Seward, Alaska SeaLife Center, Kodiak Island and Talkeetna

Seward
Seward is a town of high-excitement events. Every 4th of July, the city is flooded with thousands of people for the race up 3,000 foot Mount Marathon. In August, anglers compete in the Silver Salmon Fishing Derby for large prizes. In January, participants in the Polar Bear Plunge jump into Resurrection Bay in full costume to raise money for charity. Even when a festival isn’t happening, there’s still plenty to do. Take a sightseeing tour, ride on horseback through the bald eagles’ territory, or drive the scenic Alaska highway around Seward. And definitely stop by the Alaska SeaLife Center.

Alaska SeaLife Center
Located in Seward, the Alaska SeaLife Center is a destination of its own. It was the world’s first cold-water marine research, rehabilitation, and education facility. Instead of seeing sea lions and harbor seals from afar, get up close to these animals—and many others—at the Center’s viewing tanks and other displays. Even watch research as it is being conducted. The Center offers several different programs and tours. Get personal with squid and the Giant Octopus. Learn about rehabilitating animals with a behind-the-scenes tour. Take the Twilight Tour and be the only visitors in the Center. Something for every interest.

Kodiak Island
Alaska’s “Emerald Isle” is famous for its Kodiak brown bears, so it’s an obvious place to go for bear viewing. With about 3,000 Kodiak bears on the island, opportunities to spot one abound, but they often avoid the roadsides. Hiring one of the many bear viewing guides or chartering a “flightseeing” session on a bush plane greatly increases chances of seeing many of these awe-inspiring creatures.
The annual Kodiak Crab Festival kicks off in May. Visitors ride carnival rides and eat at roadside booths. Other attractions include a seafood cook-off, a golf tournament, and a variety show.

Talkeetna
For that small town Alaska feel, Talkeetna is the place to go. Located in the South Denali area, this rural isolated town is a step back in time. Enjoy a unique stay in an original, renovated miner’s cabin. Many of the original saloons and roadhouses are still open and serving customers.
Tour the area by foot or by riverboat. Ride an inflatable raft on a float trip through beautiful scenery. Or simply take in a local ball game and listen to one of Talkeetna’s many musicians play.

Nome, Denali, Kennecott

Nome
Born from a tent city inhabited by thousands of gold miners, Nome is one of the more unique places to visit. The Iditarod dog sled race ends in Nome every march. Thousands of Alaska natives and visitors converge on Nome to celebrate the mushers crossing the finish line. A reindeer potluck, craft shows, and the Ice Golf Classic are all part of the Iditarod celebration.
During the rest of the year, visitors visit the Serpentine Hot springs, take dog sled rides, or pan for gold. Nome’s beaches and abandoned gold dredges allow people to step back in time and hunt for gold nuggets as the settlers did. Best of all, if they find gold, they get to keep it.
Just don’t try to drive to Nome, there aren’t any roads to Nome. Luckily, Alaska Airlines has year-round daily flights between Anchorage and Nome.
There are lots of roads in and around Nome. The roads were built by the army when we were at war and during the cold war when Nome was felt to be an essential strategic location. They're really amazing. Down in the rest of the state you may have had to go over some gravel roads, but up here the roads are paved and 1st class. What we did when we went to Nome was rented a camper and drove around visiting old gold dredges, muskok preserves, and some of the native villages. They even have an abandoned Chrisitan missionary with some wonderful hot springs.

Denali National Park
Larger than the state of Massachusetts, Denali National Park and Preserve is an area of unparalleled wilderness. No private cars are allowed into the park after the 14-mile mark, but visitors can take a shuttle bus to various campgrounds and trials. The park also offers a day-long narrated bus tour, perfect for landscape and wildlife watching.
Cross-country is the word for Denali hikers—very few trails cut through the park. It may make the hiking a little tougher, but it is worth it. Pick an area you want to hike in. There are some great guides to the park you can purchase. Get on the shuttle bus and tell the driver where you want to get off. Depending upon where you get off when you start your hike you'll already be up to twenty miles into the wilderness. So it doesn't take long to get up close with the wildlife. If you are lucky you'll take in views of Mt. McKinley that the buses can’t see, and experience Denali as the first explorers did.

