From the icy blue glaciers to the incredible vast mountain ranges brimming with wildlife, Alaska is the perfect destination for outdoor adventurers who want something out of the ordinary. After living in Alaska and driving all over the state, here’s my guide for a 10 day trip to Alaska for those who want next level adventure!

*Hiking Lion’s Head near Matanuska Glacier*

DAY 1

Fly into Anchorage

Most flights land in Anchorage in the evening so keeping that in mind, you’ll most likely only have time for a quick drink & bite.

Sunset at 49th state brewery has an incredible view but make sure you make a reservation! If you’re too late on the reservation, the Moose’s tooth is another great option with great pizza and local beer.

Stay: Anchorage

DAY 2

Glacier Adventures or Hiking

Snow City Cafe for breakfast- an Anchorage classic diner.

Glacier paddle boarding on Knik Glacier. Yes, you read that right, paddle boarding on a glacier! Alaska Helicopter Tours is an incredible company that accommodate any glacier adventures you seek. They provide paddle boards, a guide and transport to the glacier via helicopter and you can jump in the icy blue glacial water at the end of the tour! Highly recommend this company for any Knik Glacier adventure

*Glacier Paddle Boarding on the Knik Glacier*

Another option available year round- drive to Matanuska Glacier for a tour. You can either tour the glacier by foot with a guide and safety gear or if you want to level up you can try ice climbing all with Nova Guided Tours.

*Ice climbing with Nova Guided Tours on Matanuska Glacier*

I highly recommend any experience where you get to be up close and personal with the glaciers because it’s very different than seeing them from afar on a boat or helicopter. If any of these options don’t appeal to you then go for one of the amazing hikes in the area. AllTrails is a great app to find hiking trails and has many options nearby Anchorage including Flat Top Mountain, Little O’Malley Peak & Rabbit Lakes. *DISCLAIMER* PLEASE practice Leave No Trace. Make sure to always bring bear spray on any trail in Alaska as you are at risk of bear encounters!

Dinner in Palmer

Palmer is one of my favorite towns outside of Anchorage. They have an incredible view of the Chugach range and is a much more quaint town than Anchorage. I recommend Matanuska Brewery for dinner, they have great food and unique beers (my personal favorite is the blueberry ale!)

Stay: Anchorage

DAY 3

Drive the scenic Seward Highway to Kenai Peninsula

The Seward Highway is one of the most iconic drives in Alaska. My recommendation would be to leave early to avoid traffic especially on a weekend! The following are points of interest along the drive to the town of Seward.

Breakfast at Birch and Alder

First things first, hold off on breakfast until you reach Birch and Alder on the Seward Highway. Chef Reuben prepares some of the best coffee and breakfast I’ve had in Alaska. They have the most amazing breakfast foccacia and depending on when you go, they may have local and wild- foraged items. For example, the fiddlehead quiche is topped with a common Alaskan fern that is foraged in spring and tastes similar to brussel sprouts. Nothing like wild veggies in your breakfast! Their newer item on the menu is the wild Alaskan salmon lox with their perfect bagel that they make in house.

Turnagain Arm

The body of water hugging the mountains as you drive the Seward Highway is called the Turnagain Arm. There are multiple viewpoints you can stop at along the way including Beluga Point and I highly suggest pulling over to take in the view.

Stop in Whittier

Whittier is a unique town in that you have to drive through a one way tunnel to get there. This breathtaking drive is the highlight as there are many interesting stops and views along the way. There are plenty of small trails you can hike along the road such as Bryon Glacier. If you are looking for a longer hike, Portage Pass Trail only takes about 2-3 hours and boasts stunning views of Portage Glacier!

Summit Lake Lodge

If you want a rest break, this adorable cafe is the perfect pit stop. You can grab another coffee & pastry and go sit out on the back porch overlooking Summit Lake.

Tern Lake

This is by far one of my favorite stops right off the Seward Highway. On a calm day you can often see the reflection of the mountains on the lake. Provides a great photo op no matter what time of the year and it’s always been one of my favorite viewpoints along the highway.

Dinner at The Highliner

Homestyle American restaurant serving specialty plates such as local halibut.

Stay: Seward

DAY 4

Explore Seward

Seward is one of my favorite towns because it’s nestled among the mountains right against the shoreline of Resurrection Bay. Walking along the coastline and marina is so picturesque and unlike anything I’ve seen before.

Breakfast at Resurrect Art

This is hands down the best coffee and baked goods in Seward. They do have a limited selection of pastries so make sure you get there early before they sell out. What makes this cafe so special is it is inside an old church and they have kept a lot of the original details intact. Aside from the tasty coffee and food, there’s a lot to peruse around the coffee shop including the amazing local art and the upstairs loft that’s open for seating.

Kenai Fjords Wildlife Tour

If you want to see wildlife this is by far one of the best tours in Alaska. I recommend doing the 6 hour tour with Major Marine . You have the chance to see orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, otters, puffins, bald eagles and on the rare occasion grizzly bears! This tour also takes you right up to the glaciers and beautiful areas of the Kenai Fjords National Park that are only accessible by boat.

