Alaska's Inside Passage

Accessible by a network of air routes or waterways, the city of Wrangell is one of the oldest in Alaska, and rich in Alaska Native and gold rush history. Three major gold rushes up the local Stikine River from 1861 to the late 1890s give it reason to celebrate this history at the annual Tent City Festival (Feb. 10-12). The event features contests, Tent City theatrical performances, a fashion show, fancy dress ball, activities for children and the Closest to the Pin annual Muskeg Meadows Golf Tournament.

Farther north along the glittering fjords that connect the coastal communities of the Inside Passage is the town of Skagway, visited by more than 400 cruise ships a year and current record holder in the "Guinness Book of World Records" for Most People Tossing Eggs, at 1,162. Winter activities are no less entertaining in Skagway, as evidenced in the Buckwheat Ski Classic - a cross-country ski race along the White Pass course (March 26). Gold seekers once roamed here during the Gold Rush of 1898 and more than 200 race entrants from Alaska, British Columbia, Yukon, Austria and Germany access it today. The course caters to both professional and amateur skiers, and races include a 50K and 25K, as well as a 5K kids race. Pre- and post-race events include hearty banquet and dance at the historic Eagles Hall.

Just a hop, skip and a jump away from Skagway is the community of Haines, a haven for a surprisingly large number of bald eagles that gather every year. The Alaska Bald Eagle Festival (Nov. 9-13) celebrates the majestic creatures with wildlife workshops, photography classes, tours and live raptor presentations. The Flight for Freedom Eagle Release is an event highlight, where an auction determines which participant is bestowed the honor of releasing a rehabilitated eagle into the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, a state park since 1982.

For more information about unique winter travel opportunities in Alaska’s Inside Passage, click here.

Southcentral Alaska

The fishing town of Cordova is situated on the eastern shores of Prince William Sound and hosts the annual Cordova Iceworm Festival (Feb. 3-6). For the past 50 years Cordova has honored the iceworm insect and event namesake by showcasing the talent and hospitality of the hard-working residents in the area. Highlights include the annual parade, a variety show and the coronation of Miss Iceworm, a food fair, arts and crafts show, fireworks and survival suit races, where survival suit-clad participants plunge into the icy harbor. The good-natured spirit evoked by the weekend events won’t disappoint travelers who arrive via ferry or regularly scheduled jet service.

The 76th annual Fur Rendezvous Festival is a premier winter celebration in Anchorage (Feb. 25 – March 6). Known as "Fur Rondy" by locals, the festival is anything but conventional and remains a longstanding tradition since the 1930s when the state’s fur trappers converged to sell their year’s harvest. Today the event features unique events such as snowshoe softball, the World Championship Sled Dog Races, carnival rides and Alaska Native traditions such as the blanket toss. This year Fur Rondy will encourage visitor participation even more with the addition of the snowball tournament, Yukigassen.

There's nothing like a good, old-fashioned snowball fight, and the Japanese have taken it up a notch with Yukigassen — a competition born in the town of Sobetsu that now draws thousands of spectators every year. The word "yuki" translates to snow, and "gassen" to battle, and it’s a snow battle like no other. Two teams of seven follow strict game regulations enforced by Yukigassen officials on a rectangular court with chateaus, shelters and flags. Each teams packs its own snowballs, helmets are mandatory and any type of shield is prohibited. The first team to capture the flag of their opponents, or hit all members of the opposing team with snowballs, wins. This event joins other recent favorites at Fur Rondy, such as the running of the reindeer, a mad sprint downtown that includes both human and reindeer participants.

Each year, thousands of visitors travel to Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley to view one of the Arctic’s oldest living species, the musk ox. Just 45 miles north of Anchorage, the city of Palmer is home to the Musk Ox Farm, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and domestication of these furry creatures, in order to provide additional subsistence income for Alaska Natives. Visitors have the opportunity to photograph and interact with the Ice Age animals, have questions answered by knowledgeable tour guides and visit educational exhibits. Qiviut, the soft under-wool of the musk ox, is harvested once a year at the Musk Ox Farm and delivered to an Alaska Native knitter's co-operative where it is used to make cashmere-soft scarves, hats and other clothing. Musk oxen are currently only found in remote areas of the north, including Greenland, Alaska, Canada and Siberia.

For more information about unique winter travel opportunities in Southcentral Alaska, click here.

Alaska's Interior

Place your bets in the Nenana Ice Classic, a contest that has been paying out big bucks since 1917. Beginning Feb. 1, participants can enter in guesses as to when the ice on the Tanana River will break up in the spring. A trip-wired tripod rooted two feet into the ice officially records the time. When the ice gives out, a wire connecting the tripod to a clock is triggered, stopping the clock and changing one lucky guesser's fortune - the jackpot can reach up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Wagers are collected at grocery stores, gas stations and other retailers statewide at $2.50 per entry, though Alaskans aren’t the only ones that can enter. Non-residents can gain access to past weather data with just a click of a mouse in order to make an educated guess, and mail in bets by check or money order. As the months pass, the pot grows sweeter - the 2010 jackpot reached $279,030.

If you'd rather place your bet in person and catch a glimpse of the ice before it has melted away, visit the Tripod Days festival in Nenana (March 5-7). Just an hour outside of Fairbanks, the town of Nenana puts on some serious fun with activities ranging from sled dog races, Texas hold ‘em poker championships, fur hat contests, a fireworks display and even a prettiest/grungiest Carhartt contest, among many other activities.

