~ Top 10 Places in Alaska, USA ~

[MysteRy]

Top 10 Places in Alaska, USA

When you think of Alaska, the first thought is not of flowers and sunshine, it is most likely that you think snow, ice and frozen trees but this is quite the wrong idea depending on the time of year, of course. In Fact Alaska is a wonderful place with many geographical wonders to be seen and magnificent places to visit for just about anyone of any age. Straying away from the misconception, Alaska has more to offer visitors than you can imagine, you just "have to see it to believe it”, as the saying goes. The snowy wonders of a peppered meadow to the green forests in a mountainous valley, Alaska has it all, of course including challenging and action packed snow sports.


1. Kodiak Island
 


Kodiak Island, most do not know the wonder and grandeur the large island holds but when it is seen for the first time it is a place that is remembered forever. The island is found on the coastal south of the state and it is Americas second in line for the largest island of the USA. The geographical make up of the island contrasts itself and an almost black and white nature; half is barren and treeless and the other half is heavily forested. The rest of the island is made up of tree covered mountains. One interesting fact of the island is that it is actually home to the largest coast guard base in the United States and it has been almost since the coast guard first came about. The native animals are some of the largest it seems as well and they include the King Crab and the namesake "Kodiak bear”, among many others.

[MysteRy]

2. Mount Roberts Tramway, Juneau
 


In the city of Juneaus downtown is the Mount Roberts Tramway, which is a huge aerial tramway that was built in the area about the year 1996. From just at sea level to 550 meter above sea level in around 6 minutes; the tramway is famous for its almost directly vertical accent and actually it is the most vertical ascending tramway there is in the world today. In the southeast the tramway is one of the most popular places for tourists to see during the summer months; nearly 200,000 people visit it each summer to be precise. Having two, 60 passenger cars the tramway has room for about 1050 per hour. What may be the most exciting about the tramway ride is that it has a max speed of 2000 feet per minute, so around 60 miles per hour and for an uphill tramway that is quite astonishing and it is something anyone can enjoy.

[MysteRy]

3. Gates of the Arctic National Park
 


Some say that the Gates of the Arctic National Park in Alaska is one of the best and that it is one of the natural gems of the world, it may very well be for some as it receives only around 50,000 or more visitors each year. The park got its name from being bordered with the Arctic Circle and it is one of the largest parks in the US as it is the size of the country Switzerland. Something very interesting about the park is that there are several small communities, ten to be exact and they all depend on the park for their food and livelihood. The Gates of the Arctic National Park is one of the most natural parks you can find in the United States territories as it has no established roads, trails or even visitor centers. The untouched lands have made way for many animals and flower run wild in the park and make their home throughout the mountains and tundra.

[MysteRy]

4. El Dorado Gold Mine
 


A gold mine in Fox, an unincorporated district of Alaska, is probably one of the most well-known gold mines in the US, as its name has been popularized in many movies and television shows. The El Dorado Gold Mine as it is known has been around since the early 1900s and it has been traveled since then. To get to the mine it is best to head there from Fairbanks, Alaska, it is only ten miles north from there and easy access to transportation can be found there. Throughout the life of the famous mine it went through many owners and records were never properly kept, so it is difficult to know the exact history of the mine but one thing is true, it is one of the most infamous tourist attractions in Alaska. During the summer months the mine offers tours several times a day but only through the summer, May to September.

[MysteRy]

5. Mendenhall Glacier
 


The Mendenhall Glacier is a massive glacier, monstrous in proportion, floating at 12 miles long, it is scary to think if the glacier ever broke free and floated away. The glacier was once named in the native dialect with a name that meant "Glacier behind the Town”. It didnt get its current 1891, when it was renamed in the honor of Thomas Mendenhall. Since 1958 the glacier has receded tremendously by nearly 2 miles to be exact and this is what actually created Lake Mendenhall. It is believed from many of the sources monitoring glacial activity that the Mendenhall Glacier will continue to recede in the coming future and eventually it will break free and possibly free float. When traveling to the glacier to visit, you will find many arctic animals and even some glacial caves at the foot of the glacier. The landscape and melted ice makes for an interesting and one of a kind scenery.

