Tribal Tourism Destinations Recommended by our Employees
If you've had the chance to explore our previous blog post, "Tribal Tourism and its Significant Role in Native American Economic Development," you're already familiar with the beneficial influence that tribal tourism exerts in fostering prosperity and resilience within Native American communities.
This blog will shine a spotlight on the numerous tribal regions that are presently welcoming tourists from across the nation. Please continue reading to discover tribal landmarks that our Native American employees recommended.
Alaska
Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage
The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) is a living cultural center in Anchorage, Alaska, that promotes active observance of Alaska Native culture and traditions. As the only statewide cultural and educational center dedicated to celebrating all cultures and heritages, ANHC serves as a statewide resource for Alaska Natives from birth until Elder. They support and celebrate Alaska Natives from all of Alaska’s Native cultures, including Iñupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Tsimshian, Tlingit, Unangax̂, Alutiiq/Sugpiaq, Yup’ik, and Cup’ik.
Angel Rocks and the Chena Hot Springs
A short- or long-day hike awaits at Angel Rocks, a scenic drive out of Chena Hot Springs Road and within easy range of the rejuvenating waters that have drawn travelers for over a century. Angel Rocks in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a popular attraction, with unique geologic formations formed by molten rock forced upward from the deep layers of the Earth, which cooled and hardened close to the surface. As the ground eroded around them, these granite pillars have been exposed and are now impossible to miss.
Utqiaġvik, the Northernmost Community in the U.S.
Formerly known as Barrow, the official name of the village changed to Utqiaġvik in 2016 when village residents voted to change the name back to its traditional Iñupiaq name. It's the largest Iñupiaq settlement in Alaska. If you visit May-August, you’ll witness 24-hour daylight, so black-out curtains are a must!
Bethel is 68% Alaska Native or part Alaska Native. Traditional Yup’ik practices and language remain predominant in the area, as do subsistence activities such as salmon fishing, hunting game birds, and gathering berries. Bethel is a marketplace for Yup’ik ivory carvings, baskets, qaspeqs, fur hats, and other craft items.
Juneau, Alaska, stands on one of the largest wilderness areas in the United States. Here you can view wildlife, take the fishing trip of your life, explore atop glaciers, or enjoy the city’s shops, restaurants, and artistic flare.
From a subsistence lifestyle to music and art, Alaska Native culture is vibrant in Nome. Nome is located on the Bering Sea's edge, a hub for northwest Alaska. Visitors who want to experience its Indigenous culture should head to the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum. The museum offers various displays and historical pictures to help visitors discover the lifestyles and art of the Indigenous Bering Strait people. Travelers can also check out the local shops to purchase Alaska gifts such as sealskin slippers and art with numerous ivory, jade, and soapstone carvings.
Located at the northernmost reaches of the Alaska road system, Deadhorse and Prudhoe Bay sit on the coast of the Arctic Ocean at the heart of Alaska’s oil patch. Deadhorse is more of a work camp than a town in the traditional sense, located in the Prudhoe Bay area. It is unique in its scenic beauty, wildlife, and recreational opportunities.
Skagway and its population of about 1,000 attract close to 1M visitors yearly. They typically tour the National Historic Park buildings, stroll along the boardwalks, window shop, and admire the town’s collective green thumb.
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage
Named for former Alaska governor Tony Knowles, who served from 1994 to 2002, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is one of four greenbelt trails in Anchorage. The trail provides extraordinary views of downtown Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains, Denali (Mt. McKinley), Mount Susitna (Sleeping Lady), and Fire Island.
Totem Bight State Historical Park
Ten miles north of Ketchikan is Totem Bight State Historical Park, an 11-acre park packed with restored and re-carved totems and a colorful Clan House. The park's lush rainforest setting and the rocky coastline along Tongass Narrows provide a stunning backdrop for the totems.
Great Plains
Where Lakota used to go in the Spring to pray. The highest point is in the Black Hills, South Dakota. Lakota people physically followed a map reflected in the stars as they traveled seasonally.
The Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills in Custer County, South Dakota. It will depict the Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse riding a horse and pointing to his tribal land.
Dakota 38 Memorial at Reconciliation Park
With a theme of “Forgive Everyone Everything,” Reconciliation Park in Mankato, Minnesota, was dedicated in 1997 to promote healing between Dakota and non-Dakota peoples. Located near downtown Mankato, the park sits near the infamous site of the 1862 hanging of 38 Dakota. Surrounded by prairie grass and flowers, the monument lists the names of the 38 whose lives came to an end here. The park boasts a large buffalo monument carved by artist Tom Miller from local Kasota limestone, symbolizing the heritage and survival of the Dakota people.
