A RC T IC HIGHLIGHTS CHEER ON A former Gold Rush town, Nome is now the place to catch the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, visit the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve Visitor Center, or experience Alaska Native culture at the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum. MUSHERS STAND ON TOP OF THE WORLD The nation’s northernmost city, Utqiaġvik, experiences 82 days of endless sunlight during summer and over two months of darkness in winter. It sits on the Arctic Ocean, whose bounty has nourished the Iñupiat for millennia. Several historical sites, as well as the Iñupiat Heritage Center, celebrate this rich culture. EXPERIENCE TRUE SOLITUDE Chris McLennan/Travel Alaska (Iditarod), ‘Wáats’asdiyei Joe Yates Haida (Barrow), Alaska Stock (raft), Travel Alaska (Gates) The expansive Brooks Range stretches 700 miles across the Arctic region. There are no trails or roads–except for a brief touch by the Dalton Highway– but a wilderness raft and trek is the trip of a lifetime. Tour operators offer multi-day guided excursions to this remote mountain range. WITNESS IÑUPIAT CULTURE APPRECIATE THE VASTNESS Straddling the Arctic Divide and the nation’s second-largest national park, Gates of the Arctic National Park is vast, trailless, and roadless. The folks at the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center in Coldfoot can provide information about the area along with Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the east. 80% of Kotzebue’s residents are Iñupiaq, and this town in the Northwest Arctic is an important hub for area villages. Visit the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center, which provides information on several nearby parks and refuges. Kotzebue is also a jumping-off point for epic river rafting. TRAVELALASKA.COM 19
Alaska Official State Vacation Planner 2024: Page 19