[MysteRy]

6. Alaska Native Heritage Center, Anchorage
 


The Alaskan Heritage Center located in Anchorage, Alaska is one of the best places to go while you are in Alaska, especially if you want to discover all the roots and history of the Alaskan inhabitants, including many facts about the settlements of different cultures that all had their influence on the state. When you visit the center you will see many sites that are all in direct connection with the original cultures that were part of the Alaskan territory, there are ten different cultures but the center has grouped them into 5 according to their linguistics and traditional similarities. Some of the exhibits include the types of housing that the native inhabitants in different cultures of the lands used and you can even tour the insides of them. One of the neatest is the Ulax long hut, which is built into hills or buried in the ground. There are many other neat exhibits within the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

[MysteRy]

7. Katmai National Park
 


In the Southern end of the Alaskan state there is a great park and reserve known as Katmai National Park and it is one to see for just about anyone who loves to see animals, volcanoes and sterling streams. The area of the park is around 3.5 million acres; a massive amount of land is covered in the park grounds. Within the park there are at least 14 active volcanoes, the main one is the Mount Katmai volcano, which is the parks main attraction and centered right in the heart of the park. For those who love to see all the archeological sites around the world, Katmai National Park is full of them, most of which date back to the prehistoric Thule cultures. The park is actually known best for its brown bear population and its salmon filled streams, the salmon is what draws in the bears and people alike.

[MysteRy]

8. Pioneer Park, Fairbanks
 


The city park of Fairbanks, Alaska is known as one of the best city parks in the state of Alaska and it is around 44 acres in total coverage. Pioneer Park was opened in the year 1967 to celebrate the Alaskan purchase by the United States and since then it has remained open to the public for recreational activities. There is no entrance cost to get into the wonderful park but the museums and attractions that are found within the park do have their own small fees to get into them. Surprisingly the park is open throughout the year and there are even smaller events held during the off season of the park. Even though there was some concern over the name of the park, many believe that the name could lead people to believe that the park is a theme-park. As a matter of fact it does have many things to do such as miniature golf but no theme-park rides and that is a good thing not to tarnish the natural state of the park.

[MysteRy]

9. Denali National Park and Preserve
 


Another national park in Alaska located towards the center of the state is Denali National Park and Preserve and it contains the highest mountain in the United States. Mount McKinley is the name of the mountain; locals refer to it as "Denali”. In the native tongue the word Denali actually means "the high one” and this is why Mount McKinley is sometimes referred to by locals as Denali and of course the park takes its name from the mountain as well. The six million acres park is half owned by the federal government and the rest is divided between some other eco agencies and local government. The park is a wilderness area and access by car requires four wheel drive and the road are not many within the park. Most of the park is situated on the northern region of the Alaskan Range as well so mountain passes are the main areas to travel.

[MysteRy]

10. Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge, Fairbanks
 


The Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge in Fairbanks, Alaska is a place where wildlife takes the primary role in importance as there are many migrato0ry birds that stop in at the refuge during their trip. The birds include mallard duck, Canadian geese and sandhill cranes. This tradition was actually started by Charles Creamer who was a chicken farmer that moved to the area in the year 1927. It is said that the farmer used to take left over grain and spread it across the fields to feed the migratory birds. After Creamer died the tradition carried on and eventually the area was made a national sanctuary for migratory birds and it is now associated with the Alaskan Bird Observatory. In Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge there is a forest on the 1,800 acres that have an elevated trail running throughout which is open for visitors to go on a pleasant hike. 


Alaska is a place full of national parks and wonderful summer scenery and just about anything skiing or mountain climbing related. Many people do not know all that the large state offers when it comes to being a place to travel for a vacation but in reality it is an excellent place for ecotourism. Now that this top ten places in Alaska has let you in on some of the best to see in Alaska, you can get rid of that image that pops up when you think of Alaska because it is far from just snow and ice covered lands. Next time you plan a trip check out some of these places in Alaska and your trip is sure to be a hit. Just try not to come during the winter if you dont like the cold weather and if you do dress warm.