Why Single Women Should Visit Alaska

Alaska is well known as “The Last Frontier,” one of the wildest places in the USA, and it enjoys a tremendous amount of true wilderness. If everything is bigger in Texas, then it’s the absolute biggest in Alaska. The stereotype would dictate that Alaska’s a rugged place for strong men, but it’s also a great destination for single women to try those Alaska vacation packages, and here’s why.

Single women who explore Alaska follow in the footsteps of pioneers like Belinda Mulrooney. This Juneau resident braved the dangerous tundra in 1896 to find her fortune during the massive Klondike Gold Rush. She soon established hotels up north and became one of the wealthiest women in the Yukon, and at that time, there were many other women working toward Alaska’s future development: entrepreneurs, nurses, teachers, cooks, and others.

Of all 50 states, Alaska has the highest man-to-woman ratio, so if you’re looking to meet a few boys, you’ve come to the right spot. This isn’t the result of Alaskan couples not giving birth to girls, but more likely that Alaska’s industries historically tend to attract men (the oil pipeline, logging, fishing, mining, etc.). To provide some context, it’s important to note that Alaska is sparsely populated in general—Anchorage is the largest city with about 300,000 people in it. Some women have also noted that the type of hardy mountain man who ends up in Alaska is… well, a certain type. As they say, “the odds are good, but the goods are odd.”

Alaska also has more of a lesbian community than you might suspect. It’s no San Francisco, but still. Consider a day trip with Out In Alaska, based in Anchorage, and check out Purple Roofs for listings of LGBT-friendly lodging. If you’re visiting in June, which is a gorgeous time to be there anyway, don’t miss Anchorage’s Equality March and PrideFest, which will hopefully include another performance by the hilarious drag queen Alaska Thunderfuck.

Many attractions in Alaska are remote, so as a result, there are plenty of guided tours, and we generally embrace tours for solo gals to meet people. Adventure Women has been around for over 30 years and leads a comprehensive trip to the Kenai Peninsula, which includes a bush plane tour, bear watching, rafting, and more exploration through mountains, glaciers, and fjords. For something more active (though any trip to Alaska is sure to be active), America’s first all-women bike tour company, WomanTours, offers a trip from Juneau up to Haines and Skagway. There are even motorcycle tours for women, led by MotoQuest out of Anchorage.

Have you made a solo trip to Alaska?