| Alaska. Talk about a place that's gotten a | | | | Here you'll find three generations of top-20 |
| bum rap. Half the world thinks it's part of | | | | Iditarod racers and fourteen generations of |
| Canada and the other half thinks it's just a | | | | champion sled dogs. It was founded by Dan |
| big block of ice. Well, hold on to your fur | | | | Seavey Sr. in 1965. His oldest son Mitch |
| coats because there is more to see and do in | | | | took over the racing program in 1982.For |
| Alaska than you know.For starters there's | | | | those looking to get a bit of an education |
| Kenai Fords National Park. Here you can go | | | | there's the UAF Institute of Marine Science |
| on a sightseeing cruise to visit some | | | | Seward Marine Center which is a unit in the |
| glaciers and see some marine wildlife. The | | | | University of Alaska Fairbanks School of |
| ship sails out of Seward. The park is just | | | | Fisheries and Ocean Sciences. Yes, there is |
| 130 miles south of Anchorage. It is made of | | | | a lot of education in Alaska about Marine |
| a range of coastal mountains which slowly | | | | life. Considering fishing is one of their |
| sink into the ocean, transforming its former | | | | main industries it certainly makes sense. |
| glacial valleys into long fjords with rocky | | | | The park was established as Mt. McKinley |
| and steep walls. Photos just don't do it | | | | National Park on 26 February, 1917. The |
| justice. You have to see it in person.While | | | | original park was designated a wilderness |
| we're on the subject of parks, there's also | | | | area and incorporated into Denali National |
| Denali National Park & Preserve. It features | | | | Park and Preserve in 1980. The Park was |
| North America's highest mountain, 20,320-foot | | | | designated an international biosphere reserve |
| tall Mount McKinley. The park is more than 6 | | | | in 1976.Believe it or not, people DO have fun |
| million acres. Now THAT is a huge park. It | | | | in Alaska. It's not just all ice and snow. |
| comes complete with a sub arctic ecosystem | | | | There is a nightlife that would give any city |
| featuring such animals as grizzly bears, | | | | a run for it's money.One of the hottest spots |
| wolves, Dall sheep, and moose.Then there's | | | | in Alaska is "Club Oasis" located on Seward |
| the Alaska Sealife Center. It's a non profit | | | | Highway. Here you'll find live music, great |
| marine science facility dedicated to | | | | drinks and no cover charge. This is where |
| understanding and maintaining the integrity | | | | those wild Alaskans really let their hair |
| of the marine ecosystem. In other words, | | | | down.Then there's Chilkoot Charlie's in |
| they're doing everything they can to see that | | | | Anchorage, Alaska where you'll find the |
| the fish don't end up belly up.Speaking of | | | | famous Bird House Bar, great drinks, music, |
| fish, if you're into that sort of thing, | | | | wild women and non stop fun. You can even |
| there's the Homer Spit Fishing Hole. Here | | | | cater private parties here.Yes, Alaska |
| you can fish for kings and silvers right off | | | | certainly is more than just a chunk of frozen |
| the bank of the Homer Spit.Then there's the | | | | wasteland. When you're in the neighborhood |
| Ididaride Dog Sled Tours in Seward, Alaska. | | | | stop on by. You may not want to leave. |