AFAR
AFAR
  • 9 months ago
When is the best time to visit Alaska? While most people will recommend coming in the summer, that’s not necessarily the best time to go if you want to see the Northern Lights, take a train ride through fall foliage, or see a world-famous dog race. The travel experts at AFAR share the best time to travel to Alaska depending on the type of activity you want to do in this episode of Destination Spotlight.

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CREDITS

Claudia Cardia - Video Editor
Chloe Arrojado - Associate Editor, Destinations
Jessie Beck - AFAR Producer
Elizabeth See - Designer

FOOTAGE / PHOTOGRAPHY
iStock

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Category

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Travel
Transcript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 Hey, my name is Chloe, and I'm the associate editor
00:08 of destinations at Ahar Media.
00:09 So when's the best time to come to Alaska?
00:12 Well, it depends on what you want to do,
00:14 and the answer actually might surprise you.
00:16 Let's get into it.
00:17 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:21 For the most part, people would tell you
00:25 to come to Alaska during the summer
00:27 to see its jaw-dropping landscapes and rugged wilderness.
00:30 The truth is, visiting Alaska during the other seasons
00:33 also have their advantages, especially
00:35 if you want to see the Northern Lights or the start
00:37 of the world-famous Iditarod.
00:40 No fear.
00:41 You're here to help.
00:42 Here are some of the most popular things to do in Alaska
00:44 and the best time to go do them.
00:46 Good news.
00:49 There isn't a bad time to ride one of Alaska's trains.
00:52 From early May to late September,
00:54 all Alaska railroad routes are operated daily.
00:57 Keep in mind, though, that during the rest of the year,
00:59 only the Aurora winter train operates.
01:01 And even then, it's on a greatly reduced schedule.
01:03 The best time to fish depends on which one you want to catch.
01:09 But here are some tips for a couple of the more popular
01:12 ones.
01:12 For the king salmon, you're going to want to cast
01:14 the line from May to mid-July, while the best time for silver
01:17 salmon is later in the summer, around late July
01:20 to early September.
01:22 If you want to come to Alaska for a Northern Lights show,
01:25 try to time your trip between mid-September to early April.
01:28 Usually, the lights are at their strongest
01:30 in the weeks leading around the equinox, which occurs
01:32 in late September and mid-March.
01:34 Avoid the summer months if you can.
01:36 Alaska's midnight sun will stop the lights
01:38 from being super visible during that time.
01:40 The best time to take a cruise in Alaska
01:46 is from June to August.
01:47 The summer months offer some of the best weather conditions
01:50 and enjoyable temperatures.
01:51 And during this time, land animals
01:53 come fully out of hibernation, and whales
01:56 return to the region to feed.
01:57 Wildlife watching in Alaska is way less fun in the winter,
02:05 when the brown bears are already in hibernation
02:07 and whales head to warmer waters.
02:09 Aim to come from April to October,
02:11 as this is when animals are out and about in places
02:13 like Katmai National Park.
02:14 The ceremonial start of the nearly 1,000-mile Iditarod
02:17 Race takes place on the first Saturday of March.
02:20 Come during this time and feel the excitement,
02:22 as the race spans some of the most challenging terrain
02:24 and harshest weather conditions of the planet.
02:27 Have you been to Alaska?
02:29 When's your favorite time to go?
02:30 Let us know in the comments, and don't
02:32 forget to like and subscribe.
02:33 Thanks for watching.
02:35 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:39 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:42 (upbeat music)
02:45 Thank you for watching.