There are so many outdoor recreational activities that are easily accessible to the people that live here in Alaska. Sure, you can learn to snowshoe almost anywhere the snow falls but you can’t learn how to mush a dog sled in Miami or go backcountry camping in Rhode Island now can you?!

Do you have some free time on your hands? Consider taking a lesson or two to develop a new skill that would be even cooler if you learned it in Alaska. For instance, what sounds more impressive… I learned to ski in Nevada, or… I learned to ski in Alaska where everything is bigger and better?

So without further ado, here are some of the coolest and unique things you can learn to do in Alaska almost any time of year.

  1. Mushing

Let Ideas Compete | Flickr That’s right, who wouldn’t want to learn how to operate a dog sled? A business called Just Short Of Magic in Alaska offers dog mushing school and educational tours. Now that sounds like a fun weekend!

  1. Outdoor Rockclimbing

Gerald Davison | Flickr Sure there are plenty of rock gyms in Alaska but our state also offers some really rock solid lessons and groups for outdoor rock climbing ALL over the state. Besides, who wouldn’t want to encounter a moose on your 5 mile trek in to the climbing spot? Alaska really has it all.

  1. Ice Climbing

What better activity to learn than ice climbing, especially when you can learn by climbing up the face of almost ANY popular glacier in Alaska?! Check out Ascending Path, they offer rock climbing AND ice climbing.

  1. Mountaineering

176th Wing Alaska Air National Guard | Flickr There is nothing more impressive than learning how to survive out in the elements. Learning how to be a mountaineer in Alaska will do just that. It challenges you and teaches you new lessons every time you’re out in the backcountry.

  1. Ice Skating… Everywhere

Travis | Flickr Everywhere you go in Alaska during the winter will have a place to learn how to ice skate on. Whether you stop by your local lagoon or lake and skate around fire barrels with friends or you just want to get out in the crisp air on a blue bird day for a few laps around the ring, ice skating is a great hobby to learn in Alaska.

  1. Skate Skiing

ActiveSteve | Flickr Skate skiing is another awesome and unique hobby to Alaska. Pathways around town are devoted to skate skiiers and cross country skiers for their commute to work or even just to get in some serious exercise. In the summer months when the snow has melted you can buy skate ski specific roller blades to keep up your form and cardio during the summer months!

  1. Ski & Snowboarding

Angela | Flickr Here’s an obvious one… learn to ski or snowboard! Let’s be real - it’s almost impossible not to learn how to ski or snowboard when you live in Alaska.

  1. Outdoor Photography

Joel Olives | Flickr Sure, you can learn photography anywhere you go, but there is something unique about exploring and capturing Alaska with a lens. Outdoor photography is a serious gem of a skill to have in Alaska. There are so many breathtaking days all year long and no matter where you look there is mother nature showing off her skills. Grab a camera and learn how to capture the best of Alaska.

What another unique things can you learn to do in Alaska?

Let Ideas Compete | Flickr

That’s right, who wouldn’t want to learn how to operate a dog sled? A business called Just Short Of Magic in Alaska offers dog mushing school and educational tours. Now that sounds like a fun weekend!

Gerald Davison | Flickr

Sure there are plenty of rock gyms in Alaska but our state also offers some really rock solid lessons and groups for outdoor rock climbing ALL over the state. Besides, who wouldn’t want to encounter a moose on your 5 mile trek in to the climbing spot? Alaska really has it all.

What better activity to learn than ice climbing, especially when you can learn by climbing up the face of almost ANY popular glacier in Alaska?! Check out Ascending Path, they offer rock climbing AND ice climbing.

176th Wing Alaska Air National Guard | Flickr

There is nothing more impressive than learning how to survive out in the elements. Learning how to be a mountaineer in Alaska will do just that. It challenges you and teaches you new lessons every time you’re out in the backcountry.

Travis | Flickr

Everywhere you go in Alaska during the winter will have a place to learn how to ice skate on. Whether you stop by your local lagoon or lake and skate around fire barrels with friends or you just want to get out in the crisp air on a blue bird day for a few laps around the ring, ice skating is a great hobby to learn in Alaska.

ActiveSteve | Flickr

Skate skiing is another awesome and unique hobby to Alaska. Pathways around town are devoted to skate skiiers and cross country skiers for their commute to work or even just to get in some serious exercise. In the summer months when the snow has melted you can buy skate ski specific roller blades to keep up your form and cardio during the summer months!

Angela | Flickr

Here’s an obvious one… learn to ski or snowboard! Let’s be real - it’s almost impossible not to learn how to ski or snowboard when you live in Alaska.

Joel Olives | Flickr

Sure, you can learn photography anywhere you go, but there is something unique about exploring and capturing Alaska with a lens. Outdoor photography is a serious gem of a skill to have in Alaska. There are so many breathtaking days all year long and no matter where you look there is mother nature showing off her skills. Grab a camera and learn how to capture the best of Alaska.

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