmer, Alaska. A succession planting of lettuce is done once a week for eleven weeks through the summer for continuous harvests that find their way to grocery stores and Farmer's Markets.

Alaska produces spectacular gardens with many plants that will grow successfully in our cool climate. Public gardens, garden tours, festivals, the Alaska State Fair and Farmer's Markets throughout the summer are all places to view the many and varied horticultural wonders of our state.

Bears in Alaska

A brown bear with two cubs wondered down from the cliffs along the Cook Inlet coast in the McNeil River State Game Sanctuary on the Alaska Peninsula. The bears fed on sea life scraped from the tidal rocks, fed on the plant life on the beach and mom nursed the cubs. The Alaska Department of fish and Game holds a lottery for permits to view the bears with the deadline for online application March 1, or they need to arrive in the Anchorage Office by March 1 for mailed applications.Photos and video: McNeil River bears »

Multimedia: The Bears of McNeil River

Kiteboarders enjoy a sunny windy day on Turnagain Arm across from Potter Marsh along the Seward Highway on Wednesday September 16, 2009.

Sandhill cranes

Sandhill Cranes take flight from a field at the Matanuska Experiment Station on Saturday August 22, 2009. The cranes have up to a 7 foot wing span and are among the tallest birds in the world. They gather into flocks for the migration south.

Alaska Aviation

An American Airlines Boeing 757 passenger jet is silhouetted by the setting sun on after taking off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.

Alaska's glaciers

A spire of ice is part of Portage Glacier's face on April 28, 2009.

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