Alaska

• 🌍 Juneau – State capital and third largest city.
• 🌍 Anchorage – Alaska's largest city.
• 🌍 Utqiaġvik (Barrow) – northernmost city in the United States and mainland North America
• 🌍 Deadhorse – Alaska's oil center, the production facilities can only be accessed by tours
• 🌍 Dutch Harbor (Unalaska) – Largest community in the Aleutian Islands; internationally famous as the home port for the reality TV series Deadliest Catch
• 🌍 Fairbanks – Alaska's second largest city
• 🌍 Homer – Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, Kachemak Bay State Park, Katmai National Park
• 🌍 Ketchikan – Alaska's southernmost city and the first Alaska port for northbound cruise-ship travelers.
• 🌍 Kodiak – The Island Town

• 🌍 Denali National Park – whether climbing or admiring, the crowning jewel of North America's highest peak is the awe inspiring 20,320-foot Denali (formerly Mt McKinley)
• 🌍 Gates of the Arctic National Park – traveling through this vast wilderness you will discover craggy ridges, glacier carved valleys and fragile flowers
• 🌍 Glacier Bay National Park – marine wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve includes tidewater glaciers, snow-capped mountain ranges, ocean coastlines, deep fjords, and freshwater rivers and lakes.
• 🌍 Katmai National Park – famous for volcanoes, brown bears, pristine waterways with abundant fish, remote wilderness, and a rugged coastline
• 🌍 Kenai National Wildlife Refuge a massive wilderness of mountains and lakes, swarming with wildlife
• 🌍 Kenai Fjords National Park – a land where the ice age still lingers where glaciers, earthquakes, and ocean storms are the architects.
• 🌍 Lake Clark National Park and Preserve – The Park was created to protect scenic beauty (volcanoes, glaciers, wild rivers and waterfalls), populations of fish and wildlife, watersheds essential for red salmon, and the traditional lifestyle of local residents. Lake Clark's spectacular scenery provides a true wilderness experience for those who visit.
• 🌍 Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve – Chugach, Wrangell, and Saint Elias mountain ranges converge here in what is often referred to as the "mountain kingdom of North America." It has the continent's largest assemblage of glaciers and greatest collection of peaks above 16,000 ft (4,900 m).
• 🌍 Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve – along the Canadian border in central Alaska

In 1867 (two years after the end of the Civil War), the territory of Alaska was purchased from the Russian Empire for $7.2 million (or about 2 cents an acre). For many years people referred to the acquisition as "Seward's Folly", named for Secretary of State William H. Seward (1801–1872) who made the deal. They viewed Alaska as a frozen wasteland, not realizing it would turn out to be one of the United States' richest resources for gold and oil.

It took until 1959 for the territory to become a state of the Union. Most of the land is still wilderness; nicknamed The Last Frontier, Alaska keeps the spirit of the Wild West alive.

Most maps of the US represent the size of Alaska inaccurately, inserting it at a smaller scale in some corner. On the other hand, Mercator maps make northern regions such as Alaska look larger – it isn't the size of Brazil, just a fifth of it, which still is huge, more than twice the size of the second biggest US state, Texas.

Most of northern Alaska is incredibly sparsely populated. Many places are only reachable by air or water and roads take a toll from the harsh climate, so carefully plan your itinerary before heading out. That being said, a truly breathtaking environment will more than make up for the hardships of getting there and around. With the size, climate also varies with moderate rainy climates in the south and ice desert in places like Utqiaġvik (Barrow); see also Winter in North America.

The fact that it was only colonized relatively lately (Russian presence never amounted to more than a few thousand fur trappers along the coast) makes for a relatively strong presence of native populations who – along with state and federal government entities – still own large parts of the land (see the map above).

Alaska observes all the federal holidays, except Columbus Day, and adds Seward’s Day (last Monday in March) and Alaska Day (October 18th). However, some cities and towns that have a large population of federal workers or military personnel may observe Columbus Day, anyway.

Alaska's oil wealth has allowed it to be the only state to provide its citizens with a universal basic income of around $1,600 a year.

