welcome to mojo travels and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
reasons to make alaska your next
trip are you a fan of our videos be sure
to subscribe to mojo travels and ring
the bell to be notified about our latest
videos for this list we're looking at
why the last frontier should be your
first choice
for a vacation
[Music]
number 10 fishing when people think of
the best u.s states for fishing
michigan or florida usually come to mind
while
alaska is known for commercial fishing
it's one of the most
under-appreciated destinations for
casual fishing
and no we're not just talking about ice
fishing although that's definitely an
option if you don't mind the cold for
something a tad
less frosty there's fresh water fishing
salt water fishing and fly fishing
offering a variety of options visitors
also have an ample number of fishing
spots to choose from with over 12 000
rivers
thousands of streams and no shortage of
relaxing backdrops
considering that there are almost 630
fish species in alaska
there's bound to be one with your name
on it not to mention you're hooking it
number nine cruises again alaska is
usually overshadowed by places like the
caribbean and the bahamas when it comes
to cruises
granted nobody goes on an alaska cruise
to get a tan
what they do go for are the luxurious
onboard amenities and the extraordinary
ports of call
through cruise lines like princess you
can visit elegant locals like icy
straight point
while there be sure to go ziplining and
check out the humpback whale feeding
area
on virtually any alaska cruise you're
all but guaranteed to encounter
awe-inspiring animals and towering
bodies of ice
actually if you want to cross off most
of the entries on this list
a cruise might be the ideal way to
experience everything
number eight skiing when it comes to
cold temperatures in the u.s
alaska is in a league of its own as such
it's one of the top destinations for
winter sports alaska has considerably
long winters that persist from around
october to march so if you want to hit
the slopes before the holiday rush or
spend spring break at a ski lodge
alaska has a convenient six-month window
the aliasco resort provides an
especially tempting skiing experience
with 1 610 available acres
for a slightly more advanced activity
alaska is one of alaska's prime spots
for snowboarding as well
if snowmobiling is more your style
glacier city and snow hook adventure
both offer
exciting tours they also specialize in
dog sledding tours
which brings us to our next entry number
7.
the iditarod while tourists flock to the
more laid-back dog-sled tours
professional mushers gather every year
for the iditarod trail
first held in 1973 this annual dog sled
race traditionally takes place in march
covering almost a thousand miles teams
race from anchorage to gnome
often encountering brutal weather
conditions along the way
in addition to holding the record for
the longest yearly competitive sled dog
race
the iditarod may be alaska's most famous
sporting event
while it takes a special breed of dog
and person to compete
in such an event following their trail
to the finish line can be quite the
adventure as well
plus spectators have the luxury of being
able to spend their nights in a cozy
hotel
number 6. the kenai peninsula we've been
talking a lot about alaskan winters
but if you're looking to book a summer
trip spend it in the kenai peninsula
borough
don't get us wrong winter is also a
lovely time to visit
and compared to some other parts of
alaska the borough's cold climate is
fairly mild
for hiking however the temperature is
just right between june and september
while the borough is 90 wilderness kenai
fjords national park provides the most
alluring mountains
trails and glaciers there isn't a more
fitting way to cap off your day of
exploration
than at exit glacier which resides at
the end of the park's one road
another landmark you'll need to check
out is homer spit
which stretches four and a half miles
into ketchum bay
number five the wildlife people
typically associate safaris with south
africa and tasmania
in north america however alaska is
arguably the premier place for observing
animals in their natural
habitat we already mentioned the whales
but you'll also find
adorable sea otters frolicking in the
water on land
the wilderness is populated by majestic
moose breathtaking bison
and darn cute doll sheep the land is
bountiful with a wide variety of bears
from polar to black to grizzly the
standout though is the kodiak bear
the largest subspecies of brown bear in
the world
to observe them safely sign up for the
tour at katmai national park
to see more animals alaska wildlife
conservation center and denali national
park
are two other spots to keep in mind
number four
the cities and culture although alaska
will primarily appeal to nature lovers
its cities are also loaded with fun
activities and rich culture
to learn about the history of alaska and
its people we'd recommend visiting the
alaska native heritage center in
anchorage
at the heart of the city is anchorage
museum which hosts a wide assortment of
art
history and science exhibits anchorage
may be alaska's largest city
but juno is the capital where you'll
find landmarks like mount roberts
tramway
and the mendenhall glacier visitor
center we'd be remiss if we didn't
mention fairbanks alaska's biggest city
within its interior territory
while there delve deeper into alaska's
past at the museum of the north and
pioneer park number 3 the glaciers
exit glacier is only the tip of the
iceberg
as long as you're visiting juno you
might as well head roughly 12 miles from
the downtown area to find mendenhall
glacier
this glacier stretches over 13 and a
half miles long and is responsible for
forming mendenhall valley
if you're in anchorage it's only a
two-hour drive to matanuska glacier
at 27 miles long it's been described as
the largest glacier accessible by car in
alaska
to see as many of these ice giants as
possible it's well worth booking a
glacier tour
whether you'd prefer to see them on the
water up in the air or on foot
the experience will be forever frozen in
your memory
number 2. the mountains anyone who
visits alaska is likely there for the
vast wilderness
particularly the mountains almost
everywhere you turn
alaska's many mountains provide a
beautiful backdrop
guaranteeing no shortage of
instagramable moments
while some will be more than content
with observing the mountains
thrill-seekers will want to conquer them
outside of skiing and snowboarding
alaska is a playground for seasoned
climbers
for a true challenge set your sights on
the denali
the tallest mountain in north america
with an elevation of 20
310 feet for something a little less
intimidating
flattop mountain is a reasonably
difficult climb
and mount baldy is more moderate both
reward climbers with
exquisite views though whichever
mountain calls out to you
alaska is a dream come true for
backpackers and hikers
number one the northern lights be
prepared to spend a good portion of your
alaskan trip gazing up in the sky
in wonder those who visit during the
summer get to witness the midnight sun
a natural phenomenon that graces the
arctic circle with perpetual sunlight
winters are the opposite submerging the
land into darkness for almost two months
there isn't a more astounding sight
however than the northern lights
the best place to view this natural
light display is in fairbanks during the
aurora season
which occurs between august and april
keep in mind that the lights can be
elusive
even during this time of year if you're
lucky enough to catch them though
you'll never want to look away from the
night sky
do you agree with our picks check out
this other recent clip from mojo travels
and be sure to subscribe and ring the
bell to be notified about our latest
[Music]
videos
you