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ALASKA

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TOP FESTIVALS
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TRAVEL IN ALASKA

This US state has always stood apart from the rest, with its national parks as large as many nations. This is the state that invites you to feel the call of the wild, as you traverse spectacular, untouched landscapes and spot roaming wildlife and gobsmacking glaciers. Alaska is all about extremities, and it offers the adventure of a lifetime for bold explorers.
FAST FACTS

Language: English
Currency: US dollars
Electricity: 120v
Visas: Click here to see if you need a US visa.
Dialing Code: +1
Time Zone: (GMT-08:00)

ABOUT CONTIKI

From quick breaks to epic journeys, Contiki exists to connect young travellers with the time of their lives.

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THINGS TO DO IN ALASKA

This place is all about adventure and natural beauty, as these top things to do in Alaska demonstrate:

Go on a Kenai Fjords exploration

This spectacular national park covers nearly 700,000 acres. Fjords carve stunning glacial valleys, while numerous glaciers and lush forestlands teeming with wildlife take the breath away. The best way to explore this unique landscape is by boat, from which you can spot sea lions, puffins, porpoises, black bears, goats and numerous types of whale.

This is a remarkable glaciated landscape, only accessible by water. In summer, make sure you bring sunscreen and sunglasses - as well as a camera, of course - as the Alaskan sun can be as intense as its vistas.

Visit the Denali National Park and Preserve

The Denali National Park and preserve was established in 1917, incorporating Denali mountain, the highest peak in North America, with a spectacular summit over 20,000 feet above sea level. Denali National Park has a diverse and beautiful landscape, where lush forestland collides with the tundra, glaciers and bare rock.

Most people visit the National Park to witness Denali, known as ‘the roof of America’, but there’s so much more to do and see. Along with taking one of numerous hiking routes, visitors can spot an incredible range of wildlife, including grizzlies, black bears, caribou, wolves, moose and numerous types of squirrel, while bald and golden eagles soar overhead.

See the Upside-down forest of Glacier Gardens

If you’re headed to Alaska, a visit to one of the world’s most unique botanical gardens is a must. Nestled in the thicketed Tongass National Forest, these hanging gardens spill from the rainforest, covering 50 acres. The creation of Alaska natives, Steve and Cindy Bowhay, this unique adventure into Alaska’s rainforests will have you winding through ancient spruces and hemlocks, before you reach a sweeping cliff-side viewpoint. `

Tours are taken with an expert guide, you shows you a different side of Alaskan landscapes, and helps you to understand the unique biodiversity that can be found here.

Be amazed by Mendenhall Ice Caves

You’ve probably seen pictures of the Mendenhall Ice Caves before, even if you haven’t realised it. The unique, ethereal glow of this hollow glacier has made for countless viral internet images, and for good reason. The best way to ensure your safety as you explore this frozen dreamscape is to take a guided tour.

The magical Mendenhall Ice Caves allow you to witness an entire water cycle, all at once. As you walk under the azure frozen ceilings and into a hollow glacier, you’ll kayak to the edge of the ice and explore some stunning blue formations carved into the cavernous glacier.

Pay a visit to Kennicott Ghost town

The eerie Kennicott ghost town offers Alaskan adventurers something a bit different. Once a flourishing town, teeming with businesses and workers who sought their fortunes in the copper mines, it was abruptly abandoned in the 1930’s.

Ultimately, the problem with building a town around copper veins is that the deposits will eventually run out. When this happened, in 1938, the residents promptly ran out, too. Today, Kennicott is an eerie ghost town that nonetheless gives a fascinating look at Alaska’s historic mining culture.
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TOP 5 FESTIVALS IN ALASKA

Alaska’s best festivals all focus upon its culture, historic traditions and the state’s beautiful landscapes.

Summer Solstice Celebrations

As we mentioned before, Alaska is all about extremes, so it’s no surprise that it enjoys 24 hour daylight during the summer solstice. The midnight sun festival, in Fairbanks, is a historic single day event which celebrates the sun with a huge street fair, in which 30,000 attendees enjoy live music, exhibitors and stalls. There’s also the traditional Midnight Sun baseball game that kicks off when the sun begins to set in the North, and then finishes three hours later when the sun begins to rise again - in the North. Yep, it’s a bizarre phenomenon, and a must-see for any baseball fan or just anyone who wants to experience something unique.

Salmonfest

Salmonfest is a recurring music fest touted as ‘3 days of fish, love and music.’ Taking place in Ninilchik, Salmonfest is a dynamic festival that takes place every year, as thousand spour into the Kenai Peninsula for big name artists from the USA and beyond. And the name? There’s more to this festival than just the music. Salmonfest is also an environmental rallying call to responsibly sustain salmon and other fish that dwell in Alaskan waters. Salmonfest distributes proceeds every year to keep conservation work going, and has donated $100,000 to these efforts since 2015.

