If you’re visiting Alaska in summer, don’t assume it’ll be cold. Pack layers—seriously, like you’re going to a desert that might snow. Bring a T-shirt, a fleece, a rain jacket, and maybe a pair of shorts. (And for the love of salmon, bring sunscreen. The sun doesn’t set, and you’ll burn like a tourist in Miami.) The interior can hit 85°F easily in July, while coastal towns stay in the 60s. You might even catch a heatwave where the temperature breaks 90°F—and then you’ll have the best story to tell your friends back home.
But here’s the ironic twist: the same sun that bakes Fairbanks to 90°F also melts glaciers and warms the Arctic. So while you’re sipping lemonade on a deck, the ice caps are weeping. It’s a weird, wonderful, and slightly terrifying place to be in the 21st century. But hey, at least you now know that Alaska’s “frozen north” nickname is a seasonal lie—at least for a few weeks each year.
So next time someone tells you Alaska is always cold, just smile and say, “Tell that to Fort Yukon. They had a 100°F day, and the mosquitoes were the size of eagles.” (Okay, that last part is an exaggeration. But only barely.)