Kennecott
Once the most modern city in Alaska, Kennecott is now a ghost town. Copper miners built the town after finding the richest copper deposit in history. Most of the original buildings, including the mill, are still standing, presenting a moment in history for visitors to enjoy.
A guided tour of the original Kennecott Mill and other buildings, hiking on the Kennicott Glacier, and ice climbing are popular among visitors. The Bonanza, Jumbo, and Erie mines are a day’s hike away. The more adventurous might like the heart-pounding trip along sheer cliffs to the Erie mine.

Alaskan Cruise, Alaska Marine Highway and Anchorage

Face it. Anywhere in Alaska is a great place to go. From pristine forests to gigantic glaciers, brown bears to bald eagles, Alaska is a place like no other. Adventure is only a step away.

Take an Alaskan Cruise
Spending a vacation aboard an Alaskan cruise is a relaxing and rewarding experience. These luxury liners usually leave port in the continental US and travel north along the coastline and through the Aleutian Islands. Whale-watching is exciting and awe-inspiring, as is the landscape sliding along.
If just looking at the landscape isn’t enough, cruisetours combine the cruise with time on land. Hike on glaciers, trek through the pristine wilderness, and view the vast array of wildlife before or after a relaxing cruise.

Alaska Marine Highway
While not usually a destination, the Alaska Marine Highway System is a perfect choice for traveling on a low budget. You can get a cabin on the boat, however if your sense of adventure is even higher or your pocketbook even thinner you can forgo the cabin and sleep on the deck. The ferry service runs to towns with no road access. With only a few cabins, groups of friends in sleeping bags and tents camp out around the ship. It’s a friendly and relaxed atmosphere perfect for students and groups who are looking for a low-cost “cruise.” Most of the ferrys in the Alaska Marine Highway system can also carry passenger cars but make sure you book early.

Anchorage
All the comforts of home in the middle of the wilderness. In four time All-American City award winning Anchorage, the best of both worlds come together. Take trip to Denali during the day be back in a luxurious hotel room by nightfall. Fish for king and silver salmon in Ship Creek as it runs by downtown office buildings. In the summer, vibrant flowers of every color line the streets and shops. Live music fills the air and dancers perform native dances for visitors. Even vegetables add to the fairy-tale. The largest pumpkin in the world—942 pounds—was grown right here.

Alaska Wildlife

Alaska’s pristine environment abounds with wildlife. Many people visit Alaska. Very few places in the world offer such an abundance of animals in such breath-taking setting. Whether hunting or just viewing, visitors to Alaska can explore wildlife in a variety of ways. Whether hiking,camping, fishing or viewing wildlife plan to be wildlife safe. It's definitely not Yogi or Bubu bear you are meeting in the woods. Alaska wildlife tend to be on the huge side so show them the proper respect and watch from a safe distance. It's a good idea to carry a bear spray. You don't have to be pinpoint accurate - it sprays out a wide spray and some studies I've read said that bear sprays have been 92% effective in bear encounters while guns have only been 67% effective.

Hunting
Hunting in Alaska is a combination of survival skills and hunting experience. Hunts can be either guided or unguided. Make sure, if you are being guided your guide has the appropriate state licenses. Those on a guided hunt are often provided all the gear needed on the hunt. The guide will lead his party to the best spots to hunt. Sometimes these may be open tracts of land or sometimes you will be hunting from specially constructed blinds. If you are planning on an unguided hunt make sure you are fully prepared both for hinting and for survival. Unguided Alaska hunting should only be attempted by those who are mentally and physically prepared. You can bring home trophy bears, moose, caribou, and wolverines if you are prepared and have the right guide. The Alaskan wilderness is a vastly rewarding place, but also an unforgiving one.

Fishing
Fishermen in Alaska have spectacular opportunities and options to catch that big one they will always remember. Gigantic salmon and trout fill the rivers, streams and lakes. Often the challenge isn’t so much in catching the fish as in reeling it in. The first time I went halibut fishing I was offered a pole with a motorized reel. The real wasn't designed to pull the fish in just to get the retrieve the heavy weight and rebait your hook. I thought what am I a wimp? I don't need no stinking motor. After you spend the day continually cranking the line up from the 300 feet depth where these huge bottom feeders dwell and rebaiting your hook you'll see the wisdom in a motorized reel. Fishing in Alaska is perfect for all skill levels. An expert angler and a beginner can be in the same party and both enjoy the trip equally. My wife, on her first day out was fantastic at getting a fish on the hook - better than me. But as soon as she hooked it she handed her rod to me so I could bring it in since that was the part she hadn't gotten down yet. Hey for me a fighting fish on the line is great so it was a match made in heaven.

