Alaska Great Values

Our top pick for Fairbanks lodging is situated on the banks of the Chena River near the airport. The 325 rooms are spacious and many boast river views, while amenities include free WiFi, two restaurants, a fitness center, and laundry room.

Snag one of the 180 clean and spacious rooms at this rustic yet well-appointed property. Deluxe rooms are worth the upgrade for their balconies; and the Jacuzzi tubs, mini fridges, microwaves, and sleeper couches in the hotel’s 10 suites make them ideal for families. The comprehensive lodging complex, set amidst a spruce forest just outside Seward, features a restaurant, lounge, gift shop, and free shuttle to Seward attractions.

For something a bit more rustic in the midst of Anchorage, bunk down in one of this inn’s 14 cozy guest rooms, which are individually decorated and spread out between two clapboard houses surrounded by pleasant flower gardens. The combination of a convenient downtown location and a scenic setting overlooking Cook Inlet and the mountains (note the binoculars on hand in the sitting room) makes this a great value.

You’ll need wheels to navigate outside downtown Anchorage, where you’ll find this 26-acre indoor/outdoor museum, an entertaining and educational cultural center celebrating the state’s diverse indigenous inhabitants. Expect an assortment of exhibits and interactive displays, including replicas of traditional village dwellings, as well as traditional dance performances.

The premier attraction along the Seward Highway, this nonprofit organization cares for injured and orphaned Alaskan wildlife – bear, moose, musk ox, bison, and caribou count among the many species that roam here in large fenced-in enclosures that closely recall their natural habitat. The center offers four guided walking tours a day.

For causal American fare – think burgers and seafood dishes – down by the...more

On Seward’s harbor, this bustling restaurant is unbeatable for seafood fresh off the boat...more