US News and World Report’s top 10 bucket list destinations in Alaska

From rugged Denali to Glacier Bay National Park, this lineup of Alaska's top sights reads like a travel bucket list.

It’s not all college rankings. U.S. News and World Report’s editors frequently rate travel destinations too, and circle round to Alaska’s splendid scenery each year. The most recent of those Alaskan must-see lists includes 17 national parks, historic towns and spectacular sights.

The Last Frontier’s “rugged beauty, fascinating wildlife and charming seaside towns… magnificent glaciers, rich Native American culture and breathtaking views of the aurora borealis” make Alaska a must-see for any adventurer, writes travel editor Alissa Grisler.

Her list includes Kenai Fjords National Park (No. 4), an icy wonderland fed by nearly 40 glaciers from the Harding Icefield. The gateway to the park, the port city of Seward, stands at No. 9. And the nation’s largest national park, Wrangell-St. Elias  (No. 8) belongs on any bucket list. Its 13.2 million acres run from sea level to 18,000-foot mountains. It’s an expanse so enormous, say park rangers, it’s larger than Yellowstone, Yosemite and Switzerland combined.

Find all 17 sights and details on each at https://travel.usnews.com. Meanwhile, here’s just a peek.

Top 10 places to visit in Alaska

1 Fairbanks

2 Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

3 Ketchikan

4 Kenai Fjords National Park

5 Denali National Park and Preserve

6 Kodiak

7 Skagway

8 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

9 Seward

10 Talkeetna