Sitka, Alaska
Photo: Sitka, Alaska / iStock/sphraner

Sitka, Alaska

Summer is the best time to visit this island community along the Alaska Panhandle. Book a whale-watching tour, fish for salmon, or learn about birds of prey at the Alaska Raptor Center. Want to see a brown bear? Fortress of the Bear, which rescues orphaned bear cubs, is open to the public. Sitka is also a great destination for history buffs. Stop at Sitka National Historic Park (Totem Park), the Russian Bishop’s House, and St. Michael’s Cathedral.

Read more: The Best Ways to See Alaska Without Cruising