Ways to Watch
Visitors who just want a chance to see Alaskan wildlife have many ways to get to where the wildlife is. In Alaska wildlife is pretty much everywhere. An Alaskan float trip is a unique way to see wildlife. Float on nearly 200 miles of beautiful river. Pass by mountain ranges, glaciers, and untouched forests. Snowmobiling is another option for getting up close with Alaska’s animals. Either on a tour or a self guided trip, snowmobiles reach parts of Alaska virtually impossible to get to by other means.
Take a hike. Nearly every lodge and private tour guide offers some kind of hiking trip either by itself or as part of a package vacation. Scurry cross-country over glaciers, trails, or one of the national parks.

Bear Watching
Bear viewing is becoming an increasingly popular activity for visitors to Alaska. Several lodges have set up special camps with camouflage blinds for viewing bears up close. Charter planes offer “flightseeing” trips. The bears aren’t as close, but more can be seen.
A fun fact: the world’s largest bear was shot in Alaska. The brown bear weighed 1200 pounds and stood 10 feet tall. Considering the average bear weighs only 300 pounds, that’s a pretty big bear!

Fishing in Alaska

They say that everything is bigger in Texas. But in Alaska, fish are definitely bigger. And more numerous. During a salmon run some of the streams are so thick with salmon it almost seems like you could walk across on their backs to the other side. The halibut are so big it boggles the mind of an out of state angler. The winning halibut derby fish a few years back was 380 pounds and the lucky angler who caught it won $40,000.

Salmon Fishing
For catching salmon, Alaska is the only destination. Millions of salmon run Alaskan rivers during spawning season. Though the bears try their hardest to catch them, plenty of salmon are left over for anglers. Kodiak Island, Kenai Fjords, and Anchorage are excellent destinations for fishermen of all skill levels. The waters are swift and cold so plan on not falling in. If you are going to wade in a bit try to get some insulated waders. Your fishing spot can be easy to get to like Ship Creek or Bird Creek, just outside of Anchorage. Or maybe you want to hire a plane to get to a pristine fly-in lake for the experience of a lifetime.

Kodiak Island
Catch barn-door halibut, trout, and all five salmon species in the water in and around Kodiak. Fish these waters year-round—something is always biting. I remember the first time I went halibut fishing and hooked on to one of these big ones I thought I had connected with a garage door. Make sure before you go out to pick up your halibut derby ticket. You never know. Several years ago one of my friends hooked into a 380 pound halibut and his derby prize ticket was worth a $40,000 prize.
A fishing trip at Kodiak is fully customizable. Charter a boat to fish the waters around Kodiak for halibut weighing hundreds of pounds. Go on a float trip down one of Kodiak’s rivers on a search for that trophy salmon or trout. There’s something for every fisherman on Alaska’s “Emerald Isle.”

Kenai Fjords
Hire a boat in Seward for an overnight fishing trip in the Kenai Fjords. Here, fishermen share the water with seals, whales, and calving glaciers as they fish for halibut, lingcod, trout, and four species of salmon. Remember if a bear wants your fishing spot give it to him. During peak bear season, every fisherman loses his fishing spot at least once. A splashing fish on the line quickly gets the attention of any bear nearby.

Anchorage
Fishing Ship Creek in Anchorage can get a little crowded, but the convenience is worth it. Don’t go downtown to buy salmon, go downtown and catch one! You can fish for king and silver salmon right in the shadows of office buildings. Remember to buy your ticket for the fishing derbies each June and August. There are of course prizes for the biggest, etc. But there are also numerous tagged fish that can earn you a handsome prize. There are many lakes right in Anchorage that are stocked with rainbow trout, grayling, and landlocked salmon.

Fly-in or Not?
The biggest question on an Alaskan fishing trip is whether to fly in or pick someplace close enough to walk or drive. Both options has its good and bad sides. Fly-ins are as remote as they come. It is very, very rare for a fly-in fisherman to share the river with anyone who didn’t fly in with him. The downside is that once there, it’s not that easy to leave. Walk-ins are usually within a few minutes of the hotel or lodge. They are easy to get to and easy to leave if it’s a bad day. Walk-ins tend to be a little more crowded. If you've ever been to one of the more popular walk-ins near population centers you learn to know the meaning of "combat fishing."

