One of my favorite summertime destinations is the Homer Spit.
Today, it’s mostly cloudy with a chance of showers. Looking outside, there’s a “summer’s gone, but not forgotten” feeling in the air.
There’s abundant sea life right off the spit: whales, porpoises, sea otters, plus eagles and hundreds of gulls all over. But the boat traffic from the adjacent harbor is amazing to watch: water taxis, sportfishing boats and larger commercial boats. My favorite is the MV Tustumena, the giant ferry that goes between Homer, Seldovia and Kodiak.
Traveling around Alaska after Labor Day can mean playing hide-and-seek with the weather, in addition to dealing with earlier sunsets and cooler weather. But there still are opportunities for fun fall adventures, in addition to some great deals for travel outside the state.
Heading south from Anchorage, some travelers don’t venture farther than Alyeska Resort.
The snow hasn’t arrived, but if it’s a little chilly, book a daylong package at the resort’s Nordic Spa. After changing into your robe and slippers, there’s an outdoor boardwalk to follow: hot pools, cold pools, steam baths, saunas … the works.
Budget several hours to get the full relaxation effect. In between, if you’re hungry or thirsty, there’s a bar and restaurant with all kinds of healthy goodies. You can also book a massage.
If you’re too worn out to drive back home, the Hotel Alyeska offers Alaska residents up to 30% off of room rates.
Farther down the road is the cutoff to the Whittier Tunnel. That’s your exit if you want to go on the 26 Glacier Tour with Phillips Cruises. Choose to cruise Prince William Sound and count the glaciers along the way every day between now and Oct. 5. The cost is $225.95 per adult.
The Klondike Express, a 137-foot high-speed catamaran, cruises at 34 knots. It’s the flagship of Phillips’ fleet and completes the 120-mile course in 5.25 hours. Cruises leave at noon, so travelers should plan on arriving at the tunnel in time for the 10:30 a.m. opening. As the crowds thin out later this month, Phillips Cruises may swap out the Klondike Express for one of their smaller boats, including the Bravest and the Chugach Express.
Have you been to Seward this summer? There’s still time to catch a ride with either Kenai Fjords Tours or Major Marine. Cruises deep into Kenai Fjords National Park last through Sept. 28. Major Marine offers a four-hour Resurrection Bay cruise through Oct. 12.
Last year on our cruise we saw an incredible “bubble feeding” event where humpback whales come together to feed in a group. It was fantastic to watch. Just last week, there were about 50 orca whales swimming around near the head of Resurrection Bay. Chances are good you’ll see other wildlife, including sea otters, seals, sea lions, puffins, eagles and maybe a few jellyfish.
You can’t miss seeing the massive tidewater glaciers in Aialik Bay. Even if you just cruise around in Resurrection Bay, you’ll see hanging glaciers spilling over from the mountaintops.
Both Major Marine and Kenai Fjords Tours offer Alaska residents a 20% discount.
If you want to visit the Alaska Sealife Center, you’ll get a closer look at puffins, sea lions and harbor seals. Alaska’s only aquarium is open year-round and the kids love it.
It’s a long drive from Anchorage to Homer, but the views are worth it. Even from the road, there are expansive views of mountains including Iliamna, Redoubt and Spurr.
Land’s End Resort offers a special getaway package for $239 per couple. It includes overnight accommodations and dinner for two. There’s also a beachfront hot tub. Still, just walking along the beach and taking in the breathtaking scenery of Kachemak Bay is a great way to spend the afternoon.
Going north from Anchorage, the Alaska Railroad is switching from its summer schedule later this month. Throughout the winter, the railroad runs the Aurora Winter Train north to Fairbanks on Saturdays, returning on Sundays. In February and March, there are some additional midweek departures. Riders also can board or disembark in Talkeetna.
Flightseeing tours of Denali from Talkeetna operate year-round, but glacier landings end later in the fall due to bad snow conditions on top of the ice runways.
If you’re ready to get on a plane and fly somewhere south of here, the good news is that many fares are cheap right now.
Fly from Anchorage to Seattle; San Jose, California; Los Angeles; or Tucson, Arizona, for less than $300 round-trip this fall. Those prices are for Basic Economy, so add an additional $100 for Main Cabin so you receive full mileage credit and pre-reserved seats.
Flights to Honolulu cost a little more: $356-$376 round-trip. But you can combine a trip to Hawaii with a trip on ZipAir from Honolulu to Tokyo for as little as $391 round-trip. The best prices are for travel through Oct. 7.
Another Asian destination is Taipei. Fly from Anchorage for $759 round-trip on Delta. Even in Basic Economy, Delta allows a free checked bag. Pay the additional $150 for Main Cabin and get pre-reserved seats, full SkyMiles credit and a second free checked bag.
The best deal across the Atlantic is between Anchorage or Fairbanks to Dublin on Delta or United. Tickets start at $506 round-trip for travel between Oct. 26 and Dec. 16, or between Jan. 11 and May 13, 2026. Add $200-$220 per ticket for Main Cabin, including a checked bag, mileage credit and pre-reserved seats.
Whether you have your sights set on a trip overseas, or just around the bend here in Alaska, the fall season is a great time to travel.