Dinner at The Cookery

If you’re wanting to try fresh seafood and wild Alaskan salmon cooked to perfection, look no further. What makes this place so special is their incorporation of foraged finds from the area as well as locally sourced seafood, meats and produce. Reservations are required so make sure to book ahead of your trip.

Stay: Seward

DAY 5

Hike to Exit Glacier or Harding Ice Field in Kenai Fjords National Park

This is one of my favorite hikes in Seward! The Harding Ice Field is a tough day hike that will blow your mind with sweeping views of the largest icefield in the country. It can be common to see black bears and the occasional grizzly but due to the heavy traffic on this trail it usually keeps them away.

Hiking Harding Ice Field in Kenai Fjords National Park

Dinner at Seward Brewing Company

After a long hike, nothing is better than a nice burger and an amazing local beer

DAY 6

Drive to Cooper Landing

Cooper Landing is a small town nestled in a valley in which flows the Kenai river. It’s the perfect spot to book a once in a lifetime guided fishing tour or take it easy and absorb raw nature.

Experiencing a float and fish down the Kenai river is incredible. There’s plenty of guides to book with that can accommodate your needs. Depending on the time of year you may be able to catch salmon, trout and dolly varden. If fishing doesn’t interest you, there are companies that will float you down the river in a raft so you can still enjoy the scenic Kenai river. Fishingbooker.com is a great resource to find fishing guides for the Kenai River but be sure to book in advance. If hiking sounds more appealing I highly recommend Slaughter Ridge or Skilak Lake overlook. Slaughter Ridge is VERY tough but the views of Cooper Landing and the Kenai River make it all worth it. Skilak Lake is a much easier trail but tends to have more bear activity so stay alert.

*Fly Fishing for Sockeye Salmon on the Kenai River*

Dinner options: Cooper Landing Brewery and Two Brothers BBQ

Stay Cooper Landing or Soldotna: Kenai Princess Lodge and Gwinn’s Lodge, more options are available in nearby Soldotna if lodging is at capacity.

DAY 7

Drive to Homer

Lucy’s Market Soldotna

It isn’t a drive to Homer without stopping in Soldotna at Lucy’s Market. They have a great selection of cheese, snacks, fresh salads and sandwiches. Their sweets are also my absolute favorite- I still crave those breakfast cookies! Once you get closer to Homer, a clear day provides beautiful sweeping views of the Homer Spit and Kachemak Bay; this is the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and enjoy the scenery. There are beautiful Airbnb’s in the hills that overlook the spit and mountains or you can choose to stay directly on the spit to be closer to the water.

Dinner at The Saltry

This experience alone could shape your Homer itinerary. The Saltry is one of the most unique dining experiences in Alaska in that you have to take a water taxi across Kachemak Bay to Halibut Cove to the restaurant. Along your boat ride on a restored antique fishing boat, you will make a stop along Gull Island with the chance to see many unique bird species as well as sea otters. You will then arrive for dinner in Halibut Cove and typically have some time to check out the area after dinner.

*Beautiful Boat Ride Across Kachemak Bay to The Saltry*

After the Saltry, I always recommend beachcombing in Homer because during the summer the sun sets very late providing ample time to look around and discover items that wash up on the rocks.

Stay: Homer

DAY 8

Explore Kachemak Bay

Breakfast at Two Sisters Bakery

Hands down the best coffee and bakery in Homer!

Halibut Fishing Tour- Homer is the Halibut fishing capital of the WORLD so there is no better place to experience catching your own halibut. Most companies will provide the option to ship your fish overnight so you can enjoy it at home.

Another option I recommend is sea kayaking! The far side of Kachemak Bay is so beautiful and there is so much to explore. This company https://homerkayaking.com/ has some great options for sea kayaking with a guide.

Dinner at Finn’s pizza

This adorable pizza shop is right on the water and boasts the most amazing woodfire pizza. There are reservations you can make to eat on the top deck which I highly recommend for the best views.

DAY 9

Breakfast at Wild Honey Bistro for crepes

Hiking in Kachemak Bay

Kachemak Bay State Park is a unique experience in that you have to take a water taxi across the bay to get to the mountain ranges. It makes for a fun boat ride and sometimes you may come across some wildlife! I highly recommend downloading AllTrails to find the perfect hike for you but some of my favorite hikes are Grewingk Glacier and Grace Ridge.

Dinner at Wasabi’s Bistro or The Chart Room Restaurant

Both are more on the upscale end with a view but you can choose one or the other depending if you want sushi or a steakhouse with variety.

DAY 10

Drive back to Anchorage

Although it’ll be a 4.5 hour drive back, there’s plenty of scenery to keep you entertained. To break up the drive I recommend stopping at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see some of Alaska’s wildlife up close and from a safe distance. If you still have some time to burn, I recommend stopping in the quaint town of Girwood or anywhere along the Seward highway for a short hike .

*Black Bear Siting off the Sterling Highway*

Alaska is a magical wild state and I hope this itinerary will guide you to create the perfect adventure. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions!

10 Day Alaska Itinerary for the Adventure Seeker

RADDENOYER

10 Day Alaska Itinerary for the Adventure Seeker

Complete Guide To Seward, Alaska

RADDENOYER