What to expect when visiting Alaska in the summer: Where to go and the one thing you won't see

After being cooped up during the pandemic, heading to a place where horizons are your only walls might be just the tonic. And there is no place with more distant, awe-inspiring horizons than Alaska.

But the 2021 Alaska summer tourist season looks a lot different, especially since cruise ships will not be sailing there until at least July. This means most visitors will be coming on their own.

Stuff to know before you go

Don't forget about the closed Canadian border. You can avoid roadblocks by doing a little research. Keep in mind that there are very few roads in Alaska, and the southeast part of the state is cut off from the mainland by Canada, whose border remains off-limits to leisure travelers until June 21.