TheseiconsrepresentAlaska’snaturalbeauty,deep---rootedhistory,thrivingNativecultureandothernot---to---missattractions.TheyallexistinAlaska,andallcanbeexperiencedinonetrip.FromtheInsidePassagetoFairbankstothetipoftheKenaiPeninsula,hereare10ofAlaska’smostimpressiveicons.

1. TotemPolesTheInsidePassageishometotheTlingit,HaidaandTsimshianpeople,whosehistoryandculturearereflectedintoweringtotempolesfoundingalleries,museums,aswellasinparksandotheroutdoorsettings.

WheretoseethemSitkaNationalHistoricParkboastsacollectionoftotemsnearitsvisitorcenterandalongthepark’swalkingtrails.Thepieces,primarilyfromPrinceofWalesIsland,wereoncedisplayedatthe1904St.LouisExposition.

TheTotemHeritageCenterinKetchikanisanationallandmarkandhousesacollectionof19thcenturytotemsretrievedfromuninhabitedTlingitandHaidavillagesnearKetchikan.ItisthelargestsuchcollectionintheUnitedStates.KetchikanisalsohometoTotemBightStatePark,whichfeaturesanauthenticTlingit“longhouse,”orgatheringplace,anddozensoftotemsinacoastalsetting.

OnChiefShakesIslandinWrangell,sevenintricatelycarvedtotempolessurroundacommunityhouse,whichisthereplicaofanauthenticTlingitIndianstructure.ChiefShakesIslandisaccessibleviafootbridgefromFrontStreetindowntownWrangell.

2. WildlifeWhales,brownbearsandmoose,ohmy!Alaskaishometoanestimated175,000moose,30,000brownbearandninedifferentspeciesofwhales,alongwithnumerousotherspeciesofwildlife.

WheretofindthemBearsofallvarieties–black,brownandpolar–callAlaskahome,butprobablythemostimpressiveandeasiesttoviewarethebrownbears.KatmaiNationalParkandPreserve,KodiakIsland,AdmiraltyIsland,AnanBearandWildlife

ObservatoryandDenaliNationalParkandPreserve,amongmanyotherspots,aregoodplacestowatchbearsinactionfromthesafetyofatourordesignatedviewingarea.

MoosecanbefoundallalongAlaska’shighways,orindensewoodedareasfromcertainpartsoftheInsidePassagetotheColvilleRiverareainAlaska’sFarNorthregion.Theyaremostabundantinareasthathavebeenrecentlyburnedbyforestfireswithlotsoftendernewwillowandbirchshrubs,ontimberlineplateausandalongthemajorriversofSouthcentralandInteriorAlaska.TheyarealsocommonlyseenincitieslikeAnchorageandFairbanks.

WhalesarefoundthroughoutAlaska’scoastalregionsandthereareseveralmajorspeciesthatcallAlaskawatershomeforatleastpartoftheyear,includinghumpback,gray,bowhead,fin,killer(orca),minke,beaked,beluga,spermandNorthPacificrightwhales.ManywhalespeciestraveltoAlaskaduringthesummermonthstofeastonabundantmarinelifebeforemigratingbacktowarmerwatersinCalifornia,MexicoandHawaiiinwintertohavebabies.Daycruisesorwhalewatchingtours,whichareusuallyonsmallerboatsthataremoremaneuverablethanlargeships,offerthebestup---closeviewingofwhales.However,large---shipcruisepassengersandferrytravelersfrequentlyseewhales,too,andwhalescanalsobeviewedfromshoreorduringakayakingtrip.TheentireInsidePassageregion,PrinceWilliamSound,thewatersofftheKenaiPeninsulaandnearKodiakIslandareallgreatplacestoexperiencewhalewatching.

3. America’smostmajesticsymbol—thebaldeagleThebaldeaglepopulationinAlaskaisestimatedat30,000birds.MostvisitorstoAlaskawillseeabaldeaglebeforetheyleavethestate.Anywherefishareplentifulisagoodplacetolookforeagles.Whenscanningthetrees,lookforsomethingthatlookslikeagolfballandyou’reprobablylookingataneagle’shead.AlthougheaglescanbeseenalmostanywhereinAlaska,hereareafewspecialplacestoviewthem:

WheretospotthemTheChilkatBaldEaglePreservenearHaineswasestablishedin1982toprotectoneofthelargestconcentrationsofbaldeaglesinNorthAmerica.The48,000---acrepreservewindsalongtheChilkatRiverwhereeachyear,betweenOctoberandJanuary,morethan3,000eaglescongregatealongtherivertofeedonchumsalmon.AsimilargatheringcanbeseeninthespringalongthebanksoftheStikineRivernearWrangell,whereeaglesflockbythethousandstoscoopsalmonoutoftheriver.

