Go Off The Beaten Path For Your Alaska Summer Vacation!

Alaska is an excellent vacation destination for winter enthusiasts, but did you know it’s an incredible place to visit during the summer months, too? Alaska is teeming with outdoor activity all summer long, and with the arrival of the Midnight sun, the opportunity to enjoy the state is quite literally endless! If you’re looking for an exciting destination within the United States, an Alaska summer vacation may be the answer.

Uniquely Alaskan Destinations For All

One of the biggest questions you need to answer before planning your trip to Alaska is “What is there to do in Alaska in the summer? “ That answer will vary depending on your interests, but the short of it is – plenty! There is something for everyone in Alaska, so planning your Alaska summer vacation won’t be difficult at all. The only challenge may be to fit everything you want to do in Alaska into one trip.

To help you start planning your itinerary, we’ve listed five of the most uniquely Alaskan destinations for you to consider visiting during your trip. Keep reading to learn more about these fun travel ideas.

Explore El Capitan Cave

Head to Prince Wales Island to explore this one-of-a-kind cave! Located in the Tongass National Forest, El Capitan Cave is the longest-mapped cave in Alaska. During the summer months, the Forest Service offers guided excursions through the cave at no cost to visitors. The tour lasts approximately two hours and guides offer an overview of the cave’s natural history for viewers. There are also incredible wildlife viewing opportunities available for guests during the trek through the forest to and from the cave.

Stay Cool At The Mendenhall Ice Caves

Believe it or not, Alaska in the summer is still home to glaciers and ice caves. Some of the most popular ice caves can be found just outside of Juneau, near the popular Mendenhall glacier. These caves are formed within a body of ice (most usually a glacier) as water flows through the ice and forms a passageway. These passages range in size from small tunnels that you can barely squeeze through to huge caverns that are jaw-dropping in their beauty.  The best way to experience these caves is to book a guided tour with a professional, who can ascertain the safety of the caves and lead you through the frozen wonderland in one piece. Cave tours can also include guided glacier treks, where you will hike across the icy surface and learn all about the incredible and frozen landscape surrounding you.

Watch The Bears At Admiralty Island

Still wondering what to do in Alaska in the summer? Take a trip to the Tongass National Forest and go bear viewing on Admiralty Island. The forest covers nearly a million acres of old-growth rainforest, alpine tundra, and rugged coastline and has been home to the Tlingit people for centuries. However, it has been home to brown bears for even longer than that! The Tlingit call this island “Kootznoowoo,” which means “Fortress of the Bear.” And fortress it is – Admiralty Island has the largest population of brown bears in North America! Scientists estimate that 10 percent of Alaska’s brown bear population lives on Admiralty Island, with 1 bear per square mile. The island is home to a population of roughly 650 residents, of which the brown bears outnumber the humans by a nearly three-to-one ratio. With abundant wildlife, rich natural resources, and undeniable amounts of cultural charm, Admiralty Island attracts visitors from all around the world each year.

The best bear viewing on Admiralty Island is at Pack Creek Bear Viewing Area. Most visitors to Pack Creek arrive on float planes from Juneau just for the day. Once they land on the island, they are met by a ranger and then hike a mile-long trail to an observation tower from which they can watch brown bears feed on spawning salmon. However, Admiralty Island does offer visitors other activities. Popular Alaska summer vacation fun includes kayaking in Seymour Canal. With an expansive 32-mile trail system that links eight major lakes and seven portages, paddlers can travel through the park by water. Other popular activities for tourists include hunting, fishing, bird watching, and photography.

Go Camping In Glacier Bay National Park

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve contains some of the world's most impressive tidewater glaciers. The bay has experienced at least four major glacial advances and four major retreats and serves as an outdoor research laboratory. Glacier Bay has more than 50 named glaciers, as well as two major arms: East Arm and West Arm. Most people who come to the Park—and there can be 400,000 of them a year—come by way of a cruise ship, and most of those ships head up the West Arm, towards the Margerie Glacier. In addition to the ice chunks from the glaciers, visitors can see seals and other marine life in the bay. But if you want to experience Alaska in the summer in a truly Alaskan way, consider reserving a campsite at one of the most magnificent campgrounds in the state - Bartlett Cove.  The park and preserve harbors brown and black bears, mountain goats, moose, whales, seals, eagles, and more than 200 other species of birds across its 24 million acres. For unplugging and relaxing in nature, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve can’t be beaten!

Visit Talkeetna And Pay Homage To Mayor Stubbs

It’s not every day that you come across a town run by a furry feline. But Talkeetna, Alaska elected Mayor Stubbs in 1997 on a write-in ballot. Stubbs ruled this offbeat little city with an iron paw until 2017, but his legacy lives on with the devoted fans who visit Nagley’s General Store to honor his memory each year. Located roughly 113 miles north of Anchorage and 150 south of Denali National Park, this little small town is a big draw for tourists. Located at the confluence of the Susitna, Chulitna, and Talkeetna Rivers, Talkeetna is a great place to go rafting, kayaking, fishing, or taking jet boat tours during the summer months. The town is also so close to Denali that mountaineers have used it as a base camp for decades. Flightseeing tours over the park are very popular with tourists, who can enjoy views of wildlife, mountains, and glaciers during the flight. Keep your eyes peeled for sightings of eagles, bears, fox, wolves, lynx, beavers, porcupines, and moose. Or, if you prefer to stay on the ground, enjoy a stroll through the historic downtown with stops at the Fairview Inn and Talkeetna Roadhouse for a local perspective on Alaskan history.

An Alaska Summer Vacation To Remember

Alaska in the summer is a truly magical place. After the summer solstice, the Midnight Sun lights up the state for almost 24 hours a day, allowing tourists to hike through the backcountry at midnight or stay up enjoying mountain views until the wee hours of the morning. No matter where you go or what attraction you visit, there’s plenty to do in Alaska in the summer. So, start planning your vacation today – adventure is calling!