we are travelling to anchorage, fjords(boat tour), talkeetna and denali (staying inside park), the first 2 weeks of august. What should I pack? Should I bring my down parka? Should I bring shorts? How cold and how hot does it actually get? Someone who has been there, please help me.
thank you!

I traveled in Alaska during July a few years ago. I wore layers. I even turned out needing my hat and scarf.

I suggest going to www.weatherchannel.com to get an idea as to what the weather is like.

Have a wonderful time!

We were there a few years ago in June. Didn't need a parka. had a nylon wind suit with layers underneath. some warm days. couple of turtle necks, slacks, short sleeve shirts, sweatshirt, 1 pr of shorts

thanks for the info. even tho I have a month to go, I am obsessing about what to bring. Dont want to bring too much or too little. can never seem to get this right. But, I really hate the cold!! used to live up north and now live in the south (probably too hot at times)
So no parka, and plenty of layers. long underwear?, tshirts, turtlenecks and light jackets... and forget the swim suit??

The "layers" suggestion, I believe, is if you are traveling on a cruise ship to get to Alaska. In Alaska, in early August, it will be warm to hot during the day and cooler in the evening but not to the extent you need a heavy sweater or jacket. Forget the down parka and you can wear shorts and not freeze to death. When last in Fairbanks (1997) the temperature in June was 90 degrees

Thanks so much for the useful info. We are NOT going on a cruise. We will be renting a car and driving during our trip. So now I thinl I understand what we need to do about the repeated "layer" recommendations....

Today High Lo
Anchorage 67 52
Fairbanks 73 49
Seward 55 49

Don'y know that you have to wear "layers" of clothing.

We (two Floridians) just got back from doing Anchorage, Homer, Seward and Denali. We went with the layers theory, but still packed light and it worked well. The weather in Alaska changes often and quickly. We experienced 70s and sunny and 40s and rainy within a 3 hour period.

When people say it gets hot there, well, it does, sort of, but not for long ... and you're ususally hot because you're still wearing fleece and a jacket. The only time we wore shorts was in our hotel rooms. Here is what we packed - and we used every item at one point or another: waterproof boots, rain gear (pants and hooded jacket), jeans, t-shirts, sweat pants, sweat shirt, weather resistant pants, medium weight jacket, baseball hat, knit hat and gloves. We only wore the gloves and knit hats on the boat tours and a glacier. Since we packed fairly light, we did laundry half way through our trip in Seward (at a strange place called DJ's Wheel House that was sort of a laundry bar with washers, dryers, pool tables, juke box and apparently live bands some nights!?!). Good luck with packing!

Thanks . That's the best list I've seen.
We leave Monday for the same trip.

Thanks for the helpful hints! We (3 of us) leave on the 20th for 2 weeks of exploring. We'll pack light and plan on doing laundry.

At first I thought you were going with a backpack and I had suggestions, like for your husband, bring a swim suit that doubles as walking shorts. But if you're renting a car its a totaly different story. Pack the whole house!

Just got back from Alaska, and also stayed/camped in Denali...besides layers, would DEFINITELY recommend bringing strong bug repellent..the mosquitoes were out in full force!!

Just returned from Alaska.

We wore shorts most days, sometimes with light long sleeve shirt or jacket. We are hot natured though. Early mornings and evenings, sweats felt good.

I brought back most of my long pants unworn.

A light jacket with hood for those rain showers and breeze is enough.

The only time we needed layers, including hat and gloves, was on the day cruise.

If you want to go river fishing, take or buy waders. Most there were wearing hip waders.

We didn't have much trouble with mosquitoes but the bites we did get have lasted a long time.

Thanks for all the help we got here with our packing. We didn't take much we didn't need.