Sitka’sAlaskaRaptorCenterborderstheTongassNationalForestandhasbecomeAlaska’sforemostbaldeaglerescueandrehabilitationcenter.Eachyearthecenterprovidesmedicaltreatmentfor100---200injuredbaldeaglesandother

birds.Thecenterreceivesupto36,000annualvisitors,including15,000schoolchildren,whovisitthecentertotakepartintheRaptors---in---ResidenceandAdopt---A---Raptoreducationalprograms.

4. MagnificentMountainsAlaskaishometo17ofthenation’s20highestpeaks,includingthelegendaryDenali,formerlyMountMcKinley,NorthAmerica’stallestpeak.Hikingoptionsareplentifulstatewide,andmanyexcellentguidebooksofferdirectionstotrailheadsanddetaileddescriptionsofAlaskatrailsineachcommunityorregion.Hikersshouldalwaysletsomeoneknowwherethey’regoingandwhentheyplantobebackandpackmorethanenoughwaterandfoodincasetheygetdelayedduetoweatherorinjury.HerearejustafewrecommendationsforexperiencingAlaska’sbackcountry:

WheretohikethemLocatedabovetheArcticCircle,theBrooksRangeisAlaska’snorthernmostmountainrangeandalsooneofthemostisolated.Toattemptthesedramaticpeaks,thenovicehikerorclimbershouldbeaccompaniedbyanexperiencedguide.VisitorscanflytowildernesslodgesscatteredthroughouttheBrooksRangeforunparalleledbackpacking,orriverkayaking.

TheChugachMountainsareaccessiblefrombothAnchorageandValdezandofferrecreationforalllevels,fromadayhikeup3,550---footFlattopMountaintoexploringthefaceofValdezGlacier.HikerscanalsoattempttheNorthFaceofMountAlyeskaatAlaska’smostpopularskiresort,whereafour---diamondrestaurant,SevenGlaciers,awaitstosatisfydiscerningappetitesatthetop.

ThecommunitiesoftheInsidePassagearehikersparadise,thanksinlargeparttobeingsurroundedbythenation’slargestnationalforest,theTongass.ThetoweringSitkaspruce,glaciers,rivers,waterfallsandsteepfjordsmakeforscenicandchallenginghikingterrain.Inmosttowns,stunningtrailsofalllengthsanddifficultylevelsareasaccessibleaswalkingtotheendofthestreetandproceedingupamountain.ConsidertheMountRobertstrailinJuneau,whichcanbecombinedwithaone---waytripontheMountRobertsTramwayforafantasticallyscenicandenjoyableday.Foralongeradventure,considertheChilkootTrail,whichwashikedbyprospectorstogetfromtidewaterinSkagway,AlaskatothegoldfieldsinCanada’sKlondike.

5. DogMushingDogmushingisAlaska’sofficialstatesportwithrootsthatgoback4,000yearsinthenorthernregionsofNorthAmericaandSiberia.VisitorstravelfromaroundtheworldtowitnessanumberofAlaska'sfamoussleddograces.Visitorscanexperiencedogmushingthroughkenneltoursorevenrideonadogsledacrossthefaceofaglacier.

WheretoexperiencedogmushingTheIditarodTrailSledDogRace,alsoknownas“TheLastGreatRace,”isthelongestdogmushingraceinNorthAmerica–nearly1,000milesfromAnchoragetoNome.ThefirstSaturdayinMarchkicksoffwiththeceremonialstartinAnchorage;spectatorswillalsoenjoytheexcitementofthefinishinNome.AlsoinAnchorage,theannualFurRendezvouscelebrationinFebruaryfeaturestheworld’sbestsprintracingteams.

