First off, the state is SO massive so you have to decide what you want to do and pick and choose in your amount of time.
We are big fans of Anchorage, Girdwood, Whittier, Homer, and Fairbanks.
Cruise or car? Pick renting a car and driving around over a cruise. You can see a lot more this way, and can set your own itinerary. We hear that the drive from Anchorage to Seward is breathtaking.
If you're looking to take a good hike, check out Flat Top in Anchorage. While you are there, don't miss Chena Hot Springs which has an ice hotel in Fairbanks. From that hotel, you can see the Northern Lights!
While you're in Anchorage, you can rent a bike and bike the coastal trail for just $10. Breathtaking!
After you work up an appetite biking in Anchorage, hit up Humpys for beer and king crab legs or Simons and Seaforts for halibut.
Really into the water? Skip Fairbanks. You’ll want to head south to Seward, Kenai, or Homer. Homer is a 5-hour drive from Anchorage, but has so much to see and is so worth it. Here you can go on sea life/glacier tours out of Whittier or Seward.
PS, we hear Seward is one of the best places to go whale watching.
Fishing? Yes please. Seward, Kenai or homer are the places you want to do it. If you're looking for something quaint, make your way to Whittier. Whittier is a little boating town that is perfect to visit to grab lunch and walk around.
Rafting! We hear that rafting the Kenai River is PRETTY EPIC!