Dignity of Earth and Sky Monument
Dignity of Earth and Sky is a soaring sculpture of a Native woman standing high on a bluff above the Missouri River in Chamberlain, South Dakota. The star quilt is made of 128 diamonds in the water and sky colors surrounding her. Dignity is 50' tall, weighs 12 tons, and is made of hundreds of stainless-steel pieces. Dignity honors the Native Nations of the Great Plains.
The Heritage Center- Red Cloud Indian School
The Heritage Center offers to the public an outstanding collection of Native American fine arts and Lakota tribal arts located on the main campus of Red Cloud Indian School, South Dakota. It is one of the early successful museums located on an Indian reservation.
California
Abalone Point is in the Mattole watershed of California. It is on the Lost Coast Trail, a popular destination for hikers and backpackers. The area is known for its rugged coastline, beautiful views, and diverse wildlife. Abalone Point has a rich cultural history. It is home to several Native American tribes, and visitors can learn about their traditions and way of life.
This small island was once a fort, a military prison, and a maximum-security federal penitentiary. In 1969, the Indians of All Tribes occupied Alcatraz for 19 months for freedom and Native American civil rights.
This park offers rides through Giant Sequoias and green meadows on horseback in the Central California High Sierra Mountain Range. This pack station is the gateway to the Golden Trout Wilderness and Sequoia National Park.
A natural wildlife oasis in an urban area, the Nature Center is set among 100 acres of oak woodland along the American River Parkway in Carmichael, California. Here visitors learn about our region’s natural history plus the importance of conserving and protecting our most precious natural resources.
Mojave preserves a diverse mosaic of ecological habitats and a 10,000-year human connection with the desert. Offering extensive opportunities to experience desert landscapes, the preserve promotes understanding and appreciation for the increasingly threatened resources of the Mojave Desert. This remote preserve encourages a sense of discovery and a connection to wild places. It is in southeast California and portions of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.
Redwood is known to most as the home to the tallest trees on Earth. However, the Parks also protect vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild rivers, and 40 miles of rugged coastline.
Ride along the Klamath River in a traditional dugout canoe, where the Yurok Tribe will host a guiding tour. Located in Klamath, California.
Located in the heart of the Redwood Empire, at the center of Redwood National and State Parks, Trees of Mystery is California’s premier nature attraction on the North Coast.
First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, you can find deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, a vast wilderness area, and much more.
Pacific Northwest Region
Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Located in Olympia, Washington, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is where the freshwater of the Nisqually River flows into Puget Sound. The mosaic of different habitats found on the river Delta provides optimal conditions for diverse and abundant wildlife.
Located 30 miles east of Portland, Oregon, Multnomah Falls is the tallest waterfall year-round attraction for all ages and abilities.
Riverside has deep historical significance as a gathering place for Native American tribes and a thriving fur trade hub. The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the park's structures during the Great Depression, which still stands today. It is located approximately nine miles from Spokane, Washington.
Great Lakes Region
Sault Ste. Marie is the oldest city in Michigan and among the oldest cities in the United States. Over our history, the flags of several sovereign nations have flown over the Sault. Over 2,000 years ago, Native Americans began to gather here for the wealth of fish and fur found along the rushing waters of the wide, turbulent river that linked the Great Lakes of Superior and Huron. Spring and Fall were important seasons for these original settlers, and they called the area “Bahweting” or “The Gathering Place.”
Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways
Step into a Native teaching lodge and view sacred spirit writings during an enlightening journey through the history of Michigan’s first residents. The permanent exhibit, Diba Jimooyung: Telling Our Story, highlights a visit to the Ziibiwing Center of Anishinabe Culture and Lifeways in Mount Pleasant. The center immerses visitors in the culture of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan and other Great Lakes Anishinabek. The Diba Jimooyung displays 15 areas that illustrate the ongoing struggle of the Great Lakes Anishinabek to hold onto their land, language, and culture. In addition to the award-winning permanent exhibit, a changing exhibit displays objects from the center’s collection of centuries-old tribal artifacts. Baskets, pottery, tools, and beadwork help weave together history, culture, and contemporary lifeways.