TheothermajorlongdistanceraceistheYukonQuestInternationalSledDogRacethatrunsfromFairbankstoWhitehorseinCanada’sYukon–adistanceof1,000miles.ManyYukonQuestracecheckpointsareroadaccessible,affordingspectatorslotsofopportunitiestowatchtherace.AlsoinFairbanks,theOpenNorthAmericanandLimitedNorthAmericanchampionshipsareheldinMarchandattracttopsprintmushersfromaroundtheworld.

Inthesummer,kenneltoursareagreatwaytoexperiencemushingandareavailableinmanyAlaskacommunities,especiallyinSouthcentralandInteriorAlaska,wheredogmushingisawayoflife.Toexperiencethethrillofmushingforyourself,checkoutoneofthemanytouroptionsthatincludeaflightbyhelicoptertothefaceofaglacierforarideacrosstheicyexpanse.

6. GlaciersNotriptoAlaskawouldbecompletewithoutglacierviewing.Infact,threeofthetop10mostvisitedattractionsinthestateareglaciers.

WheretoseethemSomeofthebestaccesstoglaciersisfoundinPrinceWilliamSound,accessedeitherinWhittier,ValdezorCordova.Boardthestateferryorprivatedayexcursionboatsinanyofthesecommunitiesforupcloseandpersonalviewsofthesemagnificentriversofice.

KenaiFjordsNationalParkishometoExitGlacier,ahalf---milewideglaciereasilyaccessiblewithinthepark.ItisalsohometoHardingIcefield,oneofonlyfourremainingicefieldsintheUnitedStatesandthelargesticefieldentirelywithinUnitedStatesbordersat700squaremiles.

SeveralofAlaska’smostaccessibleglacierscanalsobereachedbycarincluding:WorthingtonGlacierontheRichardsonHighwaynearValdez;MatanuskaGlacierontheGlennHighwaynearPalmer;ExitGlacier,partofKenaiFjordsNationalParknearSewardontheSewardHighway;PortageGlaciernearGirdwoodontheSewardHighway;andMendenhallGlacieronGlacierHighwayinJuneau.

7. HistoricMiningTownsInjustoneyear,1897---98,morethan60,000adventurersmadetheirwaynorthtotherichgoldfieldsoftheKlondike.ThestrikeledtoanewinterestinAlaskaandsubsequent

strikesincommunitiesalloverthestate.Today,Juneau,Nome,theMat---SuValley,Girdwood,Fairbanksandmanyothercommunitiesoffervisitorsachancetoexperiencetheirgoldminingpast.

WheretofindgoldTheChilkootTraillocatedoutsideofSkagwayisa33---miletrailonwhichvisitorswillfindhistoryattheirfeet.Oldpickaxes,wagonwheels,shovelsandcountlessotheritemscanbefoundalongthishistorictrail.

VisitorstoJuneaucanexperiencethearea’sgoldminingpastinanumberofways,includingatouroftheAlaska---GastineauMillandGoldMineorawalkthroughwhatwasonceoneofthelargestgoldminesinAmerica,theTreadwellMineonDouglasIsland.TogetthemostoutoftheTreadwellMine,stopbytheDouglasPublicLibrary,rightacrossGastineauChannelfromdowntownJuneauonDouglasIsland,andpickupafreeinterpretivemapthatwillguideyouthroughtheheavilyforestedwalkingtrails,pointingoutwhatremainsofwhatwasoncethemostproductivegoldmineintheworld.

InFairbanks,therearestillseveralactiveminesintheareaandolderminesthathavebeenconvertedfortours.MiningrelicsincludetheChenaPumpHouse,EsterCamp,ChatanikaCamp,GoldDredgeNo.8andtheDavidsonDitch.TheUniversityofAlaskaMuseumoftheNorthasminingexhibitsaswell.

8. RussianHistory&CultureAlthoughAlaskawaspurchasedfromRussiain1867,theRussianinfluenceisstillseentodayinthecommunitiesofSitka,KodiakandUnalaskaaswellasontheKenaiPeninsula,whereonion---domedRussianOrthodoxchurchesareavisualreminderofAlaska’spreviousowners.

WheretoexperienceitUnalaskaishometotheoldeststandingRussian---builtchurchinthecountry,datingbackto1825.ItwasbuiltbytheRussianAmericanFurCompany,andisnowafederallydesignatedNationalHistoricLandmark.ThechurchwasnearlydestroyedduringWWII,whentheJapaneseattackedUnalaska.

