Back in February, I traveled to Alaska for the first time in search of the Northern Lights (which, alas, evaded me) and fell in love with the wild landscape, delicious food, and warm-hearted people. But as enchanting as winter was, I heard stories of the state’s lush greenery and bustling wildlife during the summer; when people described it to us, they used one word: magical. Of course, I had to go.

Experiencing Alaska in both seasons has given me a unique perspective on just how diverse and captivating this place truly is. Here’s a glimpse into my adventures in each season—and which one ultimately captured my heart.

Winter

Alaska is beyond freezing in the winter. Every area is covered with snow and there was only five hours of daylight in Fairbanks. However, we avoided the -40 degree Fahrenheit weather and came when it was relatively warm–around 30 degrees. During our five-day trip, my sister and I spent a little time in Anchorage, but our main destination was Fairbanks in hopes to catch the lights.

We booked two excursions through a tourism company, and while they were pricey, we found them to be so worth it for our first time. The first excursion was a home-cooked salmon dinner in a yurt followed by midnight dog sledding in the woods.

The mushers were experienced and knew exactly what tourists like us wanted–videos and pictures in the sled, with the dogs, and in the snow. We had great conversations with different tour guides and listened to stories about Alaska and the Iditarod Race from our host.

Even though it was too cloudy to see the Northern Lights, it was such a memorable experience and so lovely meeting people who had given up the traditional career paths to follow their passions and do what they loved.

Our second excursion was to the Chena Hot Springs, which was in a beautiful, remote area. The resort was an hour outside of Fairbanks, and we had a relatively pricey dinner there and then spent our free time relaxing in the hot springs and watching for the aurora borealis. Unfortunately, we didn’t see them then either, but unwinding in the steaming hot pools contrasting with the frigid outdoor temperatures felt incredible. If I get a chance to return to Alaska in the winter, I’d love to go straight to the Chena Hot Springs Resort.

We did so much more, including visiting a couple of museums in Anchorage, finding Balto’s statue, viewing ice sculptures, sledding on a frozen lake, and eating delicious chowders and fried foods. There are also so many more activities to do during the winter that we didn’t get to do, not to mention viewing the Northern Lights (if you’re lucky)! It’s gorgeous as long as you don’t mind the cold weather.

Summer

The reason why my sister and I went back in July was because several of our tour guides raved about Alaska in the summer. My dream was to camp in Denali National Park, but we ended up finding a deal for a seven-day Alaskan cruise on the Grand Princess instead.

While we took the more rugged approach for our winter trip, during the summer we traveled back to Alaska in luxury. After much debate, we paid extra for the Plus package and thought it was well worth it for the convenience and service. I had a little “rich kid” dream of sitting poolside, ordering a strawberry daiquiri, and reading a book, which I got to enjoy several times during the trip.

But enough about the cruise (that’s for a different post). Alaska in July was inexplicably beautiful. In the summer, we had more daylight and could explore more of the outdoors without fear of freezing. The weather was mild on land–not too hot or cold–and sprinkled a little.

We watched salmon swim upstream, which felt like such a small yet momentous thing to get excited about, discovered waterfalls, admired the tall trees and flowing creeks, walked around the coastal towns, and viewed gorgeous glaciers from our cruise ship.

I decided to join an outdoor rock climbing and rappelling excursion in Skagway, and I had such a great time adventuring outdoors and getting to hear some local history and recommendations from our guides. My favorite town ended up being Skagway because of its small town charm, bright buildings reminiscent of the Gold Rush era, and easy walks leading to gorgeous natural waterfalls and streams.

Alaskan mosquitos are also notorious for being enormous and annoying, but thankfully we didn’t encounter them during our trip. We didn’t encounter many animals or insects, really, during our cruise (for better and for worse), but nonetheless it was an equally memorable experience.

Which Did I Prefer?

Summer and winter in Alaska couldn’t feel more different, each season revealing a unique side of this rugged landscape. I’ve been lucky enough to experience both, but in completely different ways—one from the comfort of a cruise ship, the other deep in the Alaskan wilderness. So, I’ll admit, my view is a bit biased.

For me, Alaska’s winter holds a unique magic. The snowy activities felt enchanting and almost surreal—dog sledding through snow-laden forests, warming up with chowders by hot springs, and sledding down frozen hills under clear blue skies are memories I’ll always treasure.

There’s also a quiet, peaceful stillness in Alaska’s winter that’s hard to describe—a sense of calm and solitude that made me feel connected to the wild beauty around me in a way that summer’s bustling energy didn’t quite capture.

While I loved winter, the Alaskans I met shared insights into the challenges they face living with such extreme weather. Growing up in sunny Southern California, it’s difficult to fully grasp the resilience and adaptability needed to thrive here year-round. It gave me a new respect for the people who choose to make Alaska their home—people who find a deep magic in its wildness, even in the face of challenges. For them, it’s not just beautiful; it’s home in a way that’s hard for an outsider to truly understand.