Visitors to Alaska will be thrilled to know that summer finally has shown up, at least in parts of the state.

I went north to Fairbanks for a little jump-start on midnight-sun season. A light breeze was blowing away the last of the clouds, revealing sunny skies — and some great airfares.

For most of the year, it’s been a little cheaper to fly from Fairbanks to Seattle than from Anchorage — $318 round-trip versus $336 round-trip, for travel in August.

But this week, the Fairbanks Airport and Delta Air Lines take the cake for “Airfares of the Week.”

Two of Delta’s new, seasonal nonstops are on sale: Fairbanks-Minneapolis for $218 round-trip and Fairbanks-Salt Lake City for $218 round-trip.

The Fairbanks-Minneapolis flight is more popular. It leaves Fairbanks at 10:05 p.m. each evening, arriving at 6:23 a.m. the following morning. The best fares are available starting on July 6. The fare is not available every day, but there’s wide availability in July and August. The last flight is Sept. 7.

You have to book a round-trip ticket, by the way. Oddly, the one-way ticket costs $460.

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These tickets are available in both directions, too. While working on my laptop in the late-afternoon sun last week, folks at the next table were complaining about the $900 fare to bring their folks up from Minneapolis. I interrupted and offered to do a quick search. Together, we came up with some dates and trimmed several hundred dollars off the fare!

The $218 round-trip fare is a basic economy rate. That means no miles or points are accrued and there’s no advance seat assignments. For an extra $60 round-trip, travelers can choose the Main Cabin rate to accrue miles and get a better seat.

Travelers who live in Alaska and have a SkyMiles account with Delta can check two bags at no additional cost to Minneapolis.

The other nonstop summertime bargain from Fairbanks to Salt Lake is available for $218 round-trip almost every day between July 10 and Sept. 7. Flights are available the last week in June for just a little more: $238 round-trip.

The lowest fare is a basic economy fare. Pay an extra $60 round-trip to get assigned seats and to collect SkyMiles.

Don’t ask why, but the one-way ticket either coming or going between Salt Lake and Fairbanks is $460. Crazy.

For many years, way back in the 20th century, it often was more expensive to fly one-way than it was to go round-trip. But about 20 years ago, Alaska Airlines was the first to make all of their rates one-way. Now most, but not all, airfares are priced one-way.

Back in Anchorage, the one route that still costs more to fly one-way than it does to go round-trip is Condor’s nonstop between Anchorage and Frankfurt. Condor’s competitor, Discover Airlines, also charges more for one-way travel.

Typically, midsummer travel to Europe costs between $1,000 and $2,000 round-trip. But this summer, because Europeans are canceling their trips to the U.S., there are plenty of open seats.

Travelers from Anchorage can fly nonstop to Frankfurt for $670 round-trip this week, through June 26. Condor’s flights go on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The fares go up a little through July 22, then come down to as little as $660 round-trip through mid-September.

Starting in August, Discover Airlines matches the fare for their flights which operate three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Flying is not the only way to get to the Lower 48. Most of the summertime visitors to Alaska arrive by cruise ship. The majority of cruise visitors stick to the Inside Passage, visiting Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway before returning to Seattle.

The more adventurous travelers take the ships that sail across the Gulf of Alaska, arriving in Whittier or Seward.

These are premium cruises — and they’re on sale … right now.

Sail on the Norwegian “Jade” for as little as $529 one-way from Whittier to Vancouver, British Columbia. Cruises depart on Mondays between June 23 and July 14. Ports include Icy Strait (Hoonah), Juneau, Skagway and Ward Cove (Ketchikan). Prices include all taxes and fees and are per person, with two cruisers per cabin. There are all sorts of upgrades available in terms of cabin size and location, packages for specialty dining, offers on shore excursions and Wi-Fi access.

Sail on the Caribbean Princess southbound from Whittier to Vancouver, British Columbia, on June 14 for as little as $558 round-trip per person, double occupancy. That’s for an inside cabin. Ocean view cabins are available from $599 per person, double. Ports include Glacier Bay (scenic cruising), Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.

Once you arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia, you can take a shuttle, train or plane to Seattle for a flight home. Or, fly home to Anchorage on the Air Canada nonstop, for as little as $203 one-way.

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AlaskaCruises.com offers the Coral Princess southbound cruise from Whittier on July 2 for as little as $579 per person, double. Or, choose the Nieuw Amsterdam with Holland America for $599 per person, double. There are other sailings for less than $600 per person, double for sailings in August.

If you’re thinking of driving from Alaska to the Lower 48, pay close attention to road conditions. Because of wildfires in Canada, portions of the Alaska Highway near Fort Nelson and Muncho Lake have been closed from time to time. When reopened, travelers are being escorted by pilot cars. Conditions are variable. Travelers may consider driving south on the Cassiar Highway to avoid wildfires.