KodiakIslandwasthefirstplaceinAlaskathattheRussianssettled.AwalkingtourofthecitycanincludetheBaranovMuseum,HolyResurrectionRussianOrthodoxChurchandtheSaintInnocentVeniaminovResearchInstituteMuseum.

VisitorscantakeintheRussianinfluencewhenvisitingSitka,includingtheoldRussiancemetery,theLutherancemetery,whereRussianPrincessMaksoutoffisburied,andSaintMichael’sRussianOrthodoxCathedral.VisitorscanalsoviewtheRussianBishop’sHouse,partofSitkaNationalHistoricalPark,aswellas

manyhistorichousesthatreflectRussianinfluence.9. NorthernLightsMorethan250,000peoplevisitAlaskaeachwinterbetweenOctoberandApril,mostwithhopesofcatchingaglimpseofthenorthernlights(alsoknownastheauroraborealis).

WheretowitnessthemFairbanksprovidesoneofthebestspotsonearthtoviewtheaurora.Itslocationandtendencytohaveclearnightskiesmakethisanunbeatablelocationforwatchingthelightsdance.HotelsinFairbanksofferaurorawake---upcalls,wherestaffwillgentlyawakevisitorstoletthemknowtheauroraisactive.TheUniversityofAlaskaFairbankshasanonlineauroraforecastthathelpspinpointthebesttimetowatchthenorthernlights,whichcanrangefromagreenish,hazycloudtoanactiveanddancingdisplayingreen,redandpurple.Visitorscanexperiencethenorthernlightsfromaheated"aurorium"cabin,onanovernightdogsledtrip,bysnowcattourtoapanoramicvista,onahorsedrawnsleighoronaflightabovetheArcticCircle–orsimplybypullingoveronthesideoftheroadandlookingup.

TheFarNorthregionofAlaskaalsooffersidealcircumstancesfornorthernlightsviewing,whichisknowntobeatitsbestthecloserthevieweristotheNorthPole.Bettles,located180airmilesnorthwestofFairbanks,offersaccommodationsbuiltspecificallyforauroraviewing,whereviewingisbestmid---Augustthroughmid---April.Nome,ColdfootandBarrowarejustafewoftheotherFarNorthcommunitieswithexcellentauroraviewingopportunities.

10. UnsurpassedsportfishingFishinginAlaskaisanangler’sdream.Morethan30speciesofgamefishinhabitAlaska’sfreshandsaltwaters,includingfivespeciesofPacificsalmonandhugehalibut.

WheretocatchthemAlaska’sInsidePassage,knownforsaltwaterfishing,isfamousforgianthalibutandallfivespeciesofPacificsalmon,plusequallyimpressiveopportunitiesforfreshwaterfishing.Ketchikan,Wrangell,Sitka,Petersburg,Haines,SkagwayandJuneauarethekeygatewaycitiestothiswildcoastalregion.Guidedtoursareplentifulinthisregion.

SouthcentralAlaska’sKenaiPeninsulaishometheworld’slargestkingsalmonandwhatareoftendescribedas“barndoor”Pacifichalibut–trophyhalibutweighinatover350pounds!GuidedchartersareavailableallalongthelengthoftheKenaiRiver,whicharealsothespawninggroundsforkings.InHomer,guidedfishingisfocusedonhalibut,whichareplentifulinthearea.VisitorsmayalsoflyouttotheAlaskaRangeinSouthcentralAlaskaforclassicfreshwater

fishingorparticipateinoneofthelocalsummerfishingderbies,whichofferthechancetonotonlycatchatrophyfishbutalsotakehomeagiantcashprize.

Alaska’sFarNorthandInteriorAlaskaareappealingtofreshwateranglersforabundantsalmon,trophy---sizeNorthernpike,laketroutandArcticchar.IntheInterior,popularfishinglocationsincludetheCharleyRiverforking,chumandcohosalmon,andRainbowLake,knownforexcellentrainbowtroutfishing.Whilealittlemorechallengingtoaccess—primarilybyair—thelakeswithintheBrooksRangeintheFarNorthregionareapopularspot,althoughtheymaynotbeice---freeuntilJuly.

Valdez,alsoinSouthcentralAlaska,isalsoknownforitsexcellentsaltwaterfishing.Trophy---sizehalibutareregularlyfetchedfromthewatersofPrinceWilliamSoundandalongrunningfishingderbyofferssomeofthebiggestandbestcashprizesavailableinthestate.Chartersandplentifulandcanbearrangedthroughthelocalconventionandvisitorsbureau.

