Alaska - Exploring the Last Frontier |
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| The Alaska Traveller - by Phil Philcox writer@white-star.com - Other Traveller Articles |
Capital..................Juneau
Population............400,000
State Parks............5 (with 59 waysides, covering 3,300,000 acres)
State Forests.........0
Major Points of Interest:
"The Official Vacation Planner" is an interesting, 100-plus page book that covers most-everything youll need to know if you plan to visit Alaska. The book devotes a chapter to each area of the State, and it includes chapters about accommodations and resorts, wilderness facilities and camping, and statewide attractions. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of hundreds of information sources are listed as well. This book, an official State road map, and a variety of brochures and literature are available free from the Alaska State Division of Tourism, Box 101, Juneau, AK 99811; 907-465-2010. Additional information about travel in Alaska is available from the Alaska Visitors Association, Box 10220, Anchorage, AK 99510; (907) 279-4116. Another interesting free guide is "Invitation to Alaska", 22 pages of color photos and maps. \
The Alaskas Marine Highway System ferries transport passengers, vehicles, and supplies to several Alaskan cities. Once they arrive, visitors can enjoy virtually unlimited adventures, such as hiking in Chugach State Park and other places in the area. The immense Chugach wilderness borders on Alaskas largest city, Anchorage, and is accessible from many points.
Federal, state, and provincial campgrounds are available throughout the State and en route throughout Canadas Yukon. Many are located in forested areas, and some include electrical hookup. Reservations are not accepted. The U.S. Forest Service provides campsites at under $10 a night - no fees are charged at State areas. A free brochure called the "Alaska State Park System Guide" lists State parks, campgrounds, and recreational opportunities throughout the state. The brochure also includes maps, descriptions of major parks, and general sightseeing information. Its available from the State Park Information Office, Pouch 7001, Anchorage, AK 99510.
Motorists can drive to Alaska from any point in the United States or Canada. The Alaska Highway begins at Dawson Creek in British Columbia and stretches through the Yukon to Fairbanksapproximately 1,520 miles. The two-lane highway is hard-surfaced for nearly all of its length and is open year-round. Highway services are available approximately every 50 miles. Alaskan highways can run the gamut from two-lane gravel roads to four-lane freeways. The main route along the West Coast takes motorists through British Columbia and the Yukon.
Motorists should note that at least $200,000 in third-party liability insurance is required in the Yukon. Need more information? Contact the State of Alaska Marine Highway System, Box R, Juneau, AK 99811; 907-465-3941.
If youre short on vacation time and looking for something different to do, you can fly to Alaska and join a tour organized by Alaska-Yukon RV Caravans (500 Wall St., Suite 218, Seattle, WA 98121). This outfit conducts a variety of motorhome caravan tours, including an 11-day program in which six days are spent on land in a 27-foot Class A rental motorhome and five days are spent on an Alaska Inside Passage cruise. Call (800) 426-9865 for additional information.
Scattered along the highways are visitor information centers that can provide information, booklets, guides, maps, and brochures on areas you plan to visit. For example, the State of Alaska Tok Information Center is located at Milepost 1314 on the Alaska Highway and provides trip-planning assistance. All of the information centers are clearly marked on the official State road map.
Information concerning sport-fishing, hunting, license requirements, tag fees, hunting and fishing seasons, areas, etc. is contained in a free booklet that is available from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Box 3-2000, Juneau AK 99802; 907-465-4112. Information regarding guide services for hunting, fishing, hiking, river rafting, and other outdoor activities is available from The Alaska Professional Hunting Association, Box 91932, Anchorage, AK 99509; 907-733-2688.
The discovery of gold in the north spanned many decades and the quest has never really ended. Even today, gold seekers don rubber boots and wade into Alaskas icy streams in search of the elusive treasure. "Alaska Gold Rush Trials and Ghost Towns" is an interesting free fold-out guide with map that shows the history and routes to the gold fields.
Information on the history of the State and the gold rush is available from the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology, Box 107001, Anchorage AK 99510; 907-762-2622.
