Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for alaska
Ten Thousand Smokes
By Linda Tancs
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a valley within Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska, a landscape created by the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. Open year round, hikers’ favorite destinations include the Baked Mountain Huts, Novarupta lava dome and Mount Griggs. But this time of year, Katmai is prized as one of the premier brown bear viewing areas in the world. This month’s viewing is particularly strong at Geographic Harbor and Funnel Creek. For guides and/or transportation to bear viewing areas, licensed commercial operators stand ready to assist you.
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Dramatic Scenery in Alaska
By Linda Tancs
Alaska’s Misty Fjords National Monument is where Nature’s drama unfolds. An area of unfathomable beauty, its two million breathtaking acres feature cascading waterfalls, glistening lakes, lingering mists and goliath walls of granite amidst forests of spruce, hemlock and cedar. Located 22 miles east of Ketchican, it’s the largest wilderness in Alaska’s national forests and the second largest in the nation. Kayaking is a popular way to experience the mighty fjords, but by seaplane you can fully experience its charms, taking in the Tongass Narrows and volcanic Revillagigedo Island on your way.
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Ice Alaska
By Linda Tancs
At George Horner Ice Park in Fairbanks, Alaska, they’d like to wish you an “ice day.” That’s because it’s time for the World Ice Art Championships. Now in its 25th year, the event features single-block and multi-block competitions as well as an amateur open exhibition. Visit today through 30 March, and be on the lookout for the Northern Lights!
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The Other Emerald Isle
By Linda Tancs
Ireland may be the place best known by the sobriquet “the Emerald Isle,” but Kodiak, Alaska could run a close second. Located on the second largest island in the United States, the city is 250 air miles southwest of Anchorage in the Gulf of Alaska. Adopting the motto “Alaska’s Emerald Isle,” the home of the Kodiak bear is, like its Irish soul mate, an area of lush natural beauty. Take it all in–the greensward, mountains, islands and wildlife–from atop Pillar Mountain. One of the biggest draws, taking place this weekend, is the Kodiak Crab Festival.
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Halibut Fishing Capital of the World
By Linda Tancs
Homer, Alaska is the southernmost town on the state’s highway system, the ‘end of the road’ you might say. And where land ends, the sea begins. That’s great news for Homer, a fisherman’s mecca. Recognized as the halibut fishing capital of the world, the local catch is limited to two fish per person per day. Fish as long as you like; your catch will be packaged and sent home for you. Best of all, the bounty is available year round and so are the roads, the scenic Seward and Sterling highways.
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The Northernmost Curiosity
By Linda Tancs
If you’ve been looking for a toilet bowl atop a totem pole, your search is over. You’ll find it in Point Barrow, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States. At the military base there is a colorful totem pole topped off with what is reputedly a toilet bowl commemorating the first flush toilet in Barrow. Just 1291 miles away is the North Pole.
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The Fur Flies in Alaska
By Linda Tancs
An event celebrating winter’s transition is Alaska’s Fur Rendezvous, also known as Fur Rondy. Fur in this instance refers to fur swappers, who would meet at winter’s end and exchange their pelts. Held in Anchorage since the 1930s, the event includes sled dog rides, craft shows, a carnival, reindeer runs and a blanket toss. Of particular note are the Rondy pins (as in lapel pins) commemorating each year’s festival, a popular collector’s item. This is also home to the World Championship Sled Dog Races. Enjoy it through 6 March.
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Winter Festivals
By Linda Tancs
Winter festivals are usually viewed as a celebration of the season and all its wintry accoutrements. But sometimes these events are more about ushering in spring–or just celebrating life. Tune in for a worldwide sampling at Travelrific® Radio.
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City Cites Snowman
By Linda Tancs
The city elders of Anchorage, Alaska have struck again. A homeowner in the Airport Heights section of the city has been cited again this season for his creation of a Brobdingnagian snowman. Consisting of over 16 feet of packed ice, the potential house-toppler (well, maybe a shed) is considered a public nuisance. Affectionately dubbed Snowzilla, this corn-cobbed pipe smoking ice man has been attracting international attention since its creation a few years ago. A local group has even organized to protect the goliath from the code enforcement officer’s slingshot. No doubt Frosty would be pleased. View photos of the toast of Anchorage here.
If you enjoyed this post, please share it on sites such as StumbleUpon, vote for it, or bookmark it. Thanks for your support! Travelrific® was featured as Blog of the Day on NJ.com!
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Alaska’s Bridge Going Nowhere
By Linda Tancs
Alaska’s $300 million Bridge to Nowhere finally has a destination: Neverland. The abandoned project would have linked Ketchikan with Gravina Island (population: 50). Apparently it’s infinitely more feasible to link Point MacKenzie (population: 230) with Anchorage, at double the cost. Might this process merit a second look? As Thomas Jefferson said, “Delay is preferable to error.”
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