Alaska, of course, speaks English, with about 84% of the population saying English is their primary language, but also many native languages are spoken, including Inupiat, Central Siberian Yupik, Central Alaskan Yup'ik, Alutiiq, Aleut, Dena'ina, Deg Xinag, Holikachuk, Koyukon, Upper Kuskokwim, Gwich'in, Lower Tanana, Upper Tanana, Tanacross, Hän, Ahtna, Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Coast Tsimshian. Some Russian is also spoken. In the Nikolaevsk village in Kenai Peninsula, founded by Russian Old Believers in the 1960s, Russian is spoken more than English.

There is a dialect spoken in the Last Frontier, but there isn't enough data on the English of Alaska to either include it within Western American English or assign it its own "separate status". Not far from Anchorage, in Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley, is a distinctly Minnesota-like accent due to immigration of Minnesotans to the valley in the 1930s. However for newcomers, there are some words that are unique, magical, special, exclusive, found out, or originated in Alaska. So there are words to sound like a local, which are:

• Cheechako – A newcomer to Alaska.
• Sourdough – A long-time Alaskan.
• Snowbird – A snowbird is an individual who spends summers in Alaska and migrates south for winter.
• Termination Dust – First snowfall in the mountains each year.
• Ditch Diver – Individual that owns a 4-wheel-drive vehicle and learns the hard way by driving too fast on ice and snow.
• Outside – Referring to the rest of the US and outside beyond Alaskan borders, when talking about going outside.
• Lower 48 - The Contiguous United States
• Snow Machine – Snowmobile
• Sno-go - Snow Machine
• U-Park – University Park; the areas surrounding Alaska’s college campuses.

Most cities and villages in the state outside of the south-central region or southern interior are accessible only by sea or air. The Alaska Marine Highway System also serves the cities of Southeast and the Alaska Peninsula. Cities not served by road or sea can only be reached by air, accounting for Alaska's extremely well-developed bush air services—an Alaskan novelty.

Alaska is huge. It spans what once were five time zones! It's so big in fact you probably won't scratch the surface of what it has to offer in terms of geography, wildlife, local flavor, or Alaska native culture.

You might visit a couple of the regions of the state during your visit. It is quite possible to experience the ancient rainforest of Southeast Alaska, camp in Denali National Park, and kayak among icebergs in Prince William Sound on the same trip.

Another option is to focus on a smaller (still huge) region of the state and spend enough time for a better look and then plan a return trip to explore a different region. Alaska does not have to be a once in a lifetime destination.

Three weeks in the Inside Passage, traveling from town to town by ferry, is likely to leave you wanting more time if you enjoy hiking, sea kayaking, fishing, wildlife watching, scenery, Native culture, and biking.

The Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage, is another region worthy of an extended stay and is easily accessed from Anchorage. Plenty of public campgrounds make this an extremely affordable do-it-yourself destination if you have a few folks to share the cost of a rental car.

An Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, Valdez driving loop also offers plenty to see and do for two weeks or more and can be quite affordable with camping and a shared rental car.

There are many things to do when traveling to Alaska. If you are the adventurous type then Alaska will be a great place to go. You can go hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing, and expeditions to see the wildlife of Alaska like wolves, whales, moose, and bears. There are also month-long expeditions to the top of Denali.

• A journey on the Dalton Highway provides a unique experience. The highway crosses mountains and tundra, the Arctic Circle, and 414 miles of pristine wilderness.
• Stay up late to see the midnight sun, it's fascinating to watch in the summer when daytime seems endless.

Anyone traveling to Alaska should definitely make a trip to Denali; it is absolutely beautiful and the highest point in North America. You can see it from hundreds of miles away when there are clear skies. However, if you get the opportunity to take a trip to see it up close, do it. An ATV ride up the side of a mountain can be one of the most eventful experiences of your trip. On the way up the path, you will see vegetation and wildlife that you can't see anywhere else. Once you finally get to the top of the mountain, you will see one of the most beautiful sites in all of the United States. Digital cameras and photos don't do the mountain's beauty enough justice. The mosaic of blues, whites, grays, and greens will leave you absolutely astonished.

Not everyone is a fisherman; many people enjoy catching fish but hate waiting around to try and catch one. Well if you are one of those people, try fishing in Alaska. You will be amazed at how quickly you can catch fish there if you are in the right spot. You can definitely leave the river every day with your daily limit of fresh Alaskan salmon. There are plenty of charter fishing operators that will take you out to fish in some of the best areas.

