Winter in Alaska is a singular experience! To truly adore Alaska the way we do, we have to embrace all of our seasons, including the stunning and exhilarating winter period. Alaskans love to play, especially in the snow in the winter. The best part of getting cold and tired after a long day in the powder? A beautiful place to snuggle up in after, especially if there’s good food involved. So we’ve put together the ultimate winter town list: a great collection of cozy towns in Alaska to experience our favorite season in:
- Valdez, Alaska
-Eric / Flickr
The Fat Mermaid / Facebook Valdez is a perfect town to snuggle up in! With a winter wonderland theme happening every year during their 300 annual inches of snowfall, many snow lovers head up into Thompson Pass to ski to their heart’s content. The Pass receives anywhere between 600-900 inches of annual snowfall. The best place to end a winter’s day in Valdez? The Fat Mermaid. With awesome pizzas and an excellent bar, it’s the perfect place to warm up those frozen fingers!
- Girdwood, Alaska
pauljoelhancock / Flickr
Adam S / TripAdvisor Girdwood, Alaska is an easy choice for cozy Alaska snuggles! As the northernmost temperate rainforest, Girdwood sees more than its fair share of snow. Luckily, Alyeska Resort is perfectly situated to take advantage of the killer snowfall. There’s even excellent winter hiking and nordic skiing nearby. The best place in town to grab a pint after? The Silvertip Grill is there with awesome burgers and a nice local beer selection on draft!
- Homer, Alaska
Wonderland / Flickr
Two Sisters Bakery / Facebook Homer is a stunning winter beauty. Whether you’re skiing on the numerous cross country ski trails, heading out on the water for some killer winter fishing, or ice skating on one of the frozen lakes, there is plenty to do and see in this picturesque winter town. Our favorite place to warm up after a long day in the cold? Two Sisters Bakery, right by Bishop’s Beach. We can’t stay away from their warm, gooey mac n’ cheese, and their baked pastries are out of this world.
- Talkeetna, Alaska
Paxson Woelber / Flickr
Steve W / TripAdvisor Talkeenta is a winter lover’s paradise. You are mere miles away from Denali, and hopping on your snow machine will quickly bring you closer! With incredible snow machine trails and amazing nordic skiing, Talkeetna hits the spot. In Talkeetna, anything else you can think of doing in the winter is not only nearby, but utterly epic. Denali Brewpub is the perfect place to grab a pint after a long, amazing day.
- Seward, Alaska
DCSL / Flickr
Seward Brewery official website Seward is stunning in the winter. Watching Mt. Marathon get dusted with snow is utterly charming. Whether you’re taking a dog sledding tour, or exploring the backcountry by ski, snowshoe or snow machine, Seward has you covered. Finish off your lovely winter’s day with something warm out of the oven at Seward Brewing Company. Our favorite is their handmade pretzels!
- Fairbanks, Alaska
Markus Trienke / Flickr
Yachiyo K / TripAdvisor Fairbanks is known world wide as a winter playground. With miles and miles of incredible groomed cross country ski trails, sled dog tours, and ice skating, it’s hard not to find something to love. You can even hop in a very accessible hot springs, Chena Hot Springs, with only an hour’s drive down the road and watch the aurora overhead. We like to grab lunch at The Crepery, where their tasty warm beverages and utterly delicious crepes make us day dream while we’re out in the snow.
- Cordova, Alaska
Cale Green / Flickr
Management / TripAdvisor Cordova has plenty of delicious winter sports! Frequently escaping the public’s eye, many people forget all of the amazing things there are to do in Cordova in the winter. Between ice climbing, heli-skiing, and glacier tours, you won’t get bored in this town! When you’re finished, warm up at Harborside Pizza and grab a slice of their mouthwatering, gooey pizzas.
- Palmer, Alaska
Cecil Sanders / Flickr
Connie Gum / TripAdvisor Rounding out the end of our list is Palmer! With plenty of backcountry snow machine tours, ice skating on Rabbit Slough, or skiing or fat biking on the Crevasse Moraine Trail System, Palmer has plenty of fun things to do! There’s also fabulous ice fishing in many of the nearby lakes. Our favorite place to warm up is Vagabond Blues in downtown Palmer. Their food is fresh and uses many local ingredients, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a day when musicians are playing!
