Just to key in on the summers a bit. Yes, USAFA has amazing experiences with different programs and schools. But, USCGA has awesome experiences as well and, 90% of the time, they involve interacting with the operational Coast Guard.
3rd Class Summer:
Eagle for 6 weeks: sail to England, Ireland, and Germany while meeting amazing people in the Coast Guard and from other countries. I went through some pretty awesome storms and it was a valuable experience.
Cutter/Station for 6 weeks: I was at a small boat station where I earned my Pepper Spray Qual and other qualifications as well as got to learn what it was like to be a junior enlisted member of the Coast Guard. I worked hard but I had an amazing time.
2nd Class Summer:
Cadre: Everyone does it and we are trained by the best: The Coast Guard Cape May Company Commanders
CATP: Aviation program where I had my first helo ride and had a pretty fun 15 hour road trip with some of my best friends here at the Academy.
MSTP: Spent a week at a Sector and did some pretty cool inspections, including vessels from other countries.
Colgates/L44s: Sailing
Range Week: Pistol Qualification (Prerequisite to Boarding Officer School and Practical Pistol Qual)
There are a lot of special programs for this summer as well (Holocaust Study Trip (NYC, Germany, Poland), Exchange at the Japanese Coast Guard Academy, Ocean Racing to Bermuda, etc.)
And now, as I prepare for my 1st class summer, here are some of the things my class is getting an opportunity to do.
JINSA: 21 days in Israel with the IDF
MLE: Maritime Law Enforcement Academy to become a qualified Boarding Team Member
Six weeks at an Air Station
NOLS: Outdoor Leadership School
Rocky Mountain High: Faith based outdoor leadership program
Shiprider Program: Attached to a commercial vessel for 4-6 weeks
Kojima: Sail with the Japanese Coast Guard Academy on their training ship from Hawaii to NYC.
Academic Internships: FBI, DIA, Study Abroad, Capitol Hill, Working with dolphins, Arctic Missions, Google, etc.
So, to paraphrase: Its not all about being on a boat every summer.
Ultimately, its what your daughter wants that is important. My family is career Air Force but I liked the idea of a smaller service with a humanitarian mission. I have multiple friends here who have been a part of Search and Rescue Cases, Drug Busts, and Migrant Interdictions. The Coast Guard allows cadets to really be active when they are attached to operational units in the summer.
As for which Academy is easier, well that's all relative. Talking to multiple exchange cadets, there are good and not so good parts of every Academy. Its all about perspective. Although it must be nice to only have morning formation a couple of times a week...and a whole hour later than ours.
If your DD has any specific questions about USCGA, I'd be happy to answer them.