I've lived in Alaska for over 35 years. Here are 6 mistakes I always see tourists make when visiting the state.

Lisa Maloney
·4 min read

  • After living in Alaska for over 35 years, I've seen many visitors make the same mistakes.

  • Many tourists underestimate Alaska's size and think the state is more drivable than it actually is.

  • A lot of visitors don't realize that some attractions and activities are seasonal.

Tourism is an important part of life in Alaska. In fact, last year, tourism brought in nearly $158 million in revenue for the state.

As someone who's lived in Alaska for over 35 years, it's easy to see why tourists love traveling here. From the beautiful national parks to opportunities to see the northern lights, Alaska has something for everyone.

However, every year, I see many visitors make the same mistakes over and over. From expecting to drive everywhere to forgetting that some activities are seasonal, these are the six most common mistakes I've seen tourists make when visiting my home state.

Thinking Alaska is small and drivable

A winding road leading to snow-capped mountains with low clouds. There is green grass on both sides of the road.
Alaska has a limited road network.Lisa Maloney

I'm always surprised by how many visitors think Alaska is small — but I guess if you're used to seeing us tucked into a map inset right next to Hawaii, that makes sense.

In truth, Alaska is so big that if you split it into two states, both halves would be bigger than Texas. You can easily spend four to six hours — or more — just driving from one large community to the next.

However, Alaska has a shockingly limited road network for such a huge state. If we say a community is "off the road system," it means you can't drive there. Instead, you'll have to catch a plane or, in some limited cases, a boat to get there.

Not learning the local vocabulary

In Alaska, we have lots of local lingo that can be helpful to know. For example, if someone says they're going outside, they're not just leaving the building — they're leaving the state. To us, outside means anywhere that's not 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 names of highways.

Forgetting that some attractions and activities are seasonal

The northern lights over snowy mountains by the water.
In Alaska, the northern lights can typically be seen between late August and late April.biletskiyevgeniy.com/Shutterstock

Here in Alaska, some of our biggest attractions are only available for a few months of the year.

Two big ones to keep in mind are bear viewing season, which typically peaks with the 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 umbrella term for Alaska's Indigenous people is Alaska Native. Most towns have at least one cultural center where visitors can learn about the 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 the wildlife — or the weather — to be predictable

A moose and a new calf in a grassy yard with trees and a body of water.
You never know where you might find wildlife in Alaska.Lisa Maloney

Every year, Alaska tour guides field sincere questions like "When are the moose scheduled to show up?" That makes perfect sense in a controlled environment like a zoo, but Alaska's wildlife are ... well, wild ... and come and go whenever they like.

Our weather does pretty much the same thing, so if you're determined to hide inside until the rain and wind stop or the sun comes out, you'll miss out on a lot.

Dressing in layers can help visitors stay comfortable, no matter what the weather is doing. I recommend lighter layers in the summer and heavier layers in winter, but some sort of weatherproof outer layer is always a must.

Trying to do too much in one trip

When traveling to a new location, there's a lot of pressure to visit as many destinations as possible. But if you never take a minute to enjoy just being here, you're missing out on a big chunk of the Alaska experience.

Plus, having a little flex time in your schedule helps to accommodate inevitable weather days when excessive wind, rain, or rough seas keep you from doing planned activities. I recommend giving yourself two or three days in a community before moving on.

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