By Eben Diskin | Published on August 2, 2023
Alaska is known as "the Last Frontier," a moniker that speaks to its association with rugged adventure, remoteness and relative inaccessibility. While the rugged adventure and remote part are certainly true, Alaska is now more accessible than ever thanks to direct flights and the proliferation of cruises to the state. That's good news for travelers looking for a unique vacation, and cruising to Alaska in the summer is certainly a one-of-a-kind experience. Instead of the unpredictable Northern Lights, you'll get the reliable beauty of the midnight sun. In addition to having ample daylight to enjoy your travels, the weather is often warm and comfortable. Summer in Alaska is also festival season, so there's always something going on. Whether you're basking in the midnight sun, reveling at a festival, wildlife watching in Denali, dipping into refreshing outdoor hot springs or hiking glaciers, these are the best summer vacation spots in Alaska.
What are the best things to do in Alaska in the summer? Rugged outdoor adventure absolutely tops the list. Alaska in the summer is the perfect time to see wildlife native to Alaska such as moose, bears, wolves, caribou, sheep and a wide variety of birds, including golden eagles and arctic terns. Outdoor enthusiasts have to visit Alaska's crown jewel: Denali National Park. Home to Denali, the highest mountain in North America with a summit of 20,310 feet, the park is over 9,000 square miles of mountains, forests, glaciers and wildlife that all come alive in the summer.
Fairbanks is known as the city of Northern Lights. It's not just a dark-sky destination. As Alaska's third-largest city, located in the interior about six hours north of Anchorage, Fairbanks has everything you could want in a vacation destination — especially if you're not into roughing it. Start with the Chena Hot Springs, a hotel and spa with an outdoor hot tub and huge geothermal pool, all surrounded by rugged wilderness. There's also an upscale restaurant serving local seafood and produce grown in the on-site greenhouse. Chena is great for families, and it's also one of the best summer vacation spots for couples in search of a luxurious nature escape.
While there are many ways to get to Alaska during the summer, cruises are undoubtedly the most convenient. They're also the most efficient and spectacular way of visiting the state's many islands and peninsulas, many of which are most easily accessed by water. Juneau, the state's capital, is often missed by road trippers and those flying into Anchorage and Fairbanks due to its location on the southeasterly Gastineau Channel.
Juneau is one of the best places to visit in Alaska in summer, chiefly because of its many islands that are easily explorable by kayak — particularly Admiralty, Cohen and Douglas Islands. Douglas Island is reachable by bus and the perfect place to rent kayaks to see the bay and its wildlife up close. No trip to Juneau is complete without a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in the world. You can reach it via bus tour and hike a variety of trails with stunning glacier, waterfall and forest views. These trails are most easily navigated and appreciated in the summer, when the snow has cleared and the way ahead is safe.