- Having lived 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.
- Many visitors don’t realize that some attractions and activities are seasonal.
Tourism is an important part of life in Alaska and generated nearly $158 million in revenue for the state last year.
As someone who has lived in Alaska for over 35 years, I understand why tourists love to travel here. From the beautiful national parks to the opportunities to see the Northern Lights, Alaska has something for everyone.
But tourists often make the same mistakes: for example, they expect to go everywhere by car or forget 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. Alaska is so big that if you divided it into two states, each half would be larger than Texas. You can easily spend hours driving from one large community to the next.
But 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 have to take a plane or boat.
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
Some of Alaska’s biggest attractions are available only 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 Natives in that region.
These facilities are part visitor center and part museum, offering a celebration of native traditions and culture. I always encourage tourists to take the time to explore these centers.
Expecting wildlife (or weather) to be predictable
Alaska tour guides answer candid questions like, “When are the moose expected to show up?” That makes sense in a controlled environment like a zoo, but Alaska’s wildlife is, well, wild, so they come and go as they please.
Our climate does much the same thing, so if you’re determined to hole up inside until the rain and wind stops and 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 wearing lighter layers in the summer and heavier layers in the winter, but a waterproof outer layer is always a must.
Trying to do too much in one trip
People traveling to a new place often feel the pressure to visit as many destinations as possible. But if they never take a minute to enjoy be You’re missing out on a huge part of the Alaska experience here.
Also, having a little flexibility in your schedule will help you adapt to circumstances where wind, rain or rough seas prevent you from carrying out your planned activities. I recommend spending two or three days in a community before continuing.
