Summer is in full swing, with temperatures creeping up each day. When the heat shows no signs of slowing down, it’s time to get out of the kitchen.
For the first part of the Summertime Getaways series, we explore travel destinations to help you cool off.
Welcome to Alaska, where you can escape the heat on the road less traveled by. Average high temperatures only reach the mid-60s throughout the state, even in July.
For a quick weekender trip, we recommend exploring 2 stunning parks.
Seward Highway
Land in Anchorage, the largest airport in Alaska and by far the easiest to get to.
Take a 2-hour drive south towards Seward. Make sure to carve out enough time to pull over multiple times on the way–this stunning route is rated as one of the nation’s most beautiful drives.
Kenai Fjords National Park
Once in Seward, hop on a cruise ship with Alaska Collection.
As you sit back and relax or roam the deck, the crew will guide you on an informative tour through Kenai Fjords National Park, narrated by an expert captain. Spot wildlife, from whales to orcas and numerous creatures in between. Enjoy the fjords and rocky shores, forests, and glaciers from the comfort of a ship.
There are several tours to choose from, depending on your schedule and priorities. Some come with a salmon and prime rib dinner on a private island.
Denali
Measuring over 6 million acres, Denali is the third largest National Park in the country.
With so much to see, skip the tourist hot spots, and hone in on the remarkable. While climbing is one way to do it, there’s a way to see the peaks without training to become an expert mountaineer: fly in.
Take a flightseeing tour with K2 Aviation and enjoy jaw-dropping views from the sky. Add on a glacier landing for a walk on cooler ground. From the Susitna Valley to snowy mountain peaks, take in the variety of landscapes all in one flight.
