| Want to combine history, culture, spectacular | | | | exploration of the state. From Anchorage it's |
| natural sightseeing and wildlife in one | | | | possible to undertake any number of winter |
| exciting family vacation? It's never been | | | | activities, including alpine skiing, |
| easier to tackle it all than with a vacation | | | | sledding, ice fishing, ice skiing, northern |
| taking you to one of the most exciting races | | | | lights viewing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, |
| in the world - the Iditarod Sled Dog Race in | | | | and, if inspired by the Iditarod racers, it's |
| beautiful Alaska. | | | | possible to lead a dog sled team of your own! |
| | | | |
| The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is a | | | | The race finishes in Nome, on the western |
| challenging sled dog race in Alaska, held | | | | Bering sea coast, where travelers can |
| annually in February or March. This grueling | | | | experience a different kind of Alaska. Nome |
| race sees mushers and teams of huskies | | | | is, like many Alaska towns, small and |
| covering 1150 miles (1850 km) in eight to | | | | isolated, but is unique in that it was |
| fifteen days. The scenery is spectacular - | | | | established as a Gold Rush boom town. The |
| with the teams passing glaciers and frozen | | | | feeling of the wild west still pervades the |
| lakes and traveling through pristine | | | | city streets. Nome gets a festival flavour |
| wilderness as they race for the finish. | | | | during the Iditarod, and features such events |
| | | | as a reindeer potluck, native arts & crafts |
| Although racers can face brutal temperatures, | | | | show, Iditarod awards banquets, and the |
| forced to race through blizzards and whiteout | | | | opportunity for tourists to "meet the |
| conditions, sub-zero temperatures, and | | | | mushers." |
| gale-force winds, for the *** NUMBER *** of | | | | |
| tourists who come up for a glimpse of the | | | | This glamourous race commemorates a |
| action, this can make a comfortable, | | | | meaningful event in 1925, when a dog-sled |
| relaxing, and entirely unique winter | | | | team raced medicine from Nenana to Nome to |
| vacation. | | | | save the town from a diphtheria epidemic. |
| | | | Although there hasn't been quite the same |
| The ceremonial start occurs in Anchorage, a | | | | purpose in recent years, the Iditarod is |
| lively and charming town any time of year, | | | | still a fun adventure for travelers. |
| which provides a great base for other | | | | |