Visiting Alaska comprises an experience of a lifetime, whether heading to one of its bigger cities or choosing to journey to one of the smaller towns sprinkled throughout the state and along the coastline. The land of adventures is home to glaciers, mountains, Denali National Park, and the Northern Lights. Learn about the rich culture from Native Americans to Russians and try unique activities like dog sledding and kayak whale watching tours.
Enjoy plain old fishing, which is never plain in plein air with views of the mountains, volcanoes, sunsets, and the wild sea. Take a cruise into the teeming waters while the charming townscape awaits with surprising modern amenities and attractions like vibrant boardwalks, seafood galore, shopping, and cultural sights.
Pond in Gustavus, Alaska. Image credit Moelyn Photos via Adobe Stock.
Gustavus is a tiny beach town with just over 600 residents within the scenically surrounding Glacier Bay National Park and snow-capped mountain sights. Despite a four-hour ferry ride east of Juneau, which is modest in Alaskan terms, the town is a pleasant weather destination with about half the rainfall of the capital. Gustavus is a popular destination for tourists seeking the gateway to the National Park during the summer. Take the scenic journey to this Alaskan summertime paradise for various activities and wildlife. Visit the glorious Glacier Bay National Park and cruise to nearby Glacier Bay with its spectacular glaciers, icebergs, marine life, and mountains.
Explore the friendly town with cute cafes, good food, and local lodging such as guesthouses and B&Bs. Camp out for complete immersion in nature and a chance to catch the Northern Lights. Gustavus, a destination for writers and artists who seek inspiration from the natural environment, is full of galleries, studios, and shops with art, sculpture, pottery, wood carvings, and jewelry. There is also the Salmon River and the Icy Strait running through Gustavus, with opportunities for fishing for salmon and halibut. Take a wildlife cruise tour to see seals, humpback whales, orcas, and sea otters, and enjoy kayaking.
Homer
Alaskan mountain and bay, Homer Spit, Kenai Peninsula. Image credit tonawilliams via Adobe Stock.
Homer is a charming island town year-round with a unique culture, beaches, and just over 6,000 residents. The town boasts moderate temperatures, a rural vibe, modern amenities, and the moniker "Halibut Fishing Capital of the World." Homer comes especially alive during the summer, when the area’s population swells to over 15,000 from mainlanders, Anchorage residents, and tourists "in the know." Visit Old Town Homer and the nearby Bishop’s Beach, with its tidal pools and picnic areas, in the crisp Alaskan air. Homer Spit, an old glacier moraine, is only 4.5 miles outside of town in the center of Kachemak Bay, with a fantastic sandy stretch of gently sloping beaches and wild nature like animals, waves, and snowy mountain peaks.
Find Homer four hours south of Anchorage, sandwiched between the beautiful Kenai Peninsula and Kachemak Bay. This beach town is incredibly popular among kayakers and fishermen, and the surrounding nature is great to take on a hike or a fat bike. Stroll to the beach to see dozens of pop-up tents, home to young, seasonal workers, or "spit rats." Stroll along the main street with an ice cream cone amid seafood shacks, art galleries, and mermaid-themed trinket stores. Stop by the most popular Alice’s Champagne Bar with live music and the farmers market for local culture and locally sourced goods like freshly shucked oysters and kombucha.
Kenai
Kenai River flowing blue among Alaska's autumn colors. Image credit Jesse via Adobe Stock.
Find Kenai on the Kenai Peninsula, where the Kenai River flows into Cook Inlet, in the area formerly occupied by the natives and Russians. The charming beach town with just under 8,000 people has one of Alaska's most diverse and expanding economies. It is a famous destination for the plentiful King salmon and nature hikes through the surrounding landscape's rich biodiversity. Just 150 miles south of Anchorage -- 30 minutes away by plane or a scenic three-hour drive. Kenai is also close to Seward and Homer.
Come see whales from the Beluga Whale Lookout on Kenai’s bluffs, overlooking a public beach and with access to the north shore of Lower Cook Inlet. Move in for the strong economy and for the famous dipnet fishing in July at Kenai Beach, which is restricted exclusively to the state's residents. Otherwise, pitch a tent near the beach to call the area home while you enjoy strolls, biking, fishing, kite flying, or a cookout.
This beach town on the southern tip of Alaska’s Inside Passage sits spoiled in nature. Find surrounding scenic waterways, coves, and more than 1,000 island specks formed by glaciers during the last ice age. Despite plentiful rain, the weather stays warm during the summer, where locals celebrate their "liquid sunshine." Ketchikan is the summertime destination for mountains, forests, and the shores to seek wildlife on a hike or on a cruise, like killer whales, sea lions, bears, deer, and bald eagles. Take in the town from sea, where the striking abundance of colorfully painted wooden houses on stilts reflected in the water of the harbor. This promises to be the most charming sight of a lifetime!
The seaside town is surrounded by hiking trails and millions of acres of Tongass Rainforest. Hike the forested hills that slope upward to the lush green woodlands and rugged snow-peaked mountains for another unforgettable experience. The Ketchikan Creek flows through the town's historic district, along the street’s boardwalk and a waterfront promenade. Check out Ketchikan's famous totems, carved by Native Americans throughout downtown and in totem parks. Fuel up on fresh seafood on the menu amid clean air and gorgeous scenery!
Seldovia
Beach in Seldovia. Image credit Ian via Adobe Stock.
Seldovia, the "City of Secluded Charm," is a small town of less than 300 people. "Alaska’s Best Kept Secret" is nestled under an extraordinary atmosphere amid lakes, peninsulas, and waterways. Enjoy a relaxing getaway where remote workers find productive respite from the city within the rural and distinctive Seldovia.