Artists from all corners of the globe descend on Fairbanks each year for the World Ice Art Championships - the largest event of its kind in the world (Feb. 22 - March 27). For close to one month, more than 70 sculpting teams carve behemoth blocks of ice into striking sculptures, the results of which are later lit up and put on display. This is a truly spectacular sight to behold, especially at night when the colored lights stand out against the darkened sky. The event includes multiple competitions including single-block, multi-block and junior divisions.

Thirty minutes north of Fairbanks is the historic gold mining town of Chatanika, known for the zany Chatanika Days event. The weekend event features a full schedule of outlandish activities like outhouse races, a snowmobile tug-of-war, human bowling on ice, a bucksaw contest, a long-john contest, snowshoe races and live music (March 19-20). It's worth a visit, if only to check "outhouse race" off your bucket list.

For more information about unique winter travel opportunities in Interior Alaska, click here.

Far North & Southwest Alaska

If you've heard of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race chances are you know the world-famous trek across more than 1,150 miles of the most beautiful and extreme terrain in existence ends in the city of Nome, located in the Far North region. Every March, mushers in the "Last Great Race on Earth" charge down Front Street in order to cross the finish line, and Nome — known as the "Mardi Gras of the North" during this time - hosts two full weeks of festivities to celebrate the incredible feat. Events include the Bering Sea Ice Golf Classic, pool and dart tournaments, the Lonnie O'Connor Iditarod Basketball Tournament, the Nome-Golovin Snowmachine Race, an art show and a craft fair.

Barrow is one of the largest Alaska Native communities in the state and is the northernmost town in the United States, situated right on the Arctic Ocean. Visit the Inupiat Heritage Center here to learn about Native people and subsistence whaling, or get a first-hand look through one of the tour companies in the area. Highlights could include an animal skin sewing demonstration, the world-famous blanket toss or a visit to a unique Native craft sale event where guests are able to meet with local craftspeople. For some added adventure, book a polar bear watching tour during months when the ice is in.

King crab fishing is a major winter operation in the Southwest region of Alaska, and something you may recognize from "Deadliest Catch," a reality series made popular by the Discovery Channel. Hauling in colossal crab from the Bering Sea isn’t the only activity that happens around this time of year however - unique travel opportunities live throughout this region comprised of the Alaska Peninsula, Bristol Bay, Kodiak Island, Pribilof Islands and the Aleutian Islands.

Unalaska and its Port of Dutch Harbor are an Aleutian Island community steeped in World War II history. In 1939 the United States military predicted an attack from the Japanese, which eventually came on June 3-4, 1942. Not only did the attack destroy the seaport but it was also only one of a select few places in the country to be bombed in World War II. The Japanese occupied two of the islands in the following year until American troops re-took them in a battle of massive proportions in 1943. This was the first on American soil since the War of 1812 and it is commemorated in the 134-acre Aleutian World War II National Historic Area, open year round.

Find more information about unique winter travel opportunities in Alaska's Far North and Southwest.

Alaska's Featured Activities:
Wildlife Viewing

The pristine wilderness of Alaska is, perhaps, the last vestige of thriving populations of North American wildlife. Where else can you see polar bears, bald eagles, blue and humpbacked whales, gray wolves, grizzly bears, orcas, lynx, moose, and hundreds of other rare and endangered species in their original and undisturbed natural habitats?

Adventure
Even if you don't have a lot of outdoor experience, day excursions and guided tours allow you to discover true Alaska wilderness during the day and sleep in a comfortable bed at night. For the seasoned outdoor expert, Alaska is teeming with the opportunities for the rugged, backcountry treks. Whether you prefer to hike on an ice age glacier, skim the wilderness in a "bush" plane or take a dog sled ride, you'll find plenty of options to experience the Alaska you've always dreamed about. The state's many famous rivers, lakes and protected coastal waters offer the chance to experience rafting, kayaking or jet boat rides from mild to wild. No matter what your interest, you're sure to find some adventures tailor-made for you.

Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas while preserving the environment and improving the well-being of local people. Alaska is the prime year-round destination for visitors seeking a more personal connection with nature, culture and wilderness. Ecotourism means you leave little or no impact during your visit so that future visitors can enjoy the same beauty and quality experience of Alaska's special places. Using established paths rather than disturbing vegetation, limiting campfires and being careful not to litter are all highly recommended.

Sightseeing
Every step along the way offers sightseeing and touring opportunities in such a wide variety you'll never lack for choices. From whale watching, wildlife and glacier tours to historical towns and gold mines to cultural experiences to pure Alaskan wilderness adventure, you'll find much to experience and savor. From the Inside Passage to Fairbanks in the heart of the state to the frigid waters of the Arctic Ocean to the tip of the Kenai Peninsula you'll discover the best Alaska has to offer.

If you're looking for adventure, Alaska has it from the mild to the wild. Raft a world-class river, kayak along rugged coastlines, hike or bike a mountain trail. All are available on your own or with an experienced guide. Out of town adventures include charter fishing trips, sightseeing cruises and flightseeing tours. The railroad can take you in comfort through some of the world's most spectacular scenery.

Culture and Entertainment
If you’re addicted to the History Channel, you stockpile old issues of National Geographic, or prefer to visit places where people practice customs different from your own, Alaska offers endless options.

Alaska visitors can experience the state’s unique Native culture through many avenues including totem carving, Native dancing, the blanket toss, traditional music, crafts and festivals as well as cultural and historical museums, heritage centers and academics. Whether you want to explore Alaska’s vibrant Native culture or other artistic and intellectual attractions like music festivals, local artisan handiwork, Russian iconography or museum exhibits, a long list of things to do and see awaits you.