A Local's Guide to Exploring Alaska - Summer Edition
Alaska has my whole heart.
I often speak of Alaska as my muse in life, art, and love because it inspires so many different aspects of my being. I am constantly reminded of how untouched and wild this place is; the kind of place that really makes you take in each moment a little slower. I can go on and on about how it’s magic, but truly - this place needs to be experienced. This is where I step in. I am here to be your local guide; share my favorite places to explore and connect with nature on deeper level. I’ll share my favorite places to eat/drink, my favorite local business’s, artists and makers. Our local community is what really makes this place so special.
This guide will focus on a handful of my favorite places to visit in the summer. Alaska is the largest US state, so I’m just scratching the surface. There is so much more to experience, but this will surely make for a great insight for anyone’s first visit. Because trust me, you’ll be back.
Note: I hope this guide serves as inspiration for your trip. Please take necessary safety precautions and do your research when exploring glaciers, hikes and tours.
Covid19 Safety: Please check on updates on any places you are planning to visit during this time.
anchorage
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city, which is most likely where you will fly in and begin your visit. I would recommend staying in Anchorage for about 4 days. You’ll be able to get a good feel of local culture, eats, arts, music and accessible daily hikes/trips. I recommend renting a car that you’ll have for the duration of your entire Alaska trip, that way you can truly experience every bit of Alaska at your own pace.
If you’re into driving and sleeping in style, I love renting from Trickster Trips who offer VW rentals that are fully equipped with everything you need to take your home on the road.
Stay
I recommend staying at Airbnb’s, Hotel Captain Cook or hotels that you frequent.
Arts/Culture
Anchorage Museum is my favorite place to visit during every First Friday, a monthly art walk around the city. You get to experience Alaska’s history, culture, music, and art all in one place. There’s an amazing gift shop and restaurant “Muse” too!
Eats/Drinks: Rustic Goat Restaurant, Bear Tooth Grill and Theatre, Moose’s Tooth Pizzaria and Pub, Crush Wine Bistro & Cellar, Ginger Restaurant, Middleway Cafe, Snow City Cafe, Hearth Artisan Pizza, Spenard Roadhouse, Fire Island Rustic Bakery, South Restaurant, Namaste Shangri La, Bubbly Mermaid Oyster Bar, Fat Ptarmigan, Originale, Suite 100 Restaurant, Sushi and Sushi, Thai Orchid, Kinley’s, Charlou
Breweries: Double Shovel Cider Co., King Street Brewing, Anchorage Brewing Co., Williwaw Social Rooftop for variety of local offerings
Places to work out: Burn&Bloom Yoga Studio, Anchorage Yoga + Cycle, Alaska Rock Gym
Local Makers/Artists: Gathered and Grown Botanicals, Happy Mountain Designs (Fiber Art), Roaming Daughter (Jewelry), Poppy Peak (Beaded Jewelry),Wildheart Magazine, Irey Made (Beaded Jewelry), Cingquk (Clay Jewelry),
Juanita Handmade (Fiber Art), Meg Smith Art and Design, Alaska Concrete Collective (Concrete Art/Decor), Turnagain Mud Co (Handwoven Hats), Corso Graphics (Art/Design), Hailey Morgan Art (Art/Design)
Alaskan Fresh Salmon/Fishermen: Drifters Fish, Salmon Sisters
Say hi and introduce yourself to me at That Feeling Co; a local house plant shop and coffee house! You can find many local maker’s goodies here too!
Local Musicians: Emma Hill, Medium Build, Quinn Christopherson, Sundog, Termination Dust, Pamyua, Ava Earl
Music Venues: Moose’s Tooth, Bear Tooth, Williwaw, Performing Arts Center, Anchorage Museum, Charlou
Hikes/Day Trips
Flat Top, O’Malley Peaks, Powerline Pass, Kincaid Park, Coastal Trail (Biking), Arctic Valley, Eagle Symphony Lakes Trail, Thunderbird Falls
Turnagain Arm, Alaska
North of Anchorage
Hatcher Pass Area
April Bowl’s Trail, Summit Lake, Gold Cord Trail, Reed Lakes/Upper Reed Lakes Trail (highly recommend backpacking for an overnight trip)
You can stay the night at the Hatcher Pass Lodge Cabins. If you want more time to explore the area, Wasilla/Palmer are neighboring towns offering so many places to stay.
Matanuska Glacier
Highly recommend doing a guided tour, the guides are very knowledgable and provide a unique experience with hidden spots/caves around the glacier
Talkeetna
A beautiful little town where you’ll most likely stay if you will be exploring Denali National Park by air (flight tour).
Eats/Drinks: Talkeetna Spinach Bread, Denali Brewpub, Mountain High Pizza Pie, Wildflower Cafe & Mainstreet Suites
Visit: Dididada Shop for gifts, home goods, books, etc. The two sister owned shop is styled and curated to perfection.
