Alaska

1. Denali National Park and Preserve (Interior Alaska): Denali is famous for being home to North America’s tallest peak, Denali (formerly Mount McKinley). The park offers stunning wilderness, diverse wildlife, and opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, including grizzly bears and moose.
2. Glacier Bay National Park (Southeastern Alaska): Known for its breathtaking tidewater glaciers, Glacier Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can witness massive glaciers calving into the sea and explore the park by boat or kayak.
3. Kenai Fjords National Park (Seward): This park is known for its dramatic fjords and glaciers. Visitors come for boat tours, wildlife viewing (including whales, puffins, and seals), and to see the famous Harding Icefield.
4. Anchorage Museum (Anchorage): The largest museum in Alaska, the Anchorage Museum showcases the state’s history, Native cultures, art, and natural sciences. It’s a cultural hub where visitors can learn about Alaska’s past and its diverse communities.
5. Mendenhall Glacier (Juneau): Just outside of Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier is a popular spot for hiking, glacier viewing, and exploring ice caves. The nearby visitor center offers insights into glacier science and the impacts of climate change.
6. Katmai National Park and Preserve (Southwestern Alaska): Katmai is famous for the Brooks Falls, where visitors can watch brown bears catching salmon. The park is also known for the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes, an area filled with volcanic ash from the 1912 Novarupta eruption.
7. Chugach State Park (Anchorage): One of the largest state parks in the U.S., Chugach offers endless outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, and rock climbing. It’s renowned for its close proximity to Anchorage and its stunning mountain landscapes.
8. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (Southeastern Alaska): The largest national park in the United States, Wrangell-St. Elias is known for its vast wilderness, massive glaciers, and the historic Kennecott copper mines. It’s a dream destination for backcountry adventurers.
9. Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) (Fairbanks and Northern Alaska): Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to view the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Visitors flock here in winter to witness the dazzling display of colorful lights dancing across the Arctic sky.
10. Inside Passage (Southeastern Alaska): This scenic coastal route is famous for its picturesque fjords, islands, and wildlife, including humpback whales and bald eagles. Many visitors explore the Inside Passage on cruise ships or ferries, stopping at charming coastal towns like Ketchikan and Sitka.

1. Alaska is the largest state in the U.S.: Alaska is so big that it’s larger than the next three largest states—Texas, California, and Montana—combined. Yet, it has one of the smallest populations, which means wide open spaces and vast wilderness.
2. You can see Russia from Alaska: On a clear day, you can actually see Russia from Alaska. From Little Diomede Island, located in the Bering Strait, Russia’s Big Diomede Island is just 2.4 miles away.
3. Alaska has 24 hours of daylight in summer: During the summer solstice, parts of Alaska experience 24 hours of daylight, known as the Midnight Sun. In places like Barrow (now Utqiaġvik), the sun doesn’t set for 83 days in summer.
4. It’s illegal to whisper in someone’s ear while they’re moose hunting: In Alaska, there’s a strange law that prohibits whispering in someone’s ear while they’re moose hunting. This law ensures that hunters stay focused and avoid distractions.
5. Alaska has more coastline than all other U.S. states combined: Alaska has over 6,600 miles of coastline, which is more than the combined coastlines of the other 49 states. This makes it a prime spot for fishing, whale watching, and exploring marine life.
6. The Aurora Borealis appears about 243 days a year: In places like Fairbanks, the Northern Lights are visible almost two-thirds of the year. These dazzling light displays are caused by solar particles interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
7. Dog mushing is Alaska’s state sport: Dog mushing, including famous races like the Iditarod, is Alaska’s official state sport. These sled dog races test endurance and skill across icy, rugged terrain.
8. Alaska has more than 3 million lakes: Alaska is home to over 3 million lakes, including Lake Iliamna, the largest in the state. Many of these lakes are so remote they can only be reached by plane or boat.
9. Alaska is home to the world’s longest seaplane base: Lake Hood in Anchorage is the world’s busiest seaplane base, with over 190 flights taking off and landing each day. Seaplanes are a common mode of transportation in Alaska’s remote areas.
10. You can still find active volcanoes in Alaska: Alaska has more than 40 active volcanoes. The Aleutian Islands are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, where volcanic eruptions are fairly common, making Alaska a hot spot for volcanic activity.

Famous Men

1. Jimmy Doolittle (1896–1993): Born in Alameda, California, but raised in Nome, Alaska, Jimmy Doolittle was a celebrated World War II general and aviator. He is best known for leading the famous Doolittle Raid, the first U.S. air raid on Japan in 1942.
2. Curtis Brown (1956–): Born in Elizabethtown, North Carolina, but raised in Alaska, Curtis Brown is a NASA astronaut who flew on six Space Shuttle missions. He is recognized for his contributions to space exploration and his time spent in Alaska during his youth.
3. Jack London (1876–1916): Although born in San Francisco, Jack London is strongly associated with Alaska for his classic adventure novels like The Call of the Wild and White Fang, which were inspired by his time spent in Alaska and the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.
4. Seth Kantner (1965–): Born and raised in Northern Alaska, Seth Kantner is an award-winning author and photographer. His novel Ordinary Wolves explores life in rural Alaska, reflecting on the state’s environment, culture, and challenges.
5. Wyatt Earp (1848–1929): While best known for his time in the Wild West, Wyatt Earp spent time in Nome, Alaska, during the Klondike Gold Rush. He ran several businesses there, including a saloon, and became a well-known figure during Alaska’s gold rush era.

Famous Women

1. Sarah Palin (1964–): Born in Sandpoint, Idaho, and raised in Alaska, Sarah Palin is a politician who served as the ninth governor of Alaska from 2006 to 2009. She gained national fame as the Republican vice-presidential nominee in 2008.
2. Libby Riddles (1956–): Born in Madison, Wisconsin, but raised in Alaska, Libby Riddles made history as the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1985. Her victory is legendary in the world of dog mushing.
3. Dana Stabenow (1952–): Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Dana Stabenow is an acclaimed mystery and thriller writer known for her Kate