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Activities:
Alaska is big -- its 570,373-square-mile area is one-fifth the size of the
continental US and over twice the size of Texas. With that much area to cover,
you must do some serious prioritizing. This incredible state offers fishing,
bird- and wildlife-watching, skiing (both downhill and cross country), cruising,
sightseeing, as well as historical and cultural activities and adventure and
Ecotourism, and much more. Where do you want to start?
Attractions:
The variety of activities available to you is as diverse as the land and people.
Since 1995, Alaska has designated 11 state scenic byways. In 1998, the Seward
Highway was designated a National Scenic Byway. The others are: the Alaska
Railroad, Marine Highway System, Dalton Highway, Glenn Highway, Haines Highway,
Parks Highway (Denali State Park to Healy), Richardson Highway (from Glenallen
to Valdez), Steese Highway, Sterling Highway from Wye to Skilak and from Anchor
Point to Homer, and the Taylor -Top-of-the-World Highway.
The Treadwell Mine History Tour is a self-guided hike along the Treadwell Trail
beginning at Sandy Beach on Douglas Island. A map with information on the mining
history of the area is available at the Juneau-Douglas City Museum or Davis Log
Cabin Visitors Center. The largest stamp mill in the world (960 stamps) was
located here. At one time, Douglas was the largest city in Alaska.
Don't forget the mountains: 17 of the nation-s 20 highest peaks are in Alaska,
including Mt. McKinsey (20,320 feet/ meters), the tallest mountain in North
America. There are also more active glaciers in Alaska than in the rest of the
inhabited world, with around 100,000 glaciers in all. The Marine Highway System
covers 3,500 miles and serves 30 ports. Alaska has 3 million lakes, over 3,000
rivers, and more coastline than the entire continental US - 47,300 miles. As for
parklands, there are 15 National Parks, Preserves, and Monuments, and 3.2
million acres of State Park lands.
And if that isn't enough to impress you, think consider this: Alaska is home to
the largest known concentration of bald eagles; over 3,000 converge near Haines
from October through January to feed on late-run salmon in the Chilkat River.
Here are some of Alaska's many parks:
- Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
- Alaska State Marine Parks
- Aleutian World War II National Historic Site
- Aniakchak National Monument and Preserve
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
- Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
- Big Delta State Historical Park
- Caines Head State Recreation Area
- Cape Krusenstern National Monument
- Captain Cook State Recreation Area
- Chena River State Recreation Area
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve
- Chugach National Forest
- Chugach State Park
- Denali National Park
- Denali State Park
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and
Preserve
- Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve
- Independence Mine State Historical Park
- Kachemak Bay State Park and State Wilderness
Park
- Katmai National Park and Preserve
- Kenai Fjords National Park
- Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
- Kenai River Special Management Area
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
- Kobuk Valley National Park
- Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge
- Kodiak State Parks
- Lake Clark National Park and Preserve
- Misty Fjords National Monument
- Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
- Noatak National Preserve
- Redoubt Bay State Critical Habitat Area
- Sitka National Historical Park
- Togiak National Wildlife Refuse
- Tongass National Forest
- Totem Bight State Historical Park
- Trading Bay State Game Refuge
- Wood-Tikchik State Park
- Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve
Events:
Note: Events for Anchorage and Seward are not included here. Please see your
Destination Guides for those locales.
