Alaska Celebrates Russian Culture

A little over two miles of water separates the Bering Strait islands of Little Diomede and Big Diomede, making the distance between Alaska and Siberia less than the stretch between downtown Juneau and Lemon Creek.

This proximity, called into doubt during the recent Presidential election, will be celebrated next weekend with White Nights, a festival of Russian culture organized by Alexander Dolitsky, president of the Alaska Siberia Research Center.

The event calls attention to both our physical closeness to Russia and to the long-standing historical connection between the two land masses. Organized as part of the Russian Compatriot Program, of which Dolitsky is a delegate, it serves to promote Russian heritage and culture, foster good relations between the neighboring countries, and to reach out to Russian diaspora.

The festival, sponsored by the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the United States and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and partially by the City and Borough of Juneau, runs from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. next Saturday, June 20, at Centennial Hall.

Warm days, White Nights - Juneau Empire

Technorati Tags: alaska, russia, summer, festival

Foodio54.com's Mike Van Heyde Hit's Alaska on US Tour

After arriving in Anchorage I made my way down to Alaska Salmon Chowder House downtown. I will make an omission here, I used to love that imitation crab stuff that you can get for $4 a bag at the grocery store, however sadly, after easting real Alaska King Crab legs I don’t think I’ll even be able to eat that imitation crab garbage ever again. It was absolutely delicious and fresh and the sauce they provided was excellent as well. The name of the place was Alaskan Salmon Chowder House, so I felt compelled to try that as well and it was just the perfect blend of Salmon and vegetables. Being from Ohio I don’t eat a lot of seafood that is just off the boat fresh (we’re cautioned not to eat too much fish from Lake Erie), and so this was a real treat.

Foodio54 Blog

Technorati Tags: foodio54.com, Mike Van Heyde, food, travel

Alaska: The Place to Travel this Summer

Alaska travel companies offer their suggestions on why this summer may just be the perfect time to visit Alaska.

Anchorage, Alaska (PRWEB) May 26, 2009 -- With the current economic climate it is more important than ever for travelers to stretch their vacation dollars. A group of Alaska travel companies has banded together to compile quite a compelling list of why Alaska is the perfect destination for this summer to do just that. It all started when Anchorage based Alaska Tour & Travel published an article on their blog on top reasons to visit Alaska this summer, and asked for other local businesses to join in with their suggestions. Response has been great according to company President Steve Judd, who says they are well on their way to hitting their goal of 99 reasons.
Visit Alaska This Summer!
Visit Alaska This Summer!

Judd, a 43 year Alaska resident with nearly 30 years in the Alaska travel industry, offered his own take on why travelers should choose this summer to visit the state. For starters, Alaska is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of Statehood this year. Many communities have special events planned, and numerous travel companies are offering travel specials to mark the milestone. Softer demand this summer will also mean less crowds and lower prices with Alaska travel deals common across nearly the entire industry. Also unusual for this time of year, there is still excellent availability for this summer even in traditional bottleneck areas like Denali National Park. Alaska cruises are also still available and at historic low prices, with seven night Gulf of Alaska cruises going for as little as $399. More importantly, many lines are reducing capacity for Alaska cruises for 2010 so most experts see Gulf of Alaska cruise prices jumping back up for next year.

The bottom line, says Judd, "There is still plenty of time to book an Alaska vacation this summer, and prices may never be this low again."

99 Reasons to Visit Alaska this Summer

Technorati Tags: alaska, travel, summer, cruises

Entrepeneurs Ski Alaska

TORDRILLO MOUNTAINS, Alaska (Fortune Small Business) -- I am standing near the peak of a craggy, white-capped mountain in Alaska. With me are three world-class adventure-sports athletes.

Big-wave surfer Dave Kalama clicks into his skis while surf superstar Laird Hamilton straps on an unusually long snowboard in the knee-deep snow. A few yards away, tromping to the edge of a cliff to survey our exit options, is Jeremy Jones, Snowboarder magazine's eight-time Big Mountain Rider of the Year. The bright red and blue A-Star helicopter that just deposited us here takes off in a blur of white powder, spins 180 degrees and disappears over a spiny ridge.