Have you hunkered down in any of these towns this winter? Which one was your favorite? Tell us why below!
-Eric / Flickr
The Fat Mermaid / Facebook
Valdez is a perfect town to snuggle up in! With a winter wonderland theme happening every year during their 300 annual inches of snowfall, many snow lovers head up into Thompson Pass to ski to their heart’s content. The Pass receives anywhere between 600-900 inches of annual snowfall. The best place to end a winter’s day in Valdez? The Fat Mermaid. With awesome pizzas and an excellent bar, it’s the perfect place to warm up those frozen fingers!
pauljoelhancock / Flickr
Adam S / TripAdvisor
Girdwood, Alaska is an easy choice for cozy Alaska snuggles! As the northernmost temperate rainforest, Girdwood sees more than its fair share of snow. Luckily, Alyeska Resort is perfectly situated to take advantage of the killer snowfall. There’s even excellent winter hiking and nordic skiing nearby. The best place in town to grab a pint after? The Silvertip Grill is there with awesome burgers and a nice local beer selection on draft!
Wonderland / Flickr
Two Sisters Bakery / Facebook
Homer is a stunning winter beauty. Whether you’re skiing on the numerous cross country ski trails, heading out on the water for some killer winter fishing, or ice skating on one of the frozen lakes, there is plenty to do and see in this picturesque winter town. Our favorite place to warm up after a long day in the cold? Two Sisters Bakery, right by Bishop’s Beach. We can’t stay away from their warm, gooey mac n’ cheese, and their baked pastries are out of this world.
Paxson Woelber / Flickr
Steve W / TripAdvisor
Talkeenta is a winter lover’s paradise. You are mere miles away from Denali, and hopping on your snow machine will quickly bring you closer! With incredible snow machine trails and amazing nordic skiing, Talkeetna hits the spot. In Talkeetna, anything else you can think of doing in the winter is not only nearby, but utterly epic. Denali Brewpub is the perfect place to grab a pint after a long, amazing day.
DCSL / Flickr
Seward Brewery official website
Seward is stunning in the winter. Watching Mt. Marathon get dusted with snow is utterly charming. Whether you’re taking a dog sledding tour, or exploring the backcountry by ski, snowshoe or snow machine, Seward has you covered. Finish off your lovely winter’s day with something warm out of the oven at Seward Brewing Company. Our favorite is their handmade pretzels!
Markus Trienke / Flickr
Yachiyo K / TripAdvisor
Fairbanks is known world wide as a winter playground. With miles and miles of incredible groomed cross country ski trails, sled dog tours, and ice skating, it’s hard not to find something to love. You can even hop in a very accessible hot springs, Chena Hot Springs, with only an hour’s drive down the road and watch the aurora overhead. We like to grab lunch at The Crepery, where their tasty warm beverages and utterly delicious crepes make us day dream while we’re out in the snow.
Cale Green / Flickr
Management / TripAdvisor
Cordova has plenty of delicious winter sports! Frequently escaping the public’s eye, many people forget all of the amazing things there are to do in Cordova in the winter. Between ice climbing, heli-skiing, and glacier tours, you won’t get bored in this town! When you’re finished, warm up at Harborside Pizza and grab a slice of their mouthwatering, gooey pizzas.
Cecil Sanders / Flickr
Connie Gum / TripAdvisor
Rounding out the end of our list is Palmer! With plenty of backcountry snow machine tours, ice skating on Rabbit Slough, or skiing or fat biking on the Crevasse Moraine Trail System, Palmer has plenty of fun things to do! There’s also fabulous ice fishing in many of the nearby lakes. Our favorite place to warm up is Vagabond Blues in downtown Palmer. Their food is fresh and uses many local ingredients, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a day when musicians are playing!
While you’re out and playing, remember these 14 Things No One Tells You About Surviving An Alaskan Winter!
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