20 Things Everyone In Alaska Should Avoid At All Costs

• Farmed seafood. Flickr – Judi Knight.
• Or buying fish in general.
• Even feeding your dogs farmed fish.
• Eating hot dogs.
• Camping without a view.
• Snacking on chips from the lower 48.
• Shopping at big corporate box stores.
• Drinking wine that isn’t from Alaska.

Swimming in Alaska is certainly not for the faint of heart. On a hot summer day (yes, Alaska does get hot days), venture down to Wasilla Lake for a picnic with the family, paddle a kayak around or bring your swimsuit and jump right in for a swim!

The water may be a little colder due to our location, but you can absolutely swim on the beaches in Alaska. A couple things to look out for: if you are in an area with mud flats, do not go onto this sandy looking areas.

Cold water is dangerous; I really don’t recommend swimming in the ocean in Alaska without a wet suit or life jacket. Most of the coastline in Alaska is plagued by VERY strong currents and unreasonable high/low tides.

Sea water temperature throughout Alaska is not yet warm enough for swimming and does not exceed 68°F. The warmest ocean temperature in Alaska today is 56.8°F (in Ketchikan), and the coldest sea temperature is 29.7°F (Prudhoe Bay).

Quick: What are the four seasons in Alaska? Answer: Winter, June, July, and August. Alaska weather and daylight varies wildly by region and season, from short-sleeves in summer to down jackets in winter; from 7 rainy days in May in Southcentral to 17 rainy days in the Inside Passage.

Alaska Weather Myths Fact: The Interior Region of Alaska enjoys warm summers. Ft. Yukon holds the state’s high temperature record: 100 F in June, 1915! Fairbanks often has summer temperatures in the 80s and occasionally gets up into the 90s.

Other Key Things to Know about Visiting Alaska in Summer Temperature: Daytime highs range 60°F – 80°F. Nighttime lows are refreshingly cool, dipping into the 40’s – 50’s. In May and September, expect temperatures to be 5°- 10° cooler. May is our driest month with a 25% chance of rain on any given day.

July

That said, Alaska still gets fairly extreme. For example, Barrow—one of the northernmost towns in Alaska—has about two months of darkness in the winter, from about November 18 to January 22. But in the summer, the sun doesn’t completely set for about 82 days, from roughly May 11 until July 31.

Below zero in June, snow in July Alaska can be a cold place in summer. Snow has fallen in Alaska at lower elevations in every month of summer.

Yes, you can see the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, from Anchorage – but not in the summer. The aurora actually occurs all year long, but the sky needs to be clear and dark to see it. Views are best from September to April. Winter is the prime viewing time.

July in Alaska For many people, the answer to the question “When is the best time to go to Alaska?” is July. With wildlife fully active, all trails accessible, long days and Alaska’s warmest average temperatures, July can be the best month to visit Alaska.

The climate of Alaska is determined by average temperatures and precipitation received statewide over many years. The climate in the extreme north of Alaska is an Arctic climate (Köppen ET) with long, cold winters, and cool summers where snow is possible year-round.