We peer from a tiny knoll down thousands of feet into the Triumvirate Glacier, the second largest in Alaska. This rippled ice leviathan winds 30 miles through the Tordrillo Mountains, a section of the Alaska Range 60 miles west of Anchorage.

Overhead the sky is bright blue, cloudless. The landscape below is blinding white. Even this crew, made up of veteran adventurers of the world's most beautiful places, can't find adequate words.

Snow Blind: Extreme skiing through the recession - May. 20, 2009

Alaskan Kids Plant for Arbor Day

FAIRBANKS — A wilderness of trees surrounds the greater Fairbanks area, yet Arbor Day devotees have been planting trees locally for years.

In 1983, an informal group of self-motivated citizens formed an Arbor Day committee and planted two young birch trees — one on either side of the sign at the Cushman Street Transit Station.

Today, 26 years later, the same two trees are leafing out under the warm spring sun, and the small group continues to plant trees across Fairbanks each Arbor Day season.

The goal this year is 50 trees to celebrate Alaska’s 50 years of statehood.

Dick Farris lists the Arbor Day committee as one of the best organizations he’s had the fortune to be part of.

newsminer.com • Joy Elementary students get the dirt on Alaska Arbor Day

Technorati Tags: alaska, arbor day, tree's, students

Alaska's Northern Adventures

Wasilla, ALASKA-Travel above the Arctic Circle and access the Arctic Ocean during the seven-day Alaska Arctic Adventure, offered by Alaska Outdoors. The route takes Alaskan explorers into the country’s most remote region accessible by road and features six nights of camping and many opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. This trip departs on July 12, 19 and 26; the departures on the 12 and 26 travel south from Prudhoe Bay to Fairbanks; the July 19 departure travels north from Fairbanks. All departures start at $1195 per person, not including internal flights.

On northbound trips, participants begin in Fairbanks and head north to explore the boreal forest and the geologic formations near Chena, followed by a soak in the therapeutic hot pools of Chena Hot Springs, home of the first geothermal power plant in Alaska. The next six days are spent traveling further north into the most remote regions of the state - cross the Yukon River, then the Arctic Circle, and finally the mighty Brooks Range before reaching the treeless plain of the North Slope. Along the way, participants hike within the famous - and controversial - Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Each day’s distance, hiking options, and wildlife viewing opportunities are dictated by Mother Nature, but every evening, guests will camp in Alaska’s expansive wilderness. Prudhoe Bay is the destination on the final day - the road ends here, but the tour continues with a tour of the Prudhoe Bay oil facilities. Here, access to the remote Arctic Ocean is finally available - brave adventurers can even take a dip if they desire.

Travel into Alaska’s Remote Regions on a Journey above the Arctic Circle | Travel Video News

Technorati Tags: alaska, arctic circle, travel, journey

Thompson Pass, Valdez Alaska

Snowboarding - Tailgate Alaska: Topographic Tour - ESPN

We've all seen plenty of footage from Alaska. But unless you've spent a serious amount of time there yourself, how often can you name the peak or the exact zone? In the latest episode of Tailgate Alaska, local guide Dave "Happy" Rintala, breaks down the key areas of the Thompson Pass region in Valdez. He tells us about Odyssey, the smaller peak but one deep with history as the location for the King of the Hill and other big mountain competitions. We learn about Goodwill's, a peak named after rider Matt Goodwill after he launched an 80 foot cliff there. Or there's the Little Matterhorn, which indeed, looks like a mini-version of Europe's Matterhorn mountain. And Mt. Diamond, "the big daddy of Thompson Pass," with a 7,000 foot run. It's a good overview of the area, as it shows just how much AK has to offer. "It was made for us up here," says guide Tony Mann. "It's like the world's biggest terrain park."

Technorati Tags: alaska, skiing, thompson pass, valdez