IfYouGo

StateofAlaskatourismofficehttp://www.travelalaska.com/MediaCenterPhone:(800)327---9372

AdmiraltyIslandNationalMonumentwww.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/admiraltyPhone:(907)586---8800

AlaskaMarineHighwaySystemhttp://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/pubs/Phone:(800)642---0066AlaskaRaptorCenterwww.alaskaraptor.orgPhone:(800)643---9425

AlyeskaResortwww.alyeskaresort.comPhone:(800)880---3880

AnanWildlifeObservatorywww.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/recreation/wildlife_viewing/ananobservatory.shtmlPhone:(907)225---3101AnchorageFurRendezvousFestivalwww.furrondy.netPhone:(907)274---1177BaranovMuseumwww.baranovmuseum.orgPhone:(907)486---5920

ThePumpHousewww.pumphouse.comPhone:(907)479---8452ChiefShakesIslandhttp://shakesisland.comPhone:(907)874---3097ChilkatBaldEaglePreservehttp://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/eagleprv.htmPhone:(907)465---4563

CordovaChamberofCommerce&VisitorsCenterwww.cordovachamber.comPhone:(907)424---7260DenaliNationalParkandPreservewww.nps.gov/dena/index.htmPhone:(907)683---2294DouglasPublicLibrarywww.juneau.org/libraryPhone:(907)364---2378ExploreFairbankswww.explorefairbanks.comPhone:(800)327---5774GoldDredgeNo.8www.golddredgeno8.comPhone:(907)457---6058GreaterWhittierChamberofCommercewww.whittieralaskachamber.orgPhone:(907)677---9448HainesConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.haines.ak.usPhone:(800)458---3579HomerChamberofCommercewww.homeralaska.orgPhone:(907)235---7740IditarodTrailSledDogRacewww.iditarod.comPhone:(907)248---MUSHJuneauConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.traveljuneau.comPhone:(888)581---2201KatmaiNationalParkandPreservehttp://www.nps.gov/katm/index.htmPhone:(907)246---3305

KenaiFjordsNationalParkhttp://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htmPhone:(907)422---0500KenaiPeninsulaTourismMarketingCouncilwww.kenaipeninsula.orgPhone:(800)535---3624KetchikanVisitorsBureauhttp://www.visit-ketchikan.com/Phone:(800)770---3300DiscoverKodiakhttp://www.kodiak.orgPhone:(800)789---4782KlondikeGoldRushNationalParkwww.nps.gov/klgo/index.htmPhone:(907)983---9200Mat---SuConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.alaskavisit.comPhone:(907)746---5000MountRobertsTramwayhttp://mountrobertstramway.com/Phone:(888)820---2628NomeConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.nomealaska.orgPhone:(907)443---6624PetersburgChamberofCommercewww.petersburg.orgPhone:(907)772---INFSewardChamberofCommercewww.seward.comPhone:(907)224---8051

SitkaConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.sitka.orgPhone:(800)557---4852SitkaNationalHistoricParkwww.nps.gov/sitk/index.htmPhone:(907)747---0107SkagwayConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.skagway.comPhone:(888)762---1898TongassNationalForestwww.fs.fed.us/r10/tongassPhone:(907)225---3101TotemBightStateParkhttp://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totembgh.htmPhone:(907)465---4563TotemHeritageCenterhttp://www.ktn-ak.us/totem-heritage-centerPhone:(907)225---5900Unalaska/PortofDutchHarborConvention&VisitorsBureauhttp://www.ci.unalaska.ak.us/community/page/convention-and-visitor-bureauPhone:(877)581---2612

UniversityofAlaskaMuseumoftheNorthwww.uaf.edu/museumPhone:(907)474---7505UniversityofAlaskaFairbanksGeophysicalInstitutewww.gi.alaska.eduPhone:(907)474---7558ValdezConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.valdezalaska.orgPhone:(907)835---2984VisitAnchoragewww.anchorage.netPhone:(907)276---4118

WrangellConvention&VisitorsBureauwww.wrangell.comPhone:(800)367---9745YukonQuestInternationalSledDogRacewww.yukonquest.comPhone:(907)452---7954