Exploring Alaska’s Weirdest and Coolest Destinations

From volcanoes to ice towns, 'the last frontier' offers some unique travel spots.

alaska
Cruising off the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska. (Loop Images/UIG via Getty Images)
UIG via Getty Images

Alaska’s tourist attractions can be a little weird and off-kilter, and sometimes it’s hard to know exactly which ones will be worth the effort and distance required to get there. So, the Daily Beast put together a list of unusual sites that will make you fall in love with, or just shake your head in wonder, at the 49th state.

Hubbard Glacier: Unlike other glaciers in Alaska, the Hubbard is actually growing, not shrinking. In fact, its adding so much ice that it’s threatening to plow trough a nearby airport.

Hammer Museum: Ever want to look at 2,000 variations of the same tool? Well, now can at the Hammer Museum.

The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes: In 1912, the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century buried 40 square miles of lush forest beneath hundreds of feet of ash.

Juneau Ice Caves: These passages allow visitors to bask in the eerie blue glow of sunlight that filters through centuries-old ice.

Yakutat: This is one of the most isolated coastal towns in the world. Yakutat is surrounded by a hundred-mile buffer of protected U.S. and Canadian wilderness. Has great waves for surfing too, but bring a thick wetsuit.

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