Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Head to one of Alaska's beautiful parks to witness wildlife up close. Denali National Park and Preserve (nps.gov/dena) is home to species ranging from grizzly bears and wolves to bald eagles and was created by the government to protect animals living in this rugged area. Katmai National Park and Preserve (nps.gov/katm) offers visitors the opportunity to observe brown bears in their natural habitat; the park contains nearly 2,000 brown bears.
Experience Alaska's natural beauty while staying warm and dry on a railroad day trip with Alaska Railroad Vacations (alaskarailroad.com). The tour company offers five different train adventures including rides through Denali Park and the state's more remote glacial areas. Ride on a classic steam locomotive aboard the White Pass & Yukon Route's Fraser Meadows Steam Excursion (wpyr.com) and enjoy a narrated tour along steep mountain curves that reach 3,000 feet high.
Experience the exciting sport of dogsledding firsthand by taking a ride with working dogs or going behind the scenes at a kennel for a tamer view. Husky Homestead Tours (huskyhomestead.com) lets visitors learn more about the huskies that run the Iditarod race and tour the homestead of mushing champion Jeff King, while Seavey's Ididaride Tours (ididaride.com) offers tourists summer dogsled cart rides on dry land as well as snow-based winter adventures.
The Alaska Native Heritage Center (alaskanative.net), located in Anchorage, allows visitors to tour village sites to learn how the native people of Alaska, both past and present, lived. Experience dance performances and learn about the history and culture of the people in the village of Ouzinkie, near Kodiak, with Island Heritage Tours (islandheritagetours.com). If you're into cars, the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum (fountainheadmuseum.com) in Fairbanks showcases vintage cars and exhibits detailing the history of vehicles in Alaska.