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