For early Alaskans, survival relied on being strong and smart, resilient and resourceful. There was little room for error and no space for waste – everything available served multiple purposes and used to its fullest potential. This lifestyle is embodied in the inspired inventions, tools and clothing created and used every day. Here are three excellent examples of ingenious inventions... Read More
When it comes to conversations around Alaska’s unique geography, Alaska trivia, fun facts and unusual statistics are dependably fascinating and practically infinite! For example: What’s the distance of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race? ALASKA ANSWER: The traditional route is 1,149 miles. What’s the proper name of the state’s great mountain: McKinley or Denali? ALASKA ANSWER: Alaskans and the federal government... Read More
Special Guest Blog by Dr. Melanie Windridge, author of Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights What are the Northern Lights? The swirling arcs of the Aurora Borealis or "the Northern Lights" that we see are actually billions of oxygen and nitrogen atoms being struck by charged particles and emitting tiny flashes of light high up in the polar night sky –... Read More
Gold! Gold! Gold! In 1896, the Klondike Gold Rush drew around 100,000 prospectors, laborers and entrepreneurs to the Yukon Territories and Dawson City, Southeast Alaska and Skagway, the Yukon River and beyond, with all routes leading to potential fortunes. Some struck gold and had their lives instantly changed. But most grand dreams of gold were met with the reality of... Read More
When I was 23, I went to Alaska by myself into the glaciers of the coast range and climbed a mountain by myself. It was incredibly reckless, incredibly stupid. But I was lucky. And I survived, and I came back to tell my story.
Alaska is what happens when Willy Wonka and the witch from Hansel and Gretel elope, buy a place together upstate, renounce their sweet teeth, and turn into health fanatics.
We know, you're dying to know! These are the ultimate cocktail party teasers and are sure to get the party rolling once your friends find out you're on your way to ALASKA. Here Are Alaska’s 5 Most Bizarre Claims To Fame: CLAIM #1: Free money for everyone! For at least one day every fall, Alaskans feel flush with cash. That’s because since 1982,... Read More
To the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.
Standing tall, colorful, powerful and somewhat mysteriously are some of Alaska's most intriguing treasures and unique storytellers – Native American totem poles. While beautiful, these intricately and creatively carved and painted cedar tree structures are far more than local Alaska art. The carvings are monuments created by the indigenous Haida, Tsimshian and Tlingit artists of the region whose totem poles tell... Read More
John Muir, the famous naturalist, wrote in his journal that you should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live. And there's a lot of truth to that.
For sheer majestic geography and sublime scale, nothing beats Alaska and the Yukon.
The Iditarod Sled Dog Race is the world’s longest dogsledding race, extending over 1000 miles through some of the roughest and wildest country in Alaska. The first Iditarod race was held in 1973 to honor the long history and tradition of dog mushing in Alaska. Before trucks and planes, dog teams were used in Alaska to transport goods, deliver mail,... Read More