Rentals: North Shore Cyclery
Denali National Park
About 2 hour drive from Talkeetna. Highest Mountain in North America and it’s a breathtaking sight. The park offers numerous tours and adventures. My favorite time to visit the park in the fall. Take note, it may snow a bit early in the fall season. There are numerous lodging/camping options near the park.
Hatcher Pass, Alaska
South of Anchorage
Turnagain Arm
One of the most scenic highways in the world with the most incredible ocean side drive. You can catch beluga whale sightings at Beluga Point, or simply hike around numerous areas with incredible views.
Hikes: Turnagain Arm Trail, McHugh & Rabbit Lakes Trail, Bird Ridge Trail, Bird Point
Girdwood
About a 40 min drive south of Anchorage. I recommend staying in Girdwood for a few days at either Airbnb’s or Alyeska Hotel. Girdwood is a beautiful quirky community that enjoys supporting the artists, creatives, and local businesses with countless festivals that include (Blueberry Festival, Fiddlehead Festival, Forest Fair, etc).
Eats: Jack Sprat, Double Musky Inn, The Bake Shop, Girdwood Picnic Club, Sakura Sushi, Seven Glaciers
Drinks: Girdwood Brewing (often has food trucks too), Seven Glaciers (highly recommend getting a cocktail with a view)
Hikes: Winner Creek Trail, Virgin Creek Falls, Crow Pass Trail
Visit: A few miles south of here is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where you can view bears, moose, even wolves!
Byron Glacier
Byron Glacier Trail (about 18 miles out of Girdwood) Use extreme caution when approaching glaciers as they are constantly moving.
Whittier
Small town just 20 miles from Girdwood. You have to enter the town through a long tunnel, longest tunnel in North America (2.5 miles). The tunnel operates on a specific schedule, you’ll need verify entry/exit times.
Hikes: Portage Pass Trail (highly recommend backpacking for an overnight trip)
Adventures: Kayaking out of Prince William Sound is incredible, Glacier Cruise Tours get really close to countless glaciers
Kenai/Cooper Landing
Salmon Fishing dreamland. There are countless tours and places to stay in this area.
Fishing Guide/Lodging: Alaska Troutfitters
Bed & Breakfast: The Hutch B&B
Softserve/Snacks: Wildman’s
Eats: Kingfisher Roadhouse
Seward
About 2.5 hour drive from Anchorage. One of my favorite places to visit all year round!
I recommend spending a few days exploring what this coastal town has to offer.
Fishing, kayaking, hiking, camping, and glaciers are among the adventure’s you can dive into.
Stay: Miller’s Landing Cabins/Yurts or Airbnb
Hikes: Lost Lake Trail, Mt Marathon Trailhead, Caines Head Trailhead, Resurrection River Trail
Eats/Drinks: The Cookery, Seward Brewing Company
Visit: Seward Sealife Center for an up close and personal interaction with the coastal and marine wildlife found here.
Homer Spit, Alaska
Homer and Kachemak Bay
About 4.5 hour drive from Anchorage. I recommend staying in Homer or surrounding areas for at least 2-3 days. I love this quirky town and it’s a must for anyone visiting Alaska.
Homer is the home to countless peony farms that serve as the largest distributor to the rest of the world because our farming season begins a little later. Homer is also known for being a fishing hub, I would book any fishing tours out of here.
Fishing, camping, kayaking, backpacking are among the adventures to dive into. If you are a seafood lover, you’ll fall in love without a doubt. Homer Spit is the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula and the center of the towns dining scene, entertainment, and adventures. Make sure to take a stroll on the Homer Spit beach and stop by a drink at the famous Salty Dawg Saloon.
Eats/Drinks: Finn’s Pizza, La Baleine Café, Wild Honey Bistro, Little Mermaid, Jakolof Bay Oyster Company, Homer Brewing Company, Fat Olive
Coffee/Bakery: Two Sisters Bakery, KBay Caffé, The Bagel Shop
Art/Gifts: Bunnell Street Arts Center
Halibut Cove, Alaska
Kechemak Bay
If you have extra time I would highly recommend taking a boat tour to Halibut Cove for a day trip to the dreamiest town of all. You have to book with the Danny J Ferry far in advance, spots fill up fast. You MUST eat at the Saltry Restaurant, the food is simply incredible. The boardwalk around the town is amazing and has stunning views of the bay.
Trail: Halibut Cove Trail
Tutka Bay
Grace Ridge Trail: highly recommended for advanced hikers/backpackers, one of the most scenic hikes you will ever experience. There is a lot of information on how to plan your trip to Grace Ridge Trail.
Haines, Alaska
There’s so much to add to this blog post, but this is would be a great start. Feel free to leave a comment below if you have any questions with your travel, I am here to help!
I would love to create a few more extensive guides on some of my favorite towns around Alaska.
Cordova, Sitka, Juneau, Haines, Wrangell and Ketchikan are just a few of the incredible places to visit if you’re looking to explore more!