In Alaska cruise ports (especially Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway) the tourist shopping experience is dominated by jewelry, tee shirts, and trinkets that could be purchased at any major cruise port in the world (perhaps from the same chain shop). Yes, there are good buys occasionally (especially at the end of the season), but local products can be difficult to find.

If you are on a cruiseship, don't be afraid to visit stores not listed on the "preferred business'" list provided by the cruiseline. Those businesses paid a premium to be listed and don't necessarily represent higher quality or better selection.

Local Alaskan artists are found in co-op and locally owned galleries. There are many books, from fiction to photos to nonfiction to children's, by Alaska writers, photographers and illustrators.

Be sure to look for the distinctive 'Made in Alaska' sticker on products in gift shops and stores. When purchasing Native-made handicrafts, keep the laws of your home country in mind; foreign travelers may find that they cannot bring their purchase home due to regulations regarding one or more of the materials used, which frequently range from whale baleen and bone to various furs, skins, teeth and other wild animal products, and may in some cases include artifact materials such as fossilized bone or tusk.

Alaskans love their food, fresh or otherwise you need good feed to keep up with daily life here. The portions in this state are huge. Almost every little town will have a local diner where one can get a filling breakfast and lots of hot coffee. Try the reindeer sausage with your eggs and hash in the morning and you'll feel like a true Alaskan.

Some foods indigenous to this area are fireweed honey (distinctive and quite uniquely delicious), and spruce tip syrup made from the Sitka spruce which grows very commonly throughout Alaska; and of course there is perhaps the most well known of all Alaskan produce: seafood. Alaska's fishing grounds are among some of the richest in the world and feature among other delicacies King and Snow crab which are exported the world over. Many local restaurants close to the shore serve fresh halibut and salmon daily, right off the boats. Fried halibut less than 24 hours out of the water is an experience like no other. The fish doesn't even need to be chewed it is so tender. Fresh salmon is usually best grilled or roasted . Crab is almost always pre-boiled at sea to preserve its freshness. Most coastal towns also have at least one place serving sushi made with local fish. Restaurant prices, like most other things in Alaska do tend to be rather high but the experience of eating truly fresh seafood is worth it.

Most things in Alaska are going to feel like they are overpriced, but they are expensive because it is so expensive to transport goods and food to Alaska. If you are out to eat, don't rob yourself by ordering pasta or spaghetti, get some type of seafood or meat. Do not expect to find moose, bear, or other truly wild game on the menu at restaurants, as it is illegal to sell game meat. Reindeer can commonly be found, and elk or yak will show up on occasion; in these cases, the animals have been raised domestically. A lot of restaurants in Alaska serve "catch of the day" and other seafoods, especially along the coast. Chefs will almost always have a new spin on your favorite seafood that you'll never have the opportunity of trying again. Alaska is famous for their Alaskan King Crab legs. Many people think that they've had them before, but oftentimes they are sold as Alaskan king crab legs in the lower 48 states and they aren't actually Alaskan king crabs, and if they are, they aren't even close to as fresh as they are in Alaska. Many restaurants will cook them in lemon juice, butter, and Old Bay seasoning. You will know when you've had an Alaskan king crab leg because the legs are about the same thickness as a woman's wrist.

Beer is a big deal in Alaska with seven breweries in Anchorage alone. Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau is the best known brewery in the state and its Alaskan Amber leads beer sales. Other towns with local breweries include Homer, Haines, Kodiak, Fox (near Fairbanks), and Wasilla. In January there is the Great Alaska Beer and Barleywine event. It is the third largest in the United States and may be the largest event highlighting barleywine in the US.

Homer, in addition to its brewery, contains a winery and products from both are available at local bars, restaurants, and liquor stores. Homer Brewery is fiercely (some might say stubbornly) local and their fresh ales are only available in the Homer area. The Bear Creek Winery creates wonderful vintages using imported grapes (as they cannot be grown easily in Alaska) and a variety of Alaskan berries. Varietals range from Chardonnay to Port, and flavors abound. The Winery offers free tastings daily, and also has a very small number of luxury rooms to rent for those who really want to soak in the experience. Homer has a thriving night life, especially in the summer, so if you want to mix and mingle with "real" Alaskans this is a good place to do it.