January:
- Annual Polar Bear Swim, Wrangell
- Friday Night Insight Programs, Ketchikan
- Russian Christmas and Starring - Kodiak
Island
- 17th Annual Rookie Spiel, Fairbanks
- Alcan 200 International Snowmachine Race,
Haines
- Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race, Bethel
- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival,
Fairbanks
- Arctic Chamber Orchestra in Concert,
Fairbanks
- Tustumena 200 Sled Dog Race, Kenai
- WinterFest at Alyeska Resort,
Girdwood/Alyeska
February:
- Festival of the North, Ketchikan
- Fly By Night, 18th Annual Wearable Art Show,
Ketchikan
- Tent City Festival, Wrangell
- Ice Worm Festival, Cordova
- Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race,
Fairbanks
- Nenana Valley Chamber of Commerce Annual
Awards Dinner, Nenana
- Tesoro Iron Dog Snowmachine Race, Wasilla
- Snow Rondi, Anchor Point
- Iditarod Days Festival, Wasilla
- North Pole Sled Dog Championship, North Pole
March:
- World Ice Art Championships, Fairbanks
- Central Peninsula Writers Night, Kenai
- Mayor's Cup Cross-Country Snowmachine Race,
Valdez
- Nenana Ice Classic, Nenana
- North Pole Sled Dog Championship, North Pole
- Winter Festival, North Pole
- Miners & Mushers Ball, Nome
- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Restart,
Wasilla
- Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra in Concert,
Fairbanks
- Festival of Native Arts, Fairbanks
- Homer Winter Carnival, Homer
- Iditarod Festival, Nome
- 13th Annual St. Patrick's Day Event,
Soldotna
- ACS Open North American Championship Sled
Dog Race, Fairbanks
- Comfish Alaska, Kodiak Island
- Winter King Salmon Tournament, Homer
- Gold Medal Basketball Tournament, Juneau
- Pillar Mountain Golf Classic, Kodiak Island
- Chugach Mountain Festival, Valdez
April:
- Mountain Man Snowmachine Hill Climb & Hill
Cross, Valdez
- Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra in Concert,
Fairbanks
- Arctic Man Ski and Sno-Go Classic, Fairbanks
- Spring Wine Tasting, Ketchikan
- Whale Fest, Kodiak Island
- Garnet Festival, Wrangell
- 30th Annual Alaska Folk Festival, Juneau
- Camai Dance Festival, Bethel
- 9th Annual Alaska Hummingbird Festival,
Ketchikan
- Alyeska Resort Spring Carnival,
Girdwood/Alyeska
- Tok Trot, 6K Run/Walk, Tokv
- Pops Concert, Fairbanks
May:
- Wild Alaska: Bounty of the Sea, Kenai
- Ninilchik Annual Halibut Derby, Ninilchik
- 12th Annual Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival,
Homer
- Celebration of the Sea Art Walk - Ketchikan
- Boardwalk Boogie, Pelican
- Calcutta Auction & Saltwater King
Tournament, Anchor Point
- Copper River Delta Shorebird Festival,
Cordova
- Wrangell 52nd King Salmon Derby, Wrangell
- Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, Homer
- Little Norway Festival, Petersburg
- May Faire, Kenai
- Unalaska $100,000 World Record Halibut
Derby, Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor
- Juneau Jazz and Classics, Juneau
- Kodiak Crab Festival, Kodiak Island
- Annual Great Alaska Craftbeer & Homebrew
Festival, Haines
- Salmon Derby, Petersburg
- Kachemak Kayak Fest, Homer
- Mat-Su King Salmon Derby, Wasilla
- King Salmon Derby, Haines
- Chad Ogden Ultramarathon, Kodiak Island
- Fishermen's Memorial, Kodiak Island
- Central Peninsula Air Fair and Fun Flight,
Kenai
- Halibut Derby, Valdez
- Prince of Wales International Marathon,
Prince of Wales Island
June:
- Celebration 2004 Native Cultural Event,
Juneau
- Sitka Summer Music Festival, Sitka
- King Salmon Derby, Haines
- Pelican King Salmon Derby, Pelican
- Palmer Colony Days, Palmer
- Cordova's Wild Copper River Salmon Festival,
Cordova
- Kids All-American Fishing Derby, Anchor
Point
- Fairbanks Summer Arts Folk Festival,
Fairbanks
- Kids Fishing Day, Moose Pass
- Summer Festival, North Pole
- Kenai River Festival, Kenai
- 12th Annual Last Frontier Theatre
Conference, Valdez
- Big Lake Summer Solstice Festival, Big Lake
- Kluane to Chilkat Bike Relay, Haines
