( CNN ) -- Alaska 's a big place . It sounds obvious , but it 's an important fact to remember when planning a visit , because you wo n't get to see everything in one trip . I spent the first 24 years of my life in four different Alaska towns , and there are still new things to do when I go back to visit . So tip No . 1 is to make some decisions : Do you want to camp in a national park ? Hike to the top of a glacier ? Go backcountry skiing ? Catch and/or eat some of the best seafood in the country ? See the northern lights ? You wo n't be able to do it all , but with a bit of planning you can pack quite a few adventures into a week or two . Here are some ideas for activities based on a recent trip I took with some friends : . As the state 's largest city and home to its biggest airport , Anchorage is the place where many will start their adventures on the Last Frontier -- and our trip was no different . The city is surrounded by water on two sides and a mountain range on the third . At sea level , the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail skirts the city along the water . It 's an 11-mile paved trail available for walking and cycling , or skiing and snowshoeing , depending on the season . For those looking for more elevation , Chugach State Park is just east of the city and has several trails . I recommend heading up Flattop Mountain . It 's a relatively short hike , just 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the mountain top , but the trail is steep in parts , especially near the summit . With a bit of care , though , most people should n't have too much trouble making it up and enjoying the sweeping view of the city and surrounding scenery . On our trip , we left Anchorage after a couple of days and drove 130 miles south to Seward . From there , we spent a day hiking alongside Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park . The National Park Service calls this 7.4-mile hike `` strenuous , '' but seeing the ice field at the top makes the hard work worthwhile . And it does n't get much better than an Alaskan Amber beer and fresh halibut once you make it back down . If your legs are tired from hiking , you can work out your arms with a sea kayaking trip in Resurrection Bay . The clouds were low the day of our excursion , but we saw bald eagles in the tree tops and were escorted by sea lions as we paddled along the rocky shoreline . To finish off our Alaska adventure , we left Seward and drove 360 miles up to Denali National Park , home of the tallest peak in North America , Mount McKinley . The public is allowed to drive only a few miles into the park , but there are buses that provide access farther into the wilderness . On our bus ride we saw bears , mountain goats , moose and coyotes . A few lucky visitors will get to see wolves , but sightings are rare . After a few nights of camping in the park , it was time to drive back to Anchorage and catch our flights home . And even though we experienced a lot during our visit , there are plenty more adventures to be had when we go back . Like fishing for king salmon on the Kenai River , or watching the northern lights while relaxing in natural hot springs , or downhill skiing in Hatcher Pass , or sailing along the Inside Passage , or panning for gold in the Tanana Valley , or ...
Alaska is a huge state , so start by figuring out what kinds of things you want to do . Many travelers start in Anchorage , site of the state 's largest airport and several trails . Denali National Park is home to North America 's highest peak , Mount McKinley . Have you ever been to Alaska ? Share photos from your journey .