Northwest Exposure

The Northwest Filmaker’s festival lends exposure to talented filmmakers and celebrates local communities while teaching young people to find their voice as storytellers. A juried showcase of work by regional artists takes place each year, while the festival’s education programme gives educational opportunities to young filmmakers, through classes, workshops, studios and camps.

Iditarod Sled Dog Race

This annual long distance race can’t be compared with anything else on the planet. Covering 1000 miles of Alaska’s most unforgivingly beautiful terrain, this route traverses mountains, frozen rivers, thick forestland, desolate tundra and sweeping shores as the sled dogs and their mushers head from Anchorage up the western Bering Sea Coast.

No other event embodies the spirit of Alaska more - man and animal pitted against nature. It’s a tribute to traditions and the vital role that sled dogs have played in Alaskan culture, and it’s an unmissable event for anyone who wants to understand this part of the world a little better.

Anchorage International Film Festival

The largest film festival in Alaska, Anchorage International Film Festival has a broader focus than Northwest Exposure. Taking place annually in December, it shows more than 100 films in myriad categories, where films tussle to win the prestigious Golden Oosikar awards for Best Feature, Documentary, Short Documentary, Short, Animation, Super Short and Screenplay. There’s also a Made in Alaska category, to celebrate local filmmakers or artists who use Alaska’s stark beauty as a canvas.
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TOP 5 MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES IN ALASKA

As you’d expect, the top museums in Alaska are all about mother nature

The Aurora Ice Museum

Located in Chena Hot Springs, this is touted as the largest year-round ice environment in the world. Created from over 1,000 tonnes of ice and snow, the museum remains at a cool -7 degrees celsius year round - don’t worry, parkas are available free of charge.

Enjoy an appletini in an ice glass and admire towering carvings and fantasy ice scenes created by local artisans who have formed their own winter wonderland here. From jousting knights, polar bear bedrooms and a two storey snowball fight structure, this is the perfect place to chill out in Alaska.

University of Alaska Museum of the North

With architecture as breathtaking as its exhibits, the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North showcases the rich indigenous cultures of Alaska, as well as its natural wonders and remarkable wildlife, with over 2.2 million artifacts and specimens.

As well as being a vital research centre on climate change and other issues facing Alaska and the world, it's a hugely popular visitor attraction due to its fascinating exhibits that include a 2,000 odyssey of Alaskan art, to a 50,000 year old mummified steppe bison.

Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center

This visitor’s centre seeks to preserve indigenous languages, carry on knowledge of Elder teachings and instil confidence in the native youth of Alaska. Morris Thompson was a prominent business leader in Alaska who used his influence to bring Alaskans together and bridge cultures. The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors centre seeks to uphold his legacy, with fascinating cultural events and programmes that foster cultural connections between Alaskans.

Alaska Raptor Center

No, we’re not talking about Jurassic Park here, but rather, a distant relative to the raptors that stalked America millions of years ago. This museum is all about avian life, and Alaska boasts some pretty incredible native birds. As well as providing education and excitement to visitors, who marvel at the Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, Kestrels and Falcons who reside here, the centre also provides medical treatment to around 200 injured birds each year. The centre strives to rehabilitate birds and asks visitors to ‘adopt’ one of their raptors to help heal and release them back into the wild.

Alaska SeaLife Center

The Alaska SeaLife Centre combines a large, public aquarium with marine research, education and wildlife response. Visitors can expect to encounter puffins, octopuses, sea otters and more. You can join the staff in feeding sessions and learn all about Alaska’s fascinating marine life.
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FOOD IN ALASKA

As you can imagine, Alaskan food is all about the fresh seafood.

Crab

Crab plays a huge part in Alaskan cuisine and Tracy’s crab shack serves some of the best legs around with hot melted butter and garlic rolls. The also offer a crab bisque and other Alaskan seafood.


 Best eaten at - Tracy’s King Crab Shack, 1328, 432 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801

Gumbo

Alaska can almost seem like a different planet, but people forget it is also a US state, and as such celebrates wider USA cuisine. Places like the Double Musky Inn come to mind, which is a New Orleans style restaurant that serves classic New Orleans dishes with an Alaskan twist - and fresh Alaskan seafood as ingredients.


 Best eaten at - Double Musky Inn, Mile .3, Crow Creek Rd, Girdwood, AK 99587

Smoked salmon everything

Smoked salmon is an Alaskan speciality and Gwin’s historic fishing lodge rests at the confluence of two world class salmon streams. Have it with pitta and vegetables. Have it in a thick chowder. Have it in a salad with salsa and avocado - however, you choose to eat it, revel in the best salmon you’ve ever tasted.


 Best eaten at - Gwin's Lodge, 14865 Sterling Hwy, Cooper Landing, AK 99572

Reindeer Dogs

Don’t worry - this isn’t an Alaskan puppy, but rather an Alaskan take on the classic American hot dog, served with reindeer meat instead of pork. The gourmet reindeer sausages are seasoned with pepper and coriander before being smoked on an alder and served in a steamed bun. Delicious.


 Best eaten at - Alaska Sausage & Seafood, 2914 Arctic Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503
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