Alaska:
Land of Spectacular Views and Fun Surprises
Land of Spectacular Views and Fun Surprises
The state of Alaska is enormous, full of breathtaking scenery (see photo above, taken by Joan) -- and surprises. Here are just a few. Did you know….
> During summer, it never gets really dark. Late at “night” in the Land of the Midnight Sun, take your drink outside and converse with your fellow travelers in bright “daylight.” Even at 2am – 3am when the sun is down, it is still light outside, just dusky.
> The Denali wilderness (near what used to be called Mt. McKinley) is actually a desert – because it gets so little rainfall! So how do all those trees and shrubs grow? The scant rainwater is held up to the roots by the permafrost – a layer of earth that is frozen all year.
> Just a train ride away is a much different climate, a temperate rainforest. Take a walking tour through the Tongass National Forest. Looks like a scene from Tarzan. Thick foliage and the nearby ocean keep the temperature above freezing. There is a salmon fishery here.
> Foodies, Alaska is for you too! Maybe the freshest salmon, halibut, king crab or dungeness crab you’ve ever had.
> Potheads (or any adults interested in weed), Alaska is for you too! Yup, it’s legal for recreational use. The marijuana shops sell edibles as well as smoke-ables. The law limits how much THC is in, say, a brownie or truffle, but they’re potent nonetheless.
> You can hug Santa Claus year round at his shop in North Pole, AK [see photo, taken by Joan, below]. Joan sat on his lap here! This fun store sells all kinds of Christmas items, and luscious fudge at an espresso counter. You can see real reindeer in a pen just outside. The town is near Fairbanks. Kids’ letters addressed to Santa Claus are routed here; a community program responds to them.
> During summer, it never gets really dark. Late at “night” in the Land of the Midnight Sun, take your drink outside and converse with your fellow travelers in bright “daylight.” Even at 2am – 3am when the sun is down, it is still light outside, just dusky.
> The Denali wilderness (near what used to be called Mt. McKinley) is actually a desert – because it gets so little rainfall! So how do all those trees and shrubs grow? The scant rainwater is held up to the roots by the permafrost – a layer of earth that is frozen all year.
> Just a train ride away is a much different climate, a temperate rainforest. Take a walking tour through the Tongass National Forest. Looks like a scene from Tarzan. Thick foliage and the nearby ocean keep the temperature above freezing. There is a salmon fishery here.
> Foodies, Alaska is for you too! Maybe the freshest salmon, halibut, king crab or dungeness crab you’ve ever had.
> Potheads (or any adults interested in weed), Alaska is for you too! Yup, it’s legal for recreational use. The marijuana shops sell edibles as well as smoke-ables. The law limits how much THC is in, say, a brownie or truffle, but they’re potent nonetheless.
> You can hug Santa Claus year round at his shop in North Pole, AK [see photo, taken by Joan, below]. Joan sat on his lap here! This fun store sells all kinds of Christmas items, and luscious fudge at an espresso counter. You can see real reindeer in a pen just outside. The town is near Fairbanks. Kids’ letters addressed to Santa Claus are routed here; a community program responds to them.
