Joe Garza Photography Blog

Best Activities In Alaska | Visiting The Land Of The Midnight Sun

Alaska is simply an incredible state to visit and there is no other state quite like Alaska that for sure.
Alaska has some things that you just cannot find anywhere else. Since it’s located so far north, it has a unique environment that provides amazing views and unique ways to experience the great outdoors.

Take a peek below at the top 5 things to do and see in this amazing state!

1 | Northern Lights Alaska

Open road winds thru the snow capped mountains with northern lights pulse from the night sky. Many colors from green, purple and yellow fill the entire sky.

Staying up all night long may seem crazy to do but the Northern Lights are worth staying up for. They can just take your breath away and you will get lost in its beauty. The lights are visible at the end of summer and into early fall, the best time to see them is from the end of September until mid-April between midnight and 4 am, depending on the season. There are plenty of places to see them, too, but some of the most reliable spots are Fairbanks and Anchorage. Even heading further north past the Artic circle to the Brooks Range can give you incredible views surrounded by snowcapped mountains. Just need the weather gods to give you a crisp clear night sky.

2| Denali National Park

Head about 3 hours south of Fairbanks and you will be at the entrance to one of the most amazing park. Welcome to Denali National Park. Once you get there, there are plenty of ways to explore the wilderness of this incredible park. You can take an ATV tour, go rafting, or use the park shuttle to get to many of the hiking trails throughout the park. Bringing a camera is must because Denali has some of the most breathtaking views in the country, including Mount McKinley or otherwise known as Denali. You will be able to see glacial rivers, and lots of wildlife like moose, wolves, and grizzly bears. This is their home so please respect it and give them their space. Looking for a winter trip to Denali National Park then consider joining a photography tour with Light Chasing Phototours!

3| Dog Sledding in Alaska

If you go to Alaska then you must do Dog sledding trip. It is one of the most unique ways to see Alaska. There are a lot of options available across the southeast, including Anchorage, Juneau, Denali, Girdwood, and Fairbanks. There are different types of experiences available, depending on the time of year. I have personally done this in the winter during our Northern Lights Workshop based in Fairbanks. Around the Fairbanks there are many choices to choose from. You can’t go wrong with any of them. I personally like Paws for Adventure

4 | Whale Watching

If you love the sea and wildlife from the sea, then Whale watching is a must for sure. There are plenty of places to spot whales along the coast of the state. So, depending on where you trip takes you along the coast make sure to look into the opportunities in the area when planning your trip. The best seat to be able to see whales will be directly to see them from a boat. There are plenty of tours offered at most coastal towns. Alaska is a popular spot for humpback whales, gray whales, killer whales, and beluga whale are common sights also. You never know you could even see dolphins out playing around the boats wake.

5| Exploring the Glaciers

Depending on where your travels plans take you there are a lots of opportunities to experience glaciers in Alaska. One of the best ways to get up close an personal is taking a cruise or kayak trip. If you really want to get a sense of scale of these glaciers then flightseeing tours are also available. Highly recommend this amazing experience for sure. You can also see many glaciers even from roadside tours. Going for an hike, ATVs, and even ice climbs for an extreme challenge. Some of the best known areas for viewing are Prince William Sound and the Kenai Fjords in the southeastern part of the state near Anchorage. There are many opportunities are scattered throughout the vast landscape of Alaska, so be sure to look for one that fits into your travel plans.

Alaska Landscape and Northern Lights Photography

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The northern lights fill the Alaska night sky over the Brooks Range with a array of rainbow colors. The mountains covered with snow make a dramatic foreground. — Brooks Beams - Alaska Northern Light Images for Sale

Frozen ripples of ice look like waves from the ocean. The deep blue colors reflect light coming into this ice cave. — Icy Waves - Abstract Photography for sale

Snow covered mountains with the northern lights shine above them. Beams of purple and green bands move quickly across this night sky. — Star Wars | Aurora Borealis Landscape Images

Snow and pine trees cover the ground with snow-covered mountains in the distance are majestic with a sunset aspen glow pink & purple sky in Denali National Park — Denali Vibes - Alaska Fine Art Photos for Sale

The night sky is filled with colors of red, green and yellow as the northern lights shine in the sky. The Alaska pipeline overhead runs across the landscape. — Over the Line | Alaska Pipeline Images

Northern Lights sparkle nearly straight overhead with colors of white, purple, pink and green while snow and pine trees sit in silhouette on the ground. — Midnight Showers - Northern Lights photography

A open snowy road leads my directly into snow covered mountains in Denali National Park. The evening sunset filled the sky with purple colors. — Last Frontier - Denali - Mount McKinley Landscape photos For Sale

Looking up into the night sky with snow covered trees surrounding the view. The sky is filled green and blue colors from the northern lights. — Pulsating | Northern Lights Alaska Photography For Sale

Deeps hues of blue fill this chunk of glacier ice. Cracks among this ice appear to go on for ever thru the ice. — Ice Age - Abstract Nature Photography For Sale

Silhouettes of pine tree forest are covered by the night sky filled with green light ribbons of moving light thru the sky. — The Grinch | Alaska Northern Lights Photos For Sale

Bright blue and dark blue ice carve scoops into the walls of this ice cave. Light reflects and bounces around the glacier ice. — Brainwash | Alaska Landscape Photos

Snow covered trees in Alaska remain motionless as the northern lights filled the night sky with memorizing array of aurora colors. — Touch of White - Northern Lights for Sale

A snow covered lake and jagged peak mountain is lit by the moon with bands of colored northern lights dance above it. Multi-colors rain down from the night sky. — Bridal Shower | Alaska Aurora Borealis Photos For Sale

A deserted road winds thru the snow covered mountains as the sky fills with colors of reds, greens and purple colors from the northern lights. — Open Road | Alaska Northern Lights Photography

The moon lights up the snow covered mountains and pine trees with multi-colors across the night sky. Yellow, green and purple colors move across the mountains. — Brooks Rays | Northern Lights Photography For Sale

The northern lights filled the night sky and danced over the Sukakpak mountain in the Brooks range. Only foot prints are visible thru the snow covered pond. — Footprints - Alaska Landscape Photos for Sale

The night sky is covered with green, purple, red and yellow beams of light from the northern lights. Snow capped mountains sit on the edge of a frozen lake. — Lifesavers | Aurora Borealis Photos For Sale

Bright green lights cover a snow capped mountain in Alaska over a very cold night. — Ghostbusters | Alaska Landscape Photography

Pine trees stand in the foreground with bright green ribbons of light stretch across the night sky. These colors dance across the sky. — Beam Me Up | Northern Lights Photography

Northern Lights Alaska | Denali National Park Photo Tours

All the best of what Alaska has to offer is highlighted above. For images of Alaska and Northern Lights Photography Workshops or wall art check out the full online collection of Joe Garza Photography. All the best of Alaska has to offer is brought to life on HD Metal or TruLife Acrylic prints and for the ultimate in Luxury Fine Art have your print finished with a handcrafted Italian Roma Moulding Frame. Contact Joe with any questions.

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