If youre in the area, plan to attend...
January:
The Rainier Downhill Challenge Cup in Eaglecrest;
Sled Dog racing on weekends in Anchorage
February:
The Fur Rendezvous, Anchorage;
The Northern Lights Invitational in Anchorage
March:
The Winter Carnival in Valdez:
The Winters End Bazaar and Totem Trot at Sitka:
The Beaver Roundup in Dillingham
April:
The Copper Day Celebration in Cordova
May:
The Aavoonga Walrus Festival on St. Lawrence Island;
The Kodiak Crab Festival in Kodiak
June:
The Flying Lions Air Show in Fairbanks
July:
The Yukon Gold Fanning Championship;
The Big Lake Regatta Water Festival
August:
The Alaska State Fair and Rodeo in Kodiak
September:
The Oktoberfest in Anchorage
October:
The October Arts Festival in Petersburg
November:
The EMT Winter Carnival in Delta Junction
December:
The Delta Winter Carnival in Delta Junction;
The Country Faire in Cordova;
The Russian Christmas at Sitka.
Free booklets, brochures, maps, and guides, along with information concerning vacationing in specific areas, tours and trips, sight-seeing, and upcoming events of interest to visitors is available from the sources listed below:
| Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau 201 East Third Ave Anchorage AK 99501 907-276-4118 Arctic Circle Chamber of Commerce Barrow Convention and Visitors Association Big Lake Chamber of Commerce Cordova Chamber of Commerce Delta Junction Chamber of Commerce Dillingham Chamber of Commerce Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau Haines Chamber of Commerce Homer Chamber of Commerce |
Juneau Chamber of Commerce Box 1227, Juneau AK 99802 907-586-6420 Juneau Convention and Visitors Bureau Kenai Chamber of Commerce Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce Kodiak Chamber of Commerce Kodiak Island Convention and Visitors Bureau Mantanuska-Susitna Convention and Visitors Bureau Nome Chamber of Commerce Palmer Chamber of Commerce Petersburg Chamber of Commerce Seldovia Chamber of Commerce |
Seward Chamber of Commerce Box 756, Seward AK 99664 Sitka Chamber of Commerce Sitka Convention and Skagway Chamber of Commerce Skagway Convention and Soldotna Chamber of Commerce Tok Chamber of Commerce Valdez Chamber of Commerce Valdez Convention and Visitors Bureau Wasilla Chamber of Commerce Whittler Chamber of Commerce Wrangell Chamber of Commerce |
Alaska Campgrounds
| Anchorage Johns RV Park & Motel 3543 Mt View Dr Anchorage AK 99508 (907-277-4332) Bettles Crevice Creek Ranch Campground Box 26011, Bettles AK 99726 (907-692-5242) Cooper Landing Sunrise Inn & RV Park MP 45 Sterling Hwy Cooper Landing AK 99572 (907-595-1222) Delta Junction Smiths Green Acres RV Park Mile 268 Richardson Highway Delta Junction AK 99737 (907-895-4110) Healy Otto Lake RV Park Box 195, Healy AK 99743 (907-683-2603 (winter) 907-683-2100 (summer) Fairbanks Chena Marina RV Park 1145 Shypoke Dr, Fairbanks AK 99709 (907-479-4653) Rivers Edge RV Park Riverview RV Park
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Kenai Beluga Lookout RV Park 929 Mission Ave, Kenai AK 99611 (907-283-5999) Nenna Nenna Valley RV Park Box 00038, Nenna AK 99760 (907-832-5431) North Pole North Pole RV & Campground 1477 Levee Way, North Pole AK 99705 (907-488-2486) Palmer The Homestead RV Park |
Soldotna Alaska River View Lodge and Campground 44750 Funny River Rd Box 605 Soldotna AK 99669 (907-262-9038) King Salmon Motel & RV Park Riverside House Hotel and Campground RV Park Golden Bear RV Park Sea Otter RV Park Bear Paw Camper Park |
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