Gosh, I miss summer already. I saw it briefly last week as it dashed out of town under a rain cloud. So -- like it or not, fall is here.

The good news is this: as the days get shorter, the prices come down. Whether you're planning a trip around the state or around the country, chances are good you'll land a better deal this week than last week!

Here are some in-state deals:

• Denali National Park. Both the Denali Bluffs and the Grande Denali Lodge are having a great sale in September. For $79 per night, you can rent a room at either of these hotels. The Denali Bluffs is open through Sept. 9. September 13 is the last day for the Grande Denali. The colors are changing -- and you can be there to see it!

• Talkeetna. Okay, the train takes you to Talkeetna. Then, you get on a bus for the 54-mile ride up to the Mt. McKinley Princess. But this is a great deal: ride the rails from Anchorage and stay overnight at the Princess for just $109.50 per person. Stay two nights for $135.50 per person. That includes your roundtrip rail, the bus transfer and accommodations. If you want to drive yourself, the cost for the hotel alone is $99 per night.

• Kennicott. Make the drive back to McCarthy and catch the van at the footbridge for the trip up to Kennicott Glacier Lodge. They have a great $79 per person deal that includes breakfast through Sept. 11.

Now, if you want to stretch your summer a little more (who doesn't?), check out some of these great air fares. I checked these rates on Tuesday evening. As always, air fare rates are a moving target. There are some ultra-cheap fares for travel through Sept. 6 -- I didn't include those. Unless noted, I checked travel dates for mid-October.