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