East Coast/ Southeast Region
The stunning landscape and natural resources of Acadia have attracted people for over 10,000 years, beginning with the Wabanaki people, and have fostered an ongoing interconnectedness between people and the landscape. This can be seen in Acadia’s human-shaped ecosystems, its archeological record, the tradition of conservation philanthropy, and the local culture and economy dependent on natural resources. The national park is in Bar Harbor, Maine.
Nestled in the heart of the Everglades on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is home to more than 200,000 unique artifacts and archival items. Learn about the Seminole people and experience their rich cultural and historical ties to the Southeast and Florida, as they have made Big Cypress their home since creation, located in Clewiston, Florida.
National Native American Veterans Memorial
On November 11, 2020, the National Native American Veterans Memorial opened on the grounds of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. The memorial was dedicated with a procession and ceremony on the National Mall on November 11, 2022. This tribute to Native heroes recognizes for the first time on a national scale the enduring and distinguished service of Native Americans in every branch of the US military.
Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
A diverse and multifaceted cultural and educational enterprise, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is an active and visible component of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum complex. The NMAI cares for one of the world's most expansive collections of Native artifacts, including objects, photographs, archives, and media covering the entire Western Hemisphere, from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego. The two locations are Washington, DC, and New York, New York.
Midwestern/West Region
From the West's diverse narratives to North America's Indigenous cultures, the Eiteljorg has always been a place to tell these stories and how they tie into many cultures. The museum is in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In one place, visitors experience the collective histories of 39 distinctive First American Nations in Oklahoma today. The First Americans Museum shares the First Americans’ cultural diversity, history, and contributions. The museum is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Dedicated to advancing Native American art, the Heard Museum successfully presents the stories of Native Americans from a first-person perspective and exhibitions that showcase the beauty and vitality of traditional and contemporary art located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Hawaii
Our people’s hearts are with the communities in Maui affected by the recent fires. Our prime focus during this time is disaster relief and helping those in need. When it is safe to return, help support local Hawaiian businesses by visiting the beautiful destinations listed below to positively contribute to their economic development.
In the meantime, find ways to support Maui’s recovery efforts through these organizations: Maui Strong Fund, American Red Cross of Hawaii, Maui Food Bank, Maui Humane Society, and Aloha United Way.
A 30,000-acre national park centered around the 10,023-foot dormant Haleakala volcano occupies more than 75% of Maui and is home to several endangered and endemic species. A visit to Haleakala is not only memorable for many locals and travelers, but it's also often spiritual. Native Hawaiians revere it as a culturally significant space important to Hawaiian identity.
Upcountry Farmers Market
In Makawao — a hub for local artisans, farmers, and ranchers. Here, you can shop locally grown and made items, including tropical fruits, honey, grab-and-go meals, apparel, and fresh-cut flowers.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii
Halema'uma'u Crater is the home of Pele, the creator of this 'āina (land). Over the past decade, it's been awe-inspiring to feel the steam vents up close, see smoke billowing miles into the sky, and witness her natural fireworks. It's hard not to see this place as wahi pana (or sacred space) when you are a participating witness to the terrifying destruction of lava and the birthing of the newest parts of our planet.
Hawaii residents looking to reconnect with the land and culture head for — or return home to — the island of Lanai. "It's one of those places where you can still feel the aloha spirit," says Lanai Tabura, TV host of Cooking Hawaiian Style and cohost of the It's a Hawaii Thing podcast. "Not only because of its beauty but because of the people."
This small island (less than 40 miles long and just 10 miles wide) in Maui County has avoided mass development and retained its natural beauty. You'll find deserted beaches, the world's largest sea cliffs, and the Kalaupapa National Historical Park here. On this site, former Hansen's disease patients were sent into isolation, and now a symbol of strength and resilience. A large percentage of Molokai's approximately 7,000 residents are Native Hawaiian and continue to preserve this special place's Hawaiian language, traditions, and stories.
Less than an hour from Honolulu is another destination Hawaii residents and visitors love: the fabled North Shore. Professional surfers from around the world congregate and compete here.
Nearly 97% covered in vegetation, Kauai is nicknamed the "Garden Isle." It receives a good amount of rain, but just 20 minutes south of Mount Waialeale — one of the wettest spots on Earth — is another excellent (and drier) escape for Hawaii residents: Kauai's South Shore. This area of Kauai is sunnier and popular with snorkelers, swimmers, and Poipu Beach resort guests.