Check out the town’s famed boardwalk and head to the local beach, just a mile away, to swim and explore tidal pools, or relax at the sight of gorgeous waters and towering volcanoes. Trek along the scenic Otterbahn Trail or take a cruise with plenty of mammals such as sea otters and birds of prey like bald eagles. Just across Kachemak Bay from Homer and with cruising water taxis, air taxis, or a 45-minute ferry ride from Homer, this little seaside village feels a whole universe away.
Seward
On the Lost Lake Trail in Seward. Susan R. Suna via Adobe Stock.
The town, named famously after the negotiator behind the purchase of Alaska from Russia, William H. Seward, the U.S. Secretary of State, is full of historic and natural charm. Seward is your ultimate summertime getaway in Alaska, equipped with two adventure beaches near parking at the end of a two-mile hike on Resurrection Bay, just to the south. Choose either to experience the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem right on land or check out Lowell Point, with a dramatic half-mile low-land beach cape. Seward Downtown along the scenic boat harbor is alive with shops and galleries for nature, music, and art all in one place, including murals of historical characters and events. Check out Seward's galleries of local creations like paintings, jewelry, ceramics, baskets, and more, and head to a local bar or cafe complete with live music concerts.
Take the 4.5-mile trek down the coast to Caines Head State Recreation Site, which has fort ruins from the mid-20th century. There is a challenging 3.1-mile run to Mount Marathon's peak, which towers over Seward at 3,022 feet. Worldwide runners flock for the challenge as well as Seward’s Fourth of July celebration. Discover the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park with its massive Harding Ice Field, tidewater glaciers, sea lions, seals, and whales. Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, a public aquarium and the only permanent marine mammal rehabilitation facility in Alaska, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center with its creative ways of telling of Alaska’s rich cultures through song, dance, art collections, and more.
The scenic White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. Image credit Carmen via Adobe Stock.
Despite its northernmost point location on the Inside Passage within a valley, Skagway remains popular as one of Alaska's easiest accessible towns. It is connected to Klondike Highway for an easy drive in, as well as a "port-of-call" for the state's ferry system, Alaska Marine Highway. Being so close to the north pole, enjoy 18 hours of daylight during the warm and dry days of summer. The quaint downtown is laid out by the glory of the 20th century with wooden storefronts and period-style buildings, along with Gold Rush-era architecture within the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Gold was discovered in 1897-98, drawing a stampede to the harsh terrain where many failed to "strike it rich."
Stop by the Visitor Center in a restored 1898 railroad depot with various programs and exhibits during the summer; a chance to see historic locomotives of the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad along the steep Chilkoot Trail. Come this summer to hike, relax, and enjoy the outdoors, as well as for the Summer Solstice and Independence Day festivities complete with food, games, live music, parades, and beer gardens. The Klondike Road Relay in September is a day-through-night event under starry skies and the Northern Lights. Come back to Skagway for the annual Buckwheat Ski Classic, an international cross-country ski race in March.
Utqiagvik
Iconic Whalebone Arch. Image credit Nina via Adobe Stock.
This fascinating coastal town above the Arctic Circle is America's northernmost city and is only accessible by plane. The remote town is never lonely; it is home to a solid population of just over 5,000 and has big tourist appeal. Visit Barrow Beach, named after the town's former moniker, a soft volcanic black sand beach at the very top of the planet with a lead-up into the Arctic Ocean.
Aside from the unique beach, the chilly town with a tongue-twister of a name is home to polar bear sightings and snowy owls. Learn about the region’s indigenous culture and dive into the varied soul-food cuisine, from casual American fare to Mexican, Chinese, and Japanese. Head to the beach for whaling boat races in the summer, breathtaking Alaskan sunsets, and the whalebone arch natural landmark.
Wrangell
Town of Wrangell. Image credit igzotic via Adobe Stock.
Wrangell, a town on the namesake island founded in 1834, is one of the state's oldest settlements along the banks of the Stikine River and the oldest non-native settlement in Alaska. Wrangell has changed hands from Tlingit to Russian, English, and American, with a population of just under 2,000 today. The Tlingit tribe, island residents for thousands of years, left the streets filled with scenic history and cultural sights like totems around town. The town of Wrangell was founded as a trading post for furs by Russians in 1811 with the local Tlingit population.
Explore native history around the Petroglyph Beach State Historic Site. The remarkable beach has 3,000-year-old rock petroglyphs along the most exciting shoreline of tide pools with creatures at low tide and beautiful mountain views. Visit this town with beaches on all sides with plenty of choices for inns, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, and short-term rentals. There are myriad summertime pursuits like kayaking, salmon fishing, hiking, and animal watching. Take an active kayak whale-watching tour or head up the Stikine River into stunning wilderness on a jet boat.
Conclusion
The Last Frontier State is the land of untouched nature, rich wildlife, diverse culture, and thrilling adventure amid the wild sea and through the heart. Camp out and watch the northern lights, or visit a northern town where it stays light for 18 hours a day. Despite the rumors, Alaska has many places with dry and warm summers, while the remote towns are never far away via a scenic ferry journey that goes by way too quickly.
So hop on a plane, a ferry, or in your own car to one of these beach destinations for an unforgettable summer in the truly wild, one-of-a-kind American outdoors. From the mountains to Gold Rush sights and the sea fjords, the 49th state is an artist's, outdoor enthusiast's, and photographer’s dream escape.
