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.