- Midnight Sun Run, Fairbanks
- KDLL Art and Music Festival, Kenai
- Yukon 800 Boat Race, Fairbanks
- Midnight Sun Festival, Nome
- 99th Annual Midnight Sun Baseball Game,
Fairbanks
- Midnight Sun Festival, Fairbanks
- Gold Rush Days, Juneau
July:
- Fourth of July Celebration, Sitka
- Fourth of July Celebration Wrangell
- Fourth of July Celebration Juneau
- Independence Day Celebrations, Kodiak Island
- 4th of July Celebration, Anchor Point
- 4th of July Salmon Bake, Dillingham
- 4th of July Parade, Glenallen
- Independence Day Celebration, Haines
- Fourth of July Celebration, Kenai
- Nenana Valley Chamber of Commerce 4th of
July Bar-B-Q, Nenana
- 4th of July, Seldovia
- Independence Day Celebration, Skagway
- Annual 4th of July Celebration Valdez
- Cordova Music Camps Community Activities,
Cordova
- Bear Paw Festival, Chugiak/Eagle River
- World Eskimo-Indian Olympics, Fairbanks
- Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Fairbanks
- Golden Days 2004, Fairbanks
- Palmer Pride Picnic, Palmer
- Fort Seward Day, Haines
- Prince of Wales Island International
Marathon, Prince of Wales Island
August:
- Silver Salmon Derby, Valdez
- Fairweather Day, Yakutat
- Gold Rush Days, Valdez
- Gigglefeet Dance Festival, Ketchikan
- Tanana Valley State Fair, Fairbanks
- Beer Festival, Ketchikan
- Blueberry Arts Festival, Ketchikan
- Pilgrimage to St. Herman's Monks Lagoon,
Kodiak Island
- Golden North Salmon Derby, Juneau
- Ninilchik State Fair, Ninilchik
- Alaska Bear & Beer Festival, Wrangell
- Southeast Alaska State Fair and Bald Eagle
Music Festival, Haines
- Sam Donajkowski Memorial Triathlon
- Alaska State Fair, Palmer
- Industry Appreciation Day, Kenai
- Kodiak State Fair and Rodeo, Kodiak
September:
- Labor Day Picnic, Kenai
- Kenai Lions Rubber Ducky Race, Kenai
- Equinox Marathon, Fairbanks
October:
- Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, Haines
- Oktober Art Fest Celebration, Petersburg
- Laugh Out Loud, Ketchikan
- International Sled Dog Symposium, Fairbanks
- Arctic Chamber Orchestra in Concert,
Fairbanks
- Humpy 500 Go-Kart Race, Petersburg
- American Indian Dance Theatre, Fairbanks
- National Wildlife Refuge Week, Kodiak Island
- Alaska Day Festival, Sitka
- Night of Comedy, Fairbanks
- Chad Ogden Relay, Kodiak Island
- Nature Spooktacular, Portage
- Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra in Concert,
Fairbanks
November:
- Alaska WILD, Kenai
- "Throw Down in Snow Town" Winter Wrestling
Tournament, Valdez
- Imani Winds, Fairbanks
- Athabascan Old Time Fiddling Festival,
Fairbanks
- The Art of the Expression, Ketchikan
- Annual Sitka Whalefest, Sitka
- American Association of University Women
Christmas Bazaar, Kodiak Island
- Alaska Bald Eagle Festival, Haines
- BP Top of the World Classic, Fairbanks
- The Fairbanks Symphony Ball, Fairbanks
- Tok-A-Tans Christmas Bazaar, Tok
- Winter Arts Faire, Ketchikan
- Juneau Public Market, Juneau
- Festival of Lights, Petersburg
- Christmas Come to Kenai Celebration & City
of Lights Parade, Kenai
December:
- Talkeetna Winterfest, Talkeetna
- Neighborhood Christmas Decorating Contest,
Petersburg
- Alaska Fine Print-Maker's Exhibition, Kenai
- Festival of Lights, Wrangell
- Merry Merchant Munch, Chugiak/Eagle River
- The Winter Art Walk, Ketchikan
- Annual Gallery Walk, Juneau
- Annual Fireman's Carnival, Nome
- Annual Nutcracker Arts and Crafts Fair,
Homer
- Wilderness Woman Contest & Bachelor Auction,
Talkeetna
- Candle Lighting and Tree Lighting, North
Pole
- Family Holiday Celebration Concert,
Fairbanks
- Colony Christmas Celebration, Palmer
- Tok Community Holiday Bazaar, Tok
- Harbor Stars, Kodiak Island
- Currier and Ives Old Fashioned Christmas,
Kodiak Island
- Ivory Jacks 6th Annual Invitational Golf
Tourney, Fairbanks
- Julebukking, Petersburg
- Clarke Cochrane Christmas Classic, Ketchikan
Landmarks:
Alaska has far too many landmarks to name them all. Here are some of the
highlights.
