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