11. For quirky Alaska at its best, don't miss the annual Talkeetna Moose Dropping Festival held every July. Yes, there's music and a parade, but you're there for the weekend's highlights: The Moose Drop Dropping (fecal matter launched at a large bulls-eye target) and the Mountain Mother Contest (moms competing to chop firewood, diaper a baby, shoot bows and arrows, and prepare a pie). Talkeetna, +1 907 733 2487.

12. From the outside, the facade of Fairbanks's Museum of the North evokes the glaciers, alpine ridges, and icy waters of the Yukon River. Inside the museum, you'll find the cultural elements that have developed within the landscape, like ivory figures and tools, contemporary paintings, and a sound and light exhibit drawn from daylight cycles and the phases of the moon. Fairbanks, +1 907 474 7505.

13. Skagway's annual 50K Buckwheat Ski Classic is a testament to the hearty nature of local legend Buckwheat Donahue, who created the race, which loops from Alaska through British Columbia, over 20 years ago. An amalgam of cross-country skiers gather each year, often in costume, for this raucous mix of all-out athleticism and full-on mirth. If you're up for a lesser challenge, opt for the 25K or 10K races. Skagway, +1 907 983 2127 or +1 907 983 2354.

14. Explore the oft-overlooked areas of Alaska's Inside Passage with Alaska Sea Adventures, based out of Petersburg. Captain Dennis Rogers was a commercial fisherman for 26 years before opening his custom charter operation, so he knows the nooks where you can best see humpbacks or the annual herring spawn. Trips can be catered to your specific interest, be it birding, photography, or fishing. Petersburg, + 1 907 772 4700.

15. Tipple samples of locally brewed beer on a tour of the Alaskan Brewing Company, operating in Juneau for over 20 years. This eco-friendly company is committed to good stewardship of the Earth, but they also serve up some tasty ales, ambers, and stouts. Be sure to sample their Rough Drafts, experimental tastes brewed in the original ten-barrel brewhouse where the company started. Tours are complimentary. Juneau, +1 907 780 5866.

16. Hop on the Mount Roberts Tramway and rise 1,800 feet over Juneau, taking in the vistas of the nearby Chilkat Mountains and Gastineau Channel. Local artisans and musicians greet you at the summit, where performances and lessons on Tlingit culture are held in the Mountain House. Hike the surrounding trails for outstanding photo ops. Juneau, +1 907 463 3412.

17. Wander along the shores of Petroglyph Beach in Wrangell, admiring the stone carvings chiseled into boulders and rock outcrops along the tideline. This collection of over 40 glyphs is one of the best surviving collections in Southeast Alaska. Scientists still don't completely understand their full meaning, but believe they may have some magic-religious significance in historic cultures. Wrangell, +1 907 874 2381.

18. This summer, Alaska Wildland Adventures will open the first lodge within Kenai Fjords National Park. The sustainably designed Glacier Lodge sits on the foot of a protected lagoon, allowing you to kayak through the glacial ice alongside harbor seals, puffins, and humpback whales. All inclusive. Kenai Peninsula, +1 800 334 8730.

19. Recently recognized with an award from Traveler and the Travel Industry Association for sustainable tourism, Icy Strait Point is a private cruise ship destination that has done a fantastic job of preserving the native Tlingit culture on Chichagof Island. Visitors stopping for a day trip can choose between 16 tour options like exploring the original cannery, built in 1912, riding a mile-long zip line (the longest in North America), or grabbing lunch at their famous Crab Station. Staffed nearly entirely by locals, most of whom are Alaska natives, the site gives visitors the opportunity to soak up cultural offerings, such as crafts and dance demonstrations, and participate in historical presentation on language and music. Hoonah, +1 907 945-3141.

20. If your focus is fish, the Riversong Lodge might be a lure worth biting. These ten cabins, located 70 miles northwest of Anchorage, are outside of cell phone range. In fact, there are no electronics of any kind on site—allowing you to enjoy the quiet and get ready to reel in some five species of salmon, plus rainbow trout, arctic grayling and northern pike. Learn to fly-fish and tie lures, or follow along with their on-site chefs as they help you prepare your catch and offer culinary demonstrations throughout your stay. +1 907 350 2392.