Alaska: The Midnight Sun in Denali / by Aanarav Sareen

For as long as I can remember, my heart has been set on Alaska to experience the midnight sun. This year, our stars aligned and granted us the chance to witness this on summer solstice. The anticipation had been building all day as we indulged in backcountry ATV rides and white water rafting. But nothing could have prepared us for the incredible evening that awaited us.

As the sky began to turn shades of pink and orange, we eagerly set out to explore the town of Talkeetna under the never-ending light of the midnight sun. Our initial plan was to find the perfect spot for photos, but our curiosity led us down winding roads and we ended up at 49th State Brewing.

With a beer in hand, we anxiously watched the clock tick closer to midnight, we were relieved to see that it was a clear sky - a rare occurrence in Alaska. And then it happened - at exactly midnight, the sun still shone brightly in the sky, casting an orange and pink glow over everything in sight. We piled into our rental van with heads swiveling in every direction, trying to take in every moment of this extraordinary experience.