Fishing Lodges
Lodges are a great for families and groups. There are usually differnent activities to please eveyone. You can fish during the day while your wife takes a hike or reads a book and then meet to enjoy great food and a warm bed at night. Lodges are located all over Alaska and each offers different levels of accompdation from the rustic to the luxurious and varying packages and activities. Take guided and unguided trips by boat, raft, or on foot in pursuit of a trophy fish. Many lodges also smoke or vacuum pack all fish caught for easier travel.

Alaskan Adventure Travel

Alaska adventure travel is very popular. The state is so vast and offers so many different types of activities it's almost a question of what you prefer and how much time do you have. It's up to you Alaska has it all except for palm trees.

If you'd like to explore the panhandle area of Alaska you can take one of the cruise ships out of Seattle or Vancouver. If you are looking for something more economical and more adventurous get a ticket for the Alaska Marine Highway. Many of Alaska's water communities are connected by the Alaska Ferry system. You can book a cabin but for the more adventuous you can sleep on deck and save some money.

Customize your vacation and include the activities that you like do most, such as sea kayaking, river rafting, hiking, camping, fishing. whale watching, and wildlife viewing, which are some of the most popular. Alaska offers white capped mountains, majestic glaciers, streams filled with salmon, national parks and wildlife refuges, and backcountry lodging to rest and reflect on all your activities of the day. Sound like fun to you? There are many travel and tourism companies that offer a wide range of Alaska adventure travel packages ranging from tours of a few hours to those lasting a couple of weeks.

I don't think any visit to Alaska is complete without a visit to see Denali National Park. But your adventure can start before you even get to the park. One of the most relaxing and scenic ways to get to Denali National Park is the Alaska Railroad. Hop aboard in Anchorage. Make sure you grab your window seat in the glass domed observation car and you will be in for the scenic ride of a lifetime. I believe there is now an Alaskan Railroad platform right in the new Anchorage Airport. Once you get Denali Park are shuttle buses available will take you into the park, or you can book a tour on a private bus, including a variety of guided hikes, fishing, gold panning, and innumerous picture taking opportunities. Mount McKinley National Park is inside of Denali and tours offer spectacular views of this glacier topped majestic mountain, which is the highest peak in North America at a stunning 20,320 feet.

Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the Kenai Penninsula is another area you may want to explore on your Alaska adventure travel. The Kenai Mountains border this fantastic refuge, with hundreds of glacier fed lakes, and a variety of wildlife species, including caribou, black and brown bears, birds, and sea life such as seals, penguins, and different varieties of whales. Hiking and kayaking are very popular in this area you can get up close to the wildlife. Just not too close. Remember these are wild animals.

In northern Alaska, the Artic National Wildlife Refuge, is the largest refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge system According to Alaska Wildland Adventures it has eight million acres designated as a wildlife refuge. Home to several indigenous native tribes, the Inupiat Eskimos and Gwinch’in Indians, many survive using the resources on the refuge, just as their ancestors before them preserving their culture.

Your Alaska adventure travel will be a trip you travel will be the trip of a lifetime. It will be an experience you won't soon forget. Alaska’s is largely and untouched and truly breathtaking wilderness. If you want a book to daydream by and plan your trip get a copy of the Alaska Widerness Milepost. It's published by the same people who print the Alaska Milepost - a complete guide to the Alaska road system and all of the attractions. The Wilderness carries your adventure a step further with maps, hiking trails and descriptions. Start planning now and go experience it yourself. You'll be glad you did.

Anchorage Alaska

Anchorage Alaska is the largest city in the state and receives thousands of tourists in the summer season. There's a lot to see and do in Anchorage. The surrounding Chugach montains offer some spectacular views as well as stunning hiking and biking trails. Many people are attracted to the friendly people; clean air and small town feel of the area. Nearby Bird Creek offers incredible salmon fishing in season. Out of state anglers can't believe you can drive a few minutes out of town and be catching large salmon other out of state anglers would drool over. The are mudflats have some interesting raised plank nature walks. But don't get caught out on those mud flats during a tidal bore. What is a tidal bore you ask? Since the tides are so extreme its a wall of water that comes up the channel with a sound that others have described as a locomotive. The mud may look firm but stay off. Many a hapless victim has gotten stuck in the quicksand like goo and had to be pulled out by helicopter. The city has thrived as the major port in the state and also as a center for the petroleum industry and the site for military bases.

The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts contains a concert hall and two theatres. The center houses the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and the Anchorage Opera Company. There are two large convention centers and the Sullivan Arena hosts ice hockey and basketball matches, in addition to rock and country music shows. There are many interesting museums in the city many focusing on the culture, history and natural beauty of Alaska. Some of your choices are the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum, the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and Imaginarium: Science Discovery Center.

