Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

The voyage may be a little difficult (there is no road access into or out of the park), but Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is so breathtaking that it is well worth it. West of Juneau, there is a national park that has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. It contains more than 3 million acres of temperate rainforest, narrow fjords, and magnificent tidewater glaciers. Even though you'll probably travel through Glacier Bay on a cruise, think about taking a sea kayaking tour to get even closer to nature before spending the night in Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay's free campground.

In Glacier Bay National Park, Bartlett Cove is the only region that has been developed. In the midst of the Alaskan wilderness, Glacier Bay Lodge, the Park Visitor Center, Visitor Information Station, exhibitions, Park Headquarters, a number of trails, a public dock, kayak rentals, and walk-in camping offer a range of services. The remote settlement of Yakutat is located 50 miles southeast of the Glacier Bay National Preserve, which is situated along the rocky outer coast of Glacier Bay. The 55,000-acre Preserve, which is surrounded by vast and breathtaking natural lands, is well-liked for hunting, fishing, and other subsistence pursuits.

Rankings:

• #9 in Best Places to Visit in Alaska

Location: Alaska