The warm weather and sunshine are finally here, and I couldn’t be more excited. The long days are back, the trails are busy, and there is a sense of activity everywhere you go. Over the past few weeks, my family and I have been spending a lot of time on our bikes around Anchorage. One of our favorite things is being able to ride right to local restaurants, breweries, and coffee shops. Last week, we biked to a local brewery, grabbed a table on the patio, and enjoyed the sunshine, a drink, and the food trucks.
What struck me was how many people were out enjoying the evening. The patio was full, the food trucks were busy, and there was even a small pop-up market. It got me thinking about all of the small businesses that help make our communities what they are. It’s not easy to start and grow a business in Alaska, and I’m always impressed by the people who take that leap. Summer is a great time to get out, try a new restaurant, visit a local shop, or stop by a community event and support the businesses that make Alaska unique.
In a few weeks, we’ll be heading up to Denali for a camping trip, and I’m already looking forward to stopping at local businesses along the way. One of my favorite parts of traveling around Alaska is discovering a new coffee shop, restaurant, brewery, or local shop that I didn’t know about before. If you have a favorite spot I should add to the list this summer, let me know. I’m always looking for recommendations and an excuse to explore a little more of Alaska.
Jared Reynolds
State Director
Read the full 2026 June newsletter here.