Top Romantic Getaways in Alaska

Traveling the world with the one you love gives you the opportunity to connect on a different level. You can enjoy quality time together while exploring new landscapes and learning about new cultures. If your idea of a romantic getaway includes relaxing at luxury accommodations with spa treatments and fine dining, Alaska’s got you covered. Or, if you’re an adventurous couple that bonds over hiking, unplugging in nature, and cozy accommodations like cabins and glamping, Alaska is also the place for you. Here’s our list of the most romantic destinations in Alaska to share with your special someone.

Dreamy Girdwood is tucked in a mountain-ringed valley that’s blanketed with lush boreal forest. It’s the ideal backdrop for a romantic getaway that includes both luxury and adventure. The beautiful Alyeska Resort sits at the base of a mountain and offers a wide range of amenities for a relaxing stay. You’ll find restaurants from delectable sushi to mountaintop fine dining, room service, and the Alyeska Nordic Spa – an outdoor hydrotherapy spa complete with hot tubs, pools, saunas, steam rooms, and couples massage. For a little adrenaline you can downhill ski or snowboard – Alyeska is also the largest ski resort in Alaska – or reach new heights on the Veilbreaker Skybridges, two suspension bridges 2,500 feet up the mountain.

Girdwood is also home to a wide variety of specialty accommodations like A-frame cabins and private B&Bs tucked in quiet neighborhoods, some with their own outdoor hot tubs. This small town is home to a surprising array of restaurants – from pizza to bakeries to local fine dining – along with the Girdwood Brewery, a great spot to grab a craft beer or kombucha after a day of adventures with your sweetheart. Speaking of adventure, you’ll also find plenty of activities to share here year-round, like hiking, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, flightseeing tours, and biking.

Perched among the impressive Talkeetna Mountains is Hatcher Pass, a recreation area home to several stunning hiking trails and Independence Mine State Historical Park – a fascinating and picturesque historic gold mine. Couples looking to unplug and enjoy nature together will love the seclusion of Hatcher Pass. Just below Independence Mine are rustic red A-frame cabins and a cozy lodge that serves food and drinks. Down the road from Hatcher Pass, towards the town of Palmer, are even more cabins, yurts, and B&Bs.

The rugged and sometimes ethereal landscape of Hatcher Pass makes it a beautiful place to disconnect and soak up the scenery together. You’ll find plenty of hiking trails to explore, blueberry picking in late summer, a lush blanket of red and orange tundra in the fall, and groomed cross country ski trails and good chances of seeing the northern lights in winter.

For a romantic getaway with great food, a vibrant local arts scene, and ocean views, head to Homer. This quirky coastal town is a magnet for local artists and foodies. A wide range of excellent restaurants highlight fresh local seafood like halibut, salmon, rockfish, and oysters. You’ll find everything from laid-back fine dining to wood fired pizza to hand made tacos and delicious rustic baked goods – with many restaurants featuring beautiful waterfront views. Homer is also a lovely spot to share some local libations, with two breweries, a winery, and restaurants serving up craft cocktails using local spirits.

Stroll hand-in-hand down the Homer Spit, a 4.5 mile strip of land jutting into Kachemak Bay, where you’ll find rows of art galleries, shops, and restaurants, plus some scenic beach walking. The waters of Kachemak Bay and the mountains and glaciers of Kachemak Bay State Park are a highlight of Homer, and the town is home to a variety of accommodations like waterfront hotels, cliff-top cabins, and vacation rentals that feature views of this breathtaking backdrop. One of the most romantic spots in town are the beach-front hot tubs at the hotel at the end of the Spit, reservable for hotel guests. Homer is also the jumping-off point for iconic Alaska adventures like fishing and bear viewing, and you can book a water taxi across the bay for day or overnight trips in Kachemak Bay State Park and the quaint, scenic hamlets of Seldovia and Halibut Cove.

One of the most romantic winter destinations in Alaska is Fairbanks – also known as the Golden Heart City. The city’s cold, dazzling winters and location under the auroral oval result in some of the best northern lights viewing in the state. Specialty accommodations like private glass-topped igloos and lodge rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to snuggle up and take in one of the earth’s most incredible displays.

Just outside of Fairbanks is Chena Hot Springs, a resort built up around soothing natural hot springs. Relax together in the rejuvenating thermal pools, treat yourselves to a massage, or post up at the ice bar for a one-of-a-kind cocktail served in an ice glass at the Aurora Ice Museum – the largest indoor ice environment in the world. Back in town, you’ll find some fun local distilleries and breweries with lively tasting rooms – and some even feature outdoor firepits so you can get cozy with your craft beer and your special someone.

To truly unplug with the one you love, venture out to one of the state’s wildness lodges and resorts. These off-the-grid lodges feature fine dining, comfortable accommodations, spa services, and excursions in remote locations. You’ll find stunning wilderness lodges throughout the state, including the remote settlement of Kantishna in the heart of Denali National Park. For a short time, visitors to the three wilderness lodges in the Kantishna area have the unique opportunity for even more solitude in this stunning backcountry locale. Due to road improvements on the Park Road, Kantishna is only accessible by plane through 2026, meaning that lodge guests have exclusive access to this expansive landscape, featuring jaw-dropping views of the tallest mountain in North America – Denali.

Without the bus day-trippers that typically visit the area, lodge guests will discover an even more peaceful environment with personalized service. Most lodges have private cabins and relaxing spots to soak up the splendor, like outdoor decks with fire pits and cozy indoor communal spaces with large windows. Join one of the guided hiking or photography tours with naturalist guides to spot wildlife including bears, moose, and caribou by day and then enjoy delicious dinners and serene evenings under the midnight sun by night.

Ocean views dotted with forested islands, snow-capped mountains, lush rainforest, and a picturesque harbor: the coastal town of Sitka is an ideal town for couples that like to get a little off-the-beaten-track. This artsy community is brimming with Alaska Native culture and history, art galleries, and several delicious restaurants. Top it all of with amazing sunsets and beautiful coastline, and you’ll see why it’s so easy to fall in love with Sitka.

Couples visiting Sitka will find plenty of activities to enjoy together, like rainforest hikes to waterfalls and totem poles, kayaking, museums, historic sites, whale watching, and two wildlife rehabilitation centers: Fortress of the Bear and the Alaska Raptor Center. When you’re ready for some relaxation, Sitka has a variety of specialty accommodations like B&Bs, cabins, cottages, oceanfront lodges, and even a lighthouse on a private island that’s only accessible by boat.

Alaska’s capital city is also one of the most culturally rich communities in the state, making it a top destination for couples looking for a perfect blend of culture and outdoor recreation. With a vibrant culinary scene, Juneau offers something for everyone, including fine dining, seafood food trucks, a legendary crab shack, and many more options – most of which highlight the area’s fresh seafood and local products. You’ll also find food and brewery tours, cooking classes, and fun bars, plus four breweries and a distillery.

Surrounded by the mountains and the sea, and only accessible by plane or ferry, Juneau offers plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, whale watching, kayaking, glacier dog sledding, flightseeing, bike tours, and more. You can also explore the area’s rich Alaska Native culture and state history at city’s excellent museums including the Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Alaska State Museum. You’re bound to create lasting memories with the one you love in Juneau.

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