Houston is the historic crossroad for numerous trails accessing placer gold
mines on Willow Creek. Take the scenic 15-mile gold trail to Little Willow Creek
on the west side of Independence mine. The trail leads to the heart of the
Willow Creek mining district. Today, the area is popular for its recreational
opportunities and scenic beauty. Additional trails may be accessed at the end of
the Houston trail, taking the visitor into ghost towns of hard rock gold mines.
Central has the area's only surviving roadhouse and a mining museum. In
Chicken, log cabins and the schoolhouse featured in the book Tisha still
stand. Chitina is a living ghost town, and several mining era buildings
remain. Many miners went to Circle Hot Springs to relax, and it is still
open to the public today. Copper Center had a trading post in 1896; in
1898-99, 300 prospectors wintered here. The village became the principal
settlement and supply center in the region. Dyea's dock pilings and the
cemetery for victims of an avalanche at Chilkoot Pass are among the remains of
the town at the base of the Chilkoot Trail. In Eagle, a number of
buildings remain, including Fort Egbert, the courthouse and waterhouse. The
historical society has tours and many exhibits. Iditarod is ghost town
that was a supply center on the Iditarod Trail. Juneau has many Gold Rush
homes, businesses, and mine buildings remaining, including the remnants of the
Alaska Juneau Mining Company. The city and state museums have mining exhibits.
Other landmarks are Jack London's Cabin in Dawson City, Yukon Territory;
the Largest Gold Pan in the US, Nome; Skagway's Gold Rush Cemetery
and Broadway, its most famous street; Dyea and the Chilkoot
Trail; Klondike Highway and Trail of '98; Chickaloon-Nelchina-Knik Trail,
Sutton; the historic town of Chicken; Mineral Creek Canyon near Valdez;
and the Stikine River and Cottonwood Island.
Museums and Exhibits:
- Circle Historical Museum
- Greater Copper Valley Pan for Gold Visitor's
Center
- George I. Ashby Memorial Museum, Greater
Copper Valley
- Cordova Historical Museum
- Klondike National Historic Sites
- Palace Grande Theatre
- Old Post Office
- Robert Service Cabin
- Bear Creek Complex
- Dredge #4
- Big Delta Historic District, Delta Junction
- The Town of Eagle City
- Gold Panning at Historic Gold Camps,
Fairbanks
- Fairbanks Community Museum
- University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks
- Chilkoot Barracks/Fort William H. Seward,
Haines
- Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center
- Mining and Historical Museum, Hope-Sunrise
- Juneau-Douglas City Museum
- Last Chance Basin Mining Museum
- Tongass Historical Museum, Ketchikan
- Poker Creek Gold, #18 Creek Street,
Ketchikan
- Independence Mine State Historical Park,
Matanuska-Susitna
- Talkeetna Historical Museum,
Matanuska-Susitna
- Museum of Alaska Transportation and
Industry, Matanuska-Susitna
- Knik Museum and Musher's Hall of Fame,
Matanuska-Susitna
- Dorothy Page Museum Complex, Wasilla
- Alpine Historical Park, Sutton
- The Chickaloon-Knik-Nelchina Trail Exhibit
- Kennecott Mine, Kennecott
- Visitor Information Center, Nome
- Carrie McLain Memorial Museum, Nome
- Historic Walking Tour and Colony House,
Palmer
- Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park,
Skagway
- Trail of '98 Museum, Skagway
- Arctic Brotherhood Hall, Skagway
- McCabe College Building, Skagway
- Historic Equipment Display, Mukluk Land, Tok
- The Valdez Museum and Historical Archive
- Collections Museum, Wrangell
- Wrangell Museum
- Valley Performing Arts Theater, Wasilla
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