The winter season transforms Alaska — and your vacation experience. While summer is all about fishing, kayaking, hiking and wildlife viewing, winter brings a totally different set of outdoor activities. With snow already blanketing much of the state, it’s time to start thinking about the experiences that should be on your bucket list this season. From ice skating to dog mushing, Alaska is a winter wonderland with endless options.
Here’s a list of can’t-miss activities during the winter months. Most of these can be accomplished no matter what part of the state you visit!
Take an old-fashioned toboggan down a local favorite sledding hill
Brush up on your triple axle skills while skating outside on a frozen lake
Hit the slopes downhill skiing or snowboarding
Sip on hot chocolate at a café after a day of playing in the snow
Test out your snowman-building skills
Meet some of the Arctic and sub-Arctic species at the Alaska Zoo
Go hunting for the northern lights
Spend a day perusing Alaska art and history at a local museum, such as the Anchorage Museum
Learn about the sport of dog mushing on a sled dog tour
Feast on a delicious meal of Alaska seafood
Admire the intricate ice sculptures made by master carvers in Anchorage and Fairbanks
Cheer on the Alaska Aces at a lively hockey game
Try your hand at ice climbing
Sip on local beer at one of Alaska’s many microbreweries
Take a flightseeing tour for an aerial view of the snowy landscape
Feed your need for speed with a day of snowmobiling
Hook your dinner while ice fishing
Release your inner child with a classic snowball fight
Take your winter walk one step further by strapping on a pair of snowshoes
Build a snow fort
Cheer on your favorite team during the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
Explore the snowy trails on a fat tire bike or on cross-country skis
We challenge you to see how many items from this list you can check off, but don’t worry if you can’t finish it all in one go – a bucket list is good for life.
