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With warnings all over the country about gang activity, names like Bloods, Crips, and MS-13 appearing on the news, you may be wondering if Alaska has gangs and whether you as a tourist might be at risk. That might sound kind of silly to some people, but it’s a legitimate concern. I was in the …
Have you ever heard of a Billiken? You may have, as they are not uniquely Alaskan, even though they do have a long history up here. Billikens have been integrated into Alaskan culture for well over 50 years and I’ve carried on on my keychain for years. If you’re from the lower 48 you may …
Taking a cruise to Juneau, Alaska can be one of the most beautiful and fun trips you’ll ever take. The scenery is beautiful and several museums around the city give you the chance to experience our rich history. Unfortunately, if you only have one day in Juneau, you have to choose your activities carefully to …
Every state in America has its own list of words or terms that are only used in that state and Alaska is no exception. One term that only exists in Alaska and you may not be familiar with is “Cheechako,” the opposite of the term “sourdough” that I recently wrote about. What Is A Cheechako? …
Have you heard the term Alaskan sourdough? No, it’s not a type of bread. Well, it probably is, I’m sure someone makes a product called Alaskan sourdough bread. I’m not familiar with every product made in the state. In Jack London’s novel “White Fang,” the narrator describes a group of men in Fort Yukon who …
There are a lot of questions that we as Alaskans get regularly since a lot of people are curious about our state and its people. We’re asked all sorts of questions about us as Alaskans on websites like Reddit and Quora. One of my favorites to answer is “Do Alaskans feel American?” I wish I …
If you aren’t an Alaskan, you might not have heard of “termination dust”. Even if you’re from Alaska like me, you might not have heard it until you became an adult. A few years back, a friend of mine was out of town and sent me a text message asking if I could see any …
One of the many things that Alaska is known for is our amazing assortment of wildlife throughout the state. There are thousands of different species up here, including 112 types of mammals and (something I didn’t know until someone mentioned it to me last week) over 500 species of birds. If you enjoy eating meat …
Skagway and Ketchikan are two of the most common travel destinations (that aren’t named “Juneau“) in Southeast Alaska. If you had two options for cruises, but each one only stopped in one of the places and not the other, which should you choose? Let’s take a look at each place individually, then compare them, in …
People often ask me when the best time to visit Alaska is, although they usually ask if the beginning of tourist season (May) is better than the end of tourist season (September). Every now and again, someone will ask if going to Alaska in winter is a good idea. I will now live up to …