The Denali Star leaves Anchorage, Alaska, every summer morning. It makes three stops as it travels north for 356 miles, or 12 hours, until it reaches Fairbanks. It passes wetlands, forests, mountains, canyons, and glaciers. On a clear day, passengers can spot the peak of Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. The route covers territory that isn’t easily accessible any other way. “You’re off the beaten track, seeing a lot of things that people just don’t get to see from the road,” says Tim Sullivan Jr. of Alaska Railroad. Plus, for much of the trip, there’s no cell-phone service, forcing passengers to unplug and enjoy the ride. —Shay Maunz
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ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesPlay
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ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesCoolest Places
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ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesPlay
Learn
Explore
Eat
Full List
Play
ArcelorMittal OrbitArtists at PlayCanada’s WonderlandCity MuseumCopenHillEscapeEvermore ParkLego HouseMusic Box VillageOasis of the SeasOtherworldPacific Wheel at Pacific ParkStar Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney WorldThe Dr. Seuss ExperienceGathering PlaceLearn
Apollo Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space CenterDeichman Biblo TøyenChildren’s Museum of IndianapolisFarm Wisconsin Discovery CenterImagiNations Activity Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American IndianLa Brea Tar PitsLouisville Slugger Museum & FactoryMoat BraeNational Butterfly CenterNotre-Dame CathedralStatue of Liberty MuseumU.S. Space & Rocket CenterWashington MonumentWoodland Park ZooExplore
Best Friends Animal SanctuaryBoulders BeachCherry Springs State ParkChildren’s Eternal RainforestCliff Palace at Mesa Verde National ParkDenali StarGreat Sand Dunes National Park and PreserveIcehotelNeuschwanstein CastleNiagara Falls State ParkThe Grand CanyonThe Lion King AdventureThe Vessel at Hudson YardsWaitomo Glowworm CavesWhispering Woods Braille TrailWyoming Dinosaur Center & Dig SitesTIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.