In February when the annual Fur Rendezvous Festival takes place the Anchorage really kicks into high gear. It's a celebration of the winter lifestyle in Anchorage Alaska and events include a sled dog race, snow sculpture contest, carnival, ice skating show and dog weight pull competition. In summer, if your are not out hiking or taking advantage of the natural beauty you can take in the music Festival when a series of chamber music concerts take place on campus at Alaska Pacific University.

A great place for families with young children to go and have fun is the H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark. Its a great park with wave pools, water coaster, splash pool and children's lagoon. All the water is kept at a nice warm temperature. The park runs swimming lessons, including parent and toddler classes, and kayaking lessons. If you are looking to get fit you can can book water aerobic sessions. After a great time in the pool, you can relax in the hot tub or grab a snack.

Skiing is a favorite activity winter activity here. The Alyeska Ski Resort is located at Girdwood, around 50 miles from Anchorage Alaska. It's part of the Chugach mountain range and is on the biggest ski mountain in the state. The resort is popular with experienced skiers who like a challenge. For a location that's closer, local people from Anchorage Alaska like to go to the Hilltop Ski Area in Anchorage, situated on Anchorage Hillside. It's a children friendly resort and you can rent ski and snowboard equipment.

Alaska Lodges, Alaska Bed and Breakfasts

In every village, town, and city, Alaskans are some of the most hospitable people in the world. So it should come as no surprise that Alaska has lodges and bed and breakfasts from one corner to the other. These inns offer delicious meals and comfortable rooms as a base from which to explore Alaska.
One-third of all rentable rooms in Alaska are B&Bs. With hundreds of bed and breakfasts across Alaska, finding a place to stay isn’t all that challenging. The Bed and Breakfast Association of Alaska (alaskabba.com) makes it even easier. The Association has 160 member B&Bs that are regularly inspected to make sure comfort and safety standards are upheld. Making a reservation with an Association member comes with a guarantee of a great room.

Stay in a renovated miner’s cabin in Talkeetna or in modern, upscale lodgings in Anchorage. Alaska’s B&Bs have a style for everyone’s taste, from rustic to luxury. Lodgings can be anything from a home stay to a guest apartment to a private cabin. Luxury rooms are generally more expensive than rustic rooms. Expect to pay $150+ for a luxury room during the summer. Homestays are generally are more of a “grandma’s house” feel and cost less than luxury accommodations.

Getting the most out of a stay at a bed and breakfast is easy to do. Remember, the word of the day is respect. It is someone’s home. And don’t forget to talk to the innkeeper. Not only will it make the stay friendlier and even more comfortable, they usually know about great events and places not publicized in brochures.

Lodges are nearly as numerous as bed and breakfasts. Finding a great one is a bit tougher than finding a B&B, but not much. Ask friends and relatives who have stayed at an Alaskan lodge for their recommendations. Alternatively, choosing a lodge by the packages they offer is a good way to go.
Enjoy Alaskan lodges in two ways: as only a place to stay or as part of an excursion package.

Most lodges offer guided trips into the Alaskan wilderness for fishing, hiking, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. These trips aren’t required to stay at the lodge, but are definitely worth looking at. Trained guides almost always enhance the experience above what a self-guided trip could. Many visitors use a lodge as a place to rest and relax after a long day of fishing, hunting, or other activities. With so many things to do in Alaska, members of a group often separate for activities the most interest them. A lodge offers a perfect place to regroup over dinner and recount the day’s events.

Like a bed and breakfast, the host at a lodge can suggest places to go that aren’t part of a package or listed on a brochure. Even for those who prefer unguided fishing, hunting, or hiking trips, a few quick questions can make the trip go from great to spectacular.

Alaska Wildlife

Alaska Wildlife
Alaska’s pristine environment abounds with wildlife of all shapes and sizes. It is one of the main reasons many people visit Alaska. Very few places in the world offer such an abundance of animals in such breath-taking land. Whether hunting or just viewing, visitors to Alaska can explore wildlife in a variety of ways.

Hunting
Hunting in Alaska is a combination of survival skills and hunting experience. Hunts can be either guided or unguided. Those on a guided hunt are often provided all the gear needed on the hunt. The guide will lead his party to the best spots to hunt. These may be open tracts of land or special blinds.
On an unguided hunt, trek out into the wilderness on their own. Unguided Alaska hunting should only be attempted by those who are mentally and physically prepared. Those who are prepared can bring home trophy bears, moose, caribou, and wolverines. The Alaskan wilderness is a vastly rewarding place, but also an unforgiving one.

