Alaska. The last frontier. If all you picture is winter with freezing temps, then summer in Alaska will surprise you. From road trips to day trips, outdoor activities to cultural experiences, cities to small towns, your summer family vacation to Alaska will be one of those travel memories not soon forgotten.
You might wonder: Is Alaska worth visiting in the summer? Absolutely! Alaska temps in the summer months range from the 60s to low 70s - and you're also rewarded with 16-24 hours of daylight during the Midnight Sun season!
Your summer Alaskan adventure has all the feels: rushing rivers, breathtaking waterfalls, towering mountain peaks, incredible glaciers, eye-catching flowers in bloom, state and national parks, spectacular wildlife and sealife, and so many things to check off your bucket list.
No matter your starting point in Alaska, it's all about the outdoor activities, including kayaking, biking, hiking and more.
At 663,600 square miles, Alaska is by far the largest state in the USA. In fact, it's as wide as the lower 48 states, and bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. It's as beautiful as it is big, boasting 6,640 miles of coastline and 33,904 miles of shoreline.
Its landscape is as wide and varied as the state, offering visitors 17 of the 20 highest peaks in Alaska. The most well-known and the highest in North America is Denali at 20,320 feet above sea level.
The 49th State is also home to the Yukon River, at nearly 2,000 miles long, the third longest river in the United States, Mother Nature also gifted Alaska with more than 3,000 rivers and over 3 million lakes. The largest is Lake Iliamna, spanning more than 1,000 square miles.
Alaska is also known for its glaciers and icefields, with an estimated 100,000 glaciers, covering five percent of the state and 29,000 square miles.
When families visit Alaska, that's a lot of ground to cover, so settle in and read our travel guide on the top must-see things to do in Alaska in the summer.
Anchorage is Alaska's largest city, also home to the state's largest airport, and the perfect base camp for your family vacation. This Alaskan city offers more big city conveniences, such as fine dining, museums, festivals, shopping and a thriving theater and music scene than smaller towns. Yet it still is just as wild as the rest of the state.
The small town of Girdwood is the perfect day trip from Anchorage, just 40 miles south. As Alaska's only true resort town, in the winter, it caters to skiers and, in the summer, hikers. Hiking trails also offer something for all skill levels, and stunning scenery from glaciers to dramatic waterfalls.
Located 120 miles south of Anchorage, Seward is a popular cruise ship port due to its prime location at the end of the Seward Highway on the Kenai Peninsula. It is also the southern terminus for the Alaska Railroad, welcoming daily train trips in the summer.
TravelingMom Tip: To get up-close and personal with the glaciers and the park's wildlife, book a full or half-day glacier and wildlife cruise from the Small Boat Harbor area in Seward to enjoy whale watching and rare moments of sea life sightings of orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, sea others, sea lions and seabirds.
One of the top things to do in the summer in Alaska is ride the 470-mile-long Alaska Railroad, from Seward to Fairbanks.
While Homer may not be on your Alaskan vacation radar, locals choose to vacation in this small town known as a foodie destination and art scene.
Located 220 miles south of Anchorage, it's a solid 5-hour road trip, but photo opps of whales, ocean and alpine views and culinary delights along the way, you might want to plan a full day.
If that isn't enough to entice you to visit Alaska in the summer, consider adding these Alaskan adventures to your bucket list: