10 Coolest Small Towns in Alaska for a Summer Vacation
The Last Frontier State is a land of untouched nature, diverse landscapes, and wildlife. The rich culture and unique lifestyle are on full display through the cities and towns, which you can absorb best through everyday local life in one of its smaller towns. The welcoming residents and amenities will make you feel at home in the small town, from which you can embark on some of your life's most thrilling adventures. Alaska, with its countless sights and cool activities, is a place most still need to experience for the first time.
Hike through the vast interior terrain, largely comprised of forests and flowing rivers, and head to the state's outer bounds to see the glaciers, visit islands, and cruise around the sea fjords. Returning tourists testify to the abundant outdoor experiences through boundless explorations and bottomless discoveries. These, the 49th state's small towns, are a dream summer escape for photographers, water fans, hikers, and culture seekers to delve into the unique Alaskan native sites.
Cordova
The town of Cordova, with only 2,500 residents, is a cool getaway spot to spend a summer vacation in an off-the-beaten-path environment that is representative of this great state. Relish in the small-town feel and isolated vibe amid some of Alaska's unspoiled natural gems, with incredible wildlife spotting and bird watching. If you can, start your vacation early at the annual Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival in late spring.
Head to the tidal mudflats where millions of shorebirds migrate through the sky and take a stroll along the Copper River Delta for scenic views and more excellent bird-watching. With countless places for cool sightseeing, the welcoming small-town ambiance will still call you back. The nearby Sheridan Glacier is a magnificent sight to behold in any season, but return on your winter break and you can ice skate beside the tremendous shield of ice.
Girdwood
Girdwood is one of the most accessible small towns for a summer vacation in Alaska, located just 30 miles from Anchorage via the Scenic Seward Highway on the way to Seward. Simultaneously, the town offers the most scenic location, on the Turnagain Arm water body and along the foothills of the majestic Chugach Mountains, an area renowned for spectacular hiking and saltwater fishing with one-of-a-kind views. The sight of a rare bore tide rushing into the inlet is a sight to behold. Come in winter to one of Alaska's few ski resorts, with Girdwood being home to one of the best. The quaint hamlet, which is also a tourist hub, was named one of the greatest mountain towns in the world and ranked among the best places to ski.
Enjoy the small-town vibe on a summertime visit when you can hike and picnic through the surrounding lush forest. There is also one of the state's coolest spots, the stunning Virgin Creek Falls, which you can admire after a short hike. The resort town amid the Alaskan wilderness is a popular pitstop and a weekend escape from the city. There are enough sights and activities for a whole summer vacation. You can enjoy a boat tour from town to the nearby Portage Glacier or take the ski lift up to the top of Alyeska Mountain for views in all their summer glory. Girdwood is great for foodies and to recharge from the outdoors with the best-served staple Alaskan delicacies at many restaurants throughout town.
Gustavus
Gustavus is your idyllic summer vacation in between snow-capped mountains and Glacier Bay National Park, with beauty peaking at you on a stroll through town. It is hands-down among the coolest small towns in the state, about a thirty-minute flight from the capital. You can also access its seaside location via a four-hour ferry ride from Juneau or just an over three-hour flight along the coast from Anchorage. The isolated town, with a population of around 500, sits surrounded by some of the state's most pristine nature.
Enjoy wildlife sightings like moose along the old streetscape that has lasted through the ages, with wood-framed houses and log cabins. Explore the park trails to the shore for saltwater fishing, where you can spot whales in the distance or head for a close-up via a boat tour. The friendly residents and the peaceful environment help make this adventure land a dream come true for the thousands of holidaymakers who come to experience Gustavus. Experience this, one of the prettiest towns in Alaska, tucked away from modernity for a whole other world feel.
Haines
The gem of Southeast Alaska, with only 2,000 residents, is accessible on a five-hour ferry from Juneau or a two-day drive from Anchorage, but the collusion of history, culture, and incredible nature that hits you in one scenic overload of experiences is so worth it. Haines boasts one of the most picturesque settings on earth, which is along the shorelines of one of North America’s deepest fjords, making it a popular cruise docking spot. The all-around cool town sits just underneath the Canadian, Yukon territory, which you can access via a private plane from its capital of Whitehorse or by car which takes about four hours.
Whether you ferry in from the capital or take the scenic road trip, you will find yourself in a natural setting with plenty of experiences like fishing and an adventure junkie's playground all around to fulfill your favorite pursuits. Seek wildlife like bears along the Chilkoot River and visit the majestic birds at the American Bald Eagle Foundation. This small, real Alaskan novelty has one epic adventure after another planned, like boats or planes waiting to take you to Davidson Glacier from the small village.
Healy
The town in the northeast corner of Denali National Park and Preserve is your gateway to the park for endless summer days of sightseeing hikes. Stop by the Denali Visitor Center with a huge relief map to see where the trails lead and exhibits of the highlights, like topography and natural history, you are about to experience. The Black Diamond ATV Tours are a fun way to see the sights over a thrilling adventure on a buggy ride across the rugged terrain.
Take a tour with Denali Horseback for another unique experience to feel really one with nature. You can experience a real-life panoramic overview of majestic Denali Mountain and the surrounding country from a small plane with Denali Summit Flight. Families will enjoy the comfortable and close-knit ride on the Black Diamond Draft-Horse Drawn Covered Wagon Adventure through breathtaking scenery, amid which you will have time to picnic in the park.