Fishing
Fishermen in Alaska have opportunities not found anywhere else. Gigantic salmon and trout fill the rivers and streams. Fishermen new to fishing Alaska often think their boat is being bumped by underwater rocks or logs, but it is more likely to be a big fish. The challenge here isn’t so much in catching the fish, but in reeling it in. Fishing in Alaska is perfect for all skill levels. An expert angler and a beginner can be in the same party and both enjoy the trip equally.

Ways to Watch
Visitors who just want a chance to see Alaskan wildlife and maybe snap a few pictures have quite a few ways to get to where the wildlife is. Of course, in Alaska, that’s pretty much everywhere.
An Alaskan float trip is a unique way to see wildlife. Float on nearly 200 miles of beautiful river. Pass by mountain ranges, glaciers, and untouched forests. Snowmobiling is another option for getting up close with Alaska’s animals. Either on a tour or a self guided trip, snowmobiles reach parts of Alaska virtually impossible to get to by other means. Take a hike. Nearly every lodge and private tour guide offers some kind of hiking trip either by itself or as part of a package vacation. Scurry cross-country over glaciers, trails, or one of the national parks.

Bear Watching
Bear viewing is becoming an increasingly popular activity for visitors to Alaska. Several lodges have set up special camps with camouflage blinds for viewing bears up close. Charter planes offer “flightseeing” trips. The bears aren’t as close, but more can be seen.
A fun fact: the world’s largest bear was shot in Alaska. The brown bear weighed 1200 pounds and stood 10 feet tall. Considering the average bear weighs only 300 pounds, that’s a pretty big bear!

Alaska Adventure Travel and Vacation Information

For most people, Alaska conjures up images of snow, ice, and sled dogs. In winter—or in some spots, all year round—this is a true image. However, in the summer much of Alaska is covered in flowers of every color and grass just as green as anywhere else. Kodiak gets the nickname “Emerald Island” because of this brilliant green foliage.

Alaska is such a vast state that it has something for just about everyone. Alaska can be the starting point for the adventure of a lifetime - I know it was for me. Many Alaska travelers really feel the meaning of the saying "Once you go to Alaska you can't go all the way home. The memories, scenery and experiences will last a lifetime.

One reason for the image of barren, frozen land is Alaska’s weather. The weather in Alaska varies greatly by region. Juneau and the panhandle have weather much like Washington State, but just a bit cooler. Interior Alaska, on the other hand, is an exercise in extremes. Summer temperatures can reach into the 90s, while winter temperatures dip down to -60. Couple these temperatures with the changing sunlight and it is easy to see why many visitors are surprised when they arrive in Alaska. The farther north a visitor goes, the longer the summertime daylight hours get. Travel to the Arctic Circle in July and get a full 24 hours of sunlight. Even in “mainland” Alaska, the longer days can easily throw off sleep cycles and confuse visitors for a few days.

Also confusing to visitors is trying to figure out what to do next. Alaska offers so many things to do and places to see that it is easy to get overwhelmed. Hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and bear watching are just a few of the things to do. Not to mention simply walking through historical sites or one of Alaska’s many pristine national parks.

Indeed, the awe-inspiring environment is one of the main reasons to visit Alaska, but its history is another. Without its history, the Alaska of today wouldn’t be the same. Bought from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, hardly anyone believed that “Seward’s Folly” would ever prove valuable. Then, in the 1890s, gold was discovered. Thousands of miners made their way to Alaska, building tent cities around gold and copper deposits. Anchorage and many other cities sprung up from these mining camps to become the modern cities they are today.

In 1968, pioneers struck oil. The Trans-Alaskan Pipeline was quickly completed to pump the oil to where it was needed. From “worthless” land, Alaska was no longer only the largest state, but also one of the wealthiest.

Alaska is also the most racially diverse state. Caucasians, Native Americans, and Alaska Natives make up the majority of the Alaskan population. More Native Americans live in Alaska than in any other state, mostly in remote, sparsely populated areas. The influence of these different groups is very heavy on Alaskan culture. Every city in Alaska has shops that showcase the arts and crafts of the region, and many have museums showing how the culture has changed. During the summer, native musicians and dancers perform in the streets for visitors. Artists work in the bright sunlight, showing their impressive skills.