Alaska

A mountain road climbs into the Talkeetna Mountains to one of Alaska's largest gold mining camps, closed in 1951, set in a tundra bowl above the treeline with trails and marmots.

💡 The buildings open in summer, from mid-June to late September, from 10am to 6pm, with a 45-minute guided tour at $15, about €13. Outside opening hours, park in the lower car park and explore the site on foot. Recreational gold panning is allowed in the park, with a pan and shovel only. Bring a fleece, as it is noticeably cooler than in Anchorage. Price: $5 parking per vehicle, about €4.

Alaska's major museum, with more than 600 Alaska Native objects lent by the Smithsonian, from kayaks to Yup'ik masks, plus galleries on the gold rush, the pipeline and landscape painting.

💡 Keep it for a rainy day or for your first morning, as it gives you the keys to the whole trip. Open daily from 10am to 6pm from May to September. Price: $25 per adult, about €22.

Alaska's most climbed mountain, 25 minutes from Anchorage, a 2.4 km scramble to a flat summit with views over the city, Cook Inlet and, on clear days, Denali.

💡 Climb in the evening in June and July, when it stays light until nearly midnight, in good shoes, as the top is slippery. Moose often graze near the car park, so keep your distance. Price: $5 day parking at the Glen Alps car park, about €4.

Boats from Seward stop beneath calving tidewater glaciers such as Holgate or Aialik, passing sea otters, Steller sea lions, puffins, humpback whales and often orcas along the way.

💡 Take a trip of at least six hours, as the short ones stay in Resurrection Bay and see no tidewater glacier. Choose a calm day and take a seasickness remedy if there is a swell. Price: about $240 for the six-hour trip, or €205, and $300-330 for eight hours or more, or €260-285, with a meal often included.