Homer
Homer is one of those idyllically set towns you will never want to leave, with all of Alaska's best nature in one place awaiting your arrival. The waterside town just over a four-hour drive from Anchorage rewards with the best views over the water to the majestic Kenai Mountains on the horizon and the stunning Kachemak Bay vistas on the other side. With all the blue, it is no wonder that Homer is the "halibut fishing capital of the world," and you can take part in the culture while taking in the stunning scenery. No, into fishing? Enjoy the best-cooked halibut of your life at one of Homer's restaurants, including the water views and sunsets.
The mild-weather tourist hub in the southern part of the state has an engaging outdoor scene and renowned cuisine to gorge on after all of your adventures. You can also relax on a picnic in the picturesque setting by the water, enjoy great fishing, and take a chartered plane to explore Lake Clark National Park, possibly with bear sightings. Diversify the fun with shopping along the famous Homer Spit, a road across the peninsula lined with cool cafes and tour huts with enticing outdoor ventures to choose to explore next. Stop by the cool Salty Dawg Saloon for a drink and stay at Land’s Edge Resort. Captain’s Coffee offers the best breakfast, which you can follow up with a stroll to the beaches just off the Spit.
Petersburg
Petersburg is a popular destination on Mitkof Island without the tourist trap vibe, unlike any other hub. One of the most authentic towns in Alaska is home to small businesses, all owned and operated by locals. Petersburg is a lively and fast-paced harbor town on Frederick Sound in the heart of Tongass National Forest, with all kinds of wildlife viewings for the active water fans and adventurers. Head to the waterfront for a stroll along weathered boatsheds, working boats, seaplanes, ferries, and wharfs.
Boat out some thirty minutes north for the best humpback whale watching in North America or navigate through icebergs in Leconte Glacier Bay. The southernmost active tidewater glacier in North America is accessible via an epic boat adventure with beautiful views. Drive around Mitkof Island, home to part of the world's largest temperate rainforest, with pursuits like fly fishing, hiking, and rowboat rentals.
Seward
This small town along the Seward Scenic Highway is a real tourist hub for renowned activities in the outdoors. Seek out the surrounding glacial lakes, snow-capped mountains, and coastal fjords, as well as one of the smallest and most beautiful national parks in Alaska. Take a boat tour through Kenai Fjords National Park for a close-up view of some beautiful glaciers or a helicopter ride for a memorable experience over the area. Seward is your gateway to the Kenai Peninsula, home of the famous hike.
The Harding Icefield offers some of Alaska's most incredible views, and you can also fly to a glacier for dog sledding during any season. The natural beauty of Seward demands a real food scene to recharge, and the walkable downtown delivers some of the best places to eat. The tourist-friendly village nestled between Resurrection Bay and Mount Marathon with plenty to explore is just a few hours away from Anchorage, following one of Alaska's prettiest drives along the scenic highway. Complete your perfect summer days of vacation with the best night's rest in the comfort of the Resurrection Lodge on the Bay, with complementary views to wake up to.
Skagway
The town in the northeast corner of the cool Inside Passage on the northern end of the Lynn Canal fjord is your gateway to the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park. The historic downtown, truly in nature's embrace, has several buildings that comprise part of the park. There is also the beautiful White Pass Trail to the Yukon River and the rugged Chilkoot Trail, while the cool ghost town of Dyea is a quick ride north.
Take the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad on a tour around the majestic mountains with exclusive interior-side views of the peaks, valleys, glaciers, waterfalls, and wildlife. Venture into nature right in town at the Jewell Gardens and Glass for strolls and relaxation amid lovely ponds and flamboyant flowers. Check out its adjoining glassblowing studio on a fascinating tour.
Valdez
The city with only about 4,000 locals in southern Alaska is the best of both worlds for a summer vacation, where you get the small-town atmosphere amid all of the amenities and welcoming services. It is set along the Valdez Arm, off of the Prince William Sound, with a whole other natural world for the water fans and hikers through the Chugach National Forest. Despite a thriving scene, Valdez maintains the laidback vibe and picturesque charm of an authentic Alaskan town.
Enjoy your summer vacation through a popular choice of outdoor recreation like river rafting, fishing, ice climbing, and backcountry hiking. Take the worthy five-hour drive from Anchorage, or fly or ferry into this "Little Switzerland" amid stunning mountain peaks. There is plenty of skiing, hiking, and exploring glaciers around, as well as scenic waterfall cascades on the way to Valdez. Stroll through the bustling harbor with great food trucks and departing boat tours, and stop by the popular Nat Shack for a crunchwrap.
These towns are hotspots for summer vacationers, where you will find little reminders of the city and plenty of surrounding nature. Immerse yourself in the small-town vibe and natural glory all around you as you sightsee the nation-renowned fjords, endless mountain views, and waters from the coastline. Enjoy life-enriching experiences like hikes through Denali National Park, glacier walks, and scenic plane rides.
Sight the enticing northern lights, as the native population has done over a millennium, and explore the historic Gold Rush towns, or take a scenic cruise for a different waterside perspective of the state with whale watching. Relax to the slower pace of local life that mirrors how the natural environment thrives through unrivaled tranquility. Alaska's gems await in the summertime for boat tours and hiking, while the winter boasts incredible winter sports like snowshoeing and even skiing.
