To celebrate the International Polar Year, the United States
Postal Service put a spotlight on the aurora borealis and aurora
australis. Photos of the colorful light displays seen in the night
sky near the north and south poles are featured on two new 41-cent
stamps issued last month. The northern lights stamp is based on a
photo by Fred Hirschmann of Wasilla, in Southcentral Alaska. To see
the aurora borealis for yourself, plan
a winter trip to Alaska.
It was only a matter of time before Discovery Channel's hit TV
show, "Deadliest Catch," would catch up to travelers in Alaska. The
Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour out of Ketchikan spends four hours
at sea on the F/V Aleutian Ballad, a former crabbing vessel that's
been retrofitted for traveler's comfort. The ship cruises the waters
off Annette Island near the community of Metlakatla, where visitors
watch as the crew pulls king, snow and Dungeness crab, eel, shrimp
and other sea life out of the cold, clear waters. For those seeking
a more hands-on experience, Alaskan Wild, a commercial salmon
fishing outfit in Dillingham, offers charters on Bristol Bay, home
of the world's richest wild salmon fishery. Up to four fishers can
join the crew of the 32-foot boat, hauling salmon gillnets. Day
trips are tailored to the guest's comfort level. To learn more about
these fishing trips, visit http://56degreesnorth.com or www.alaskanwild.net.
It's not every day that a traveler gets to visit the home of a
bonafide genius, but that's exactly what the Alutiiq Museum in
Kodiak is to Sven Haakanson, Jr., a recent MacArthur Foundation
Fellow. Haakanson has spent the past seven years as the executive
director of the museum and most of his life dedicated to preserving
the history of the Alutiiq people. And it is his work to revitalize
the indigenous language, customs and culture of these people that
earned him the so-called genius award. Visitors to the museum can
see evidence of his talents in programs and exhibits, such as next
summer's exhibit of 19th-century Kodiak Alutiiq ceremonial masks,
"Giinaquq: Like A Face." The museum is open year-round. For more
information, go to www.alutiiqmuseum.org.
Beginning May 4, Icy Strait Point, a privately owned cultural and
wilderness cruise port near Hoonah, will open to independent
travelers. Monday through Wednesday, visitors are welcome on any of
the port's excursions, which include North America's highest and
longest zip line, a whale-watching cruise, sightseeing in Hoonah
(Alaska's largest Tlingit Indian village), a tribal performance,
bear viewing and more. Independent visitors cannot make reservations
in advance, but with only one cruise docking a day, space is usually
available. Independent travelers can get to Icy Strait Point by
state ferry or a 20-minute airline ride on regularly scheduled
service from Juneau to Hoonah, such as Wings of Alaska. To plan your
visit to Icy Strait Point, check out www.icystraitpoint.com.
Travel Information