Alaska's liquor laws are in general no more or less restrictive than other states. However, two things may surprise you when you go looking for a drink. Firstly, alcohol may not be sold in the same store as groceries or general merchandise, but many large groceries get around this by having a liquor store attached to the main store. Second, and unique to Alaska, an intoxicated person may not remain on the premises of an establishment with a liquor license, regardless of where they got drunk—so as a practical matter you must leave a bar once you have had enough to drink. It is a practical matter because it is enforced, especially when patrons get too rowdy.

When you are hiking or visiting a natural area, do not pick flowers or collect natural features, particularly in a national park or forest. These are protected areas, and if everyone took something away, it would spoil it for everyone else. Picking flowers takes away nectar that is vital for insects.

Don't litter: Alaska is a beautiful state, and the best way of keeping it that way is just by respect to the land. It is easy to throw your trash and cigarette butts away properly, and by doing so, you are saving countless plants and animals. Please don't be lazy, and throw your stuff in the garbage!

Some folks think it is appropriate when camping to use the fire ring as a sort of waste incinerator, and just throw cigarette butts, garbage, and even cans and bottles into it. This is not proper waste disposal and is extremely discourteous, not to mention the toxic fumes from burning such things. If you pack it in, pack it out and dispose of it properly.

This may seem a bit odd, but it is also courteous to clean your shoes before hiking in Alaska. Alaska has been plagued by numerous invasive plant species and you may have seeds on the soles of your shoes. Even within the state there are so many different environments that this is a real concern, and many trail heads have a shoe-brushing station for this reason. The same applies to boats, it's best to thoroughly clean the hull before putting it in Alaska's waters. Car washes are most effective for this.

Alaska is a land of great beauty and wonder, but it is also a fragile ecosystem and a home to many diverse cultures. When visiting Alaska, it is important to be respectful of the land, the people, and the wildlife.

Here are some specific and additional tips:

• Learn about Alaska Native culture and history. Alaska is home to 11 distinct Alaska Native cultures, each with its own unique language, traditions, and worldview. Taking the time to learn about these cultures is a great way to show respect for the people who have lived on this land for centuries. There are many ways to learn about Alaska Native culture, including visiting museums, attending cultural events, and reading books and articles.
• Be mindful of your impact on the environment. Alaska is home to some of the most pristine wilderness in the world, but it is also facing a number of environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, and overfishing. When visiting Alaska, it is important to be mindful of your impact on the environment. This means packing out all trash, leaving no trace of your visit, and being respectful of wildlife.
• Support local businesses and communities. When you visit Alaska, make an effort to support local businesses and communities. This helps to ensure that the benefits of tourism are shared widely and that local cultures are preserved. There are many ways to support local businesses, including eating at locally owned restaurants, shopping at local stores, and booking tours with local companies.
• Don't disturb wildlife. Alaska is home to a variety of wildlife, including bears, moose, and wolves. It is important to keep your distance from wildlife and to never feed them. If you see wildlife, do not approach them and make sure to give them plenty of space.
• Be aware of the weather and conditions. Alaska's weather can be unpredictable, so it is important to be prepared for anything. This means dressing appropriately, packing the right gear, and being aware of current weather conditions.
• Be prepared for emergencies. Alaska is a remote state, so it is important to be prepared for emergencies. This means having a plan in place in case of things like getting lost, injured, or stranded. It is also important to have a first-aid kit and other necessary supplies.

See also: Cold weather, Winter in North America

Alaska enjoys a comparatively low crime rate and is generally a safe place to travel. Anchorage is a real "big city" and street crime is not uncommon. Some areas of Fairbanks have disturbingly high rates of drug and alcohol-related violence, prostitution, assaults and murders, and Fairbanks as a whole has a serious issue of property crime. Despite this, crime in Fairbanks and Alaska in general is almost always done by people who know each other and very rarely, if ever, targeted towards tourists. If you use common sense, chances are you won't run into any trouble.

While Alaska is wild and beautiful, it does not tolerate fools easily. It is quite possible to get lost, cold, wet, and even die, all within sight of downtown Anchorage. The state's populace varies between extremely friendly to tourists and openly hostile. A common bumper sticker says: "If it's tourist season, why can't we shoot 'em?" Many Alaskans are understandably tired of those people from the "lower 48" who head North to live out ill-conceived — and sometimes fatal — fantasies of living off the land.

The remote parts of the state are its jewels, but be prepared for the trip you plan. Do your homework, and plan on being self-sufficient. Consider using a guide, or checking out local conditions with locals before jumping in the kayak, and heading for yonder point that looked so nice on the map. The water in Alaska is so cold, falling overboard can be fatal within minutes. More importantly, self-rescue becomes impossible often within seconds, especially around glacier-fed rivers. Treatment for hypothermia is required reading before doing any water sports, even during warm weather.

Southern Alaska is on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the world's most seismically active region, so there's a risk for earthquakes.

A word about bears: There's an old joke about how to determine if you are in bear country in Alaska. Take out a map of the state and make a circle around the downtown area of Anchorage. If you are outside the circle, you are in bear country. Although a humorous way of phrasing it, this is absolutely true. Assume bears are present in any area of Alaska, even if you do not see them. Both black and brown bears are present in Alaska. Polar bears are also present in the far north but you probably won't be going all the way into their territory. If you do, it would be wise to make peace with whatever higher power you may believe in before walking around anywhere without a very large gun. If you see large claw scratches on a tree you are in a bear's territory. Be especially cautious just after sunset and just before dawn. Never leave food, water, or garbage unattended outdoors or it may attract a bear. Bears are wild animals and their behavior can be capricious. Never approach a bear. Never run from a bear as it will see you as food and it can run faster than you. If you encounter a bear you should stand your ground. Make lots of noise and wave your arms. If you have any metallic objects bang them against one another. In most cases, even when bears charge humans, they do not attack. But if you run towards one, surprise it while it is eating, run from it, or get anywhere near a cub, the chances of an attack are greatly increased. While it is amazing to see bears, the safest thing for you and for them is to observe them quietly from a distance and never approach them closely. If you leave food or garbage out and a bear eats it, even if you don't see it happen you have endangered the bear's life. Studies have shown that the previously employed tactic of trapping and relocating bears that have become habituated was not effective: the bears either returned to the same areas eventually or sought other sources of human foods. So now "trouble bears" are killed by park rangers or law enforcement agencies instead.

Moose are even more common in most areas of the state, and are just as dangerous, and attack humans more frequently than bears. Moose may be herbivores and seem like slow-moving, lumbering animals, but they have sharp hooves and can strike with surprising speed and accuracy. Moose are not territorial, but they do have a strong desire to defend their "personal space" especially mothers with calves. Signs that indicate a moose is agitated include the laying back of their large ears, lowering the head, snorting and stomping their hooves. Unlike with bears, it is wisest to simply run if a moose acts aggressively towards you or charges. They just want you to leave them alone, so keep your distance. Be aware of moose as well when driving. Every year dozens of moose are killed and many humans injured or killed by collisions between vehicles and moose. The long legs make it dangerous as often the bumper of the car will strike the moose only in the legs and its enormous body will impact the windshield, so slow down if moose are present: they sometimes get "spooked" by cars and will suddenly sprint in unpredictable directions.

If you are traveling with a dog, keep it restrained at all times. Dogs have been known to antagonize moose, wolves, and even bears and are often injured by the quills of porcupines. It is no fun to pull little spikes out of a dog's face with a pair of pliers, so for the sake of both the wildlife and your dog, keep it under your control and don't let it run free.

See wilderness backpacking for more information about staying safe in areas of known bear activity.

• Yukon - Canada's Yukon shares most of Alaska's eastern border.
• British Columbia - Portions of British Columbia share a border with the Alaska Panhandle.
• Washington - While not connected to Alaska, Washington is the departure point for many visitors to the state.
• Russian Far East - Located just 53 miles (85 km) across the Bering Strait, Alaska's neighbor to the west has greatly influenced the state's history and culture, despite being, in fact, just out of viewing distance. Connections to Far Eastern Russia are rather scarce; aside from some flights in the summer, you will probably need to travel via East Asia.