- After living in Alaska for over 35 years, I have seen many visitors make the same mistakes.
- Many tourists underestimate the size of Alaska and think it is easier to get around the state by car than it actually is.
Tourism is an important part of life in Alaska. In fact, last year tourism generated nearly $158 million in revenue for the state.
As someone who has lived in Alaska for over 35 years, it’s easy to understand why tourists love traveling here. From the beautiful national parks to the opportunities to see the Northern Lights, Alaska has something for everyone.
However, every year I see many visitors making the same mistakes over and over again. From expecting they’ll have to drive everywhere to forgetting that some activities are seasonal, here are the six most common mistakes I’ve seen tourists make when visiting my home state.
Thinking Alaska is small and walkable
I’m always surprised by how many visitors think Alaska is small, but I guess if you’re used to seeing us on a map next to Hawaii, that makes sense.
In fact, Alaska is so big that if you split it into two states, both halves would be larger than Texas. You can easily spend four to six hours (or more) driving from one major community to the next.
However, Alaska has a surprisingly limited road network for such a large state. If we say a community is “off the road network,” that means you can’t get there by car. Instead, you’ll have to take a plane or, in some limited cases, a boat to get there.
Not learning the local vocabulary
In Alaska, we have a lot of local slang that can be helpful to know. For example, if someone says they’re going out, they’re not just leaving the building, they’re leaving the state. For us, leaving means anywhere other than Alaska.
Another thing to remember is that we don’t typically use road numbers for our highways (no matter what your GPS tries to tell you). Instead, we use the highway names.
Forgetting that some attractions and activities are seasonal
Here in Alaska, some of our biggest attractions are only available for a few months of the year.
Two important seasons to look out for are bear viewing season, which typically peaks with salmon runs in July and August, and aurora viewing season, which runs from roughly late August to late April.
Missing out on Alaska Native Culture
The generic term for Alaska’s indigenous people is Alaska Native. Most towns have at least one cultural center where visitors can learn about Alaska Native traditions in that region.
These facilities are part visitor center and part museum, and offer a celebration of native traditions and culture. I always recommend that tourists take the time to explore these centers.
Expecting wildlife (or weather) to be predictable
Every year, Alaska tour guides get candid questions like, “When are the moose expected to show up?” That makes perfect sense in a controlled environment like a zoo, but Alaska’s wildlife is… well, wild… and it comes and goes as it pleases.
Our climate does much the same thing, so if you’re determined to hole up inside until the rain stops and the wind stops blowing or the sun comes out, you’re going to miss out on a lot.
Dressing in layers can help visitors stay comfortable, no matter the weather. I recommend lighter layers in the summer and heavier layers in the winter, but some sort of waterproof outer layer is always a must.
Trying to do too much in one trip
When you travel to a new place, there is a lot of pressure to visit as many destinations as possible. But if you never take a minute to enjoy be You’re missing out on a huge part of the Alaska experience here.
Additionally, having a bit of flexibility in your schedule will help you adapt to the inevitable bad weather days when wind, rain or rough seas prevent you from carrying out your planned activities. I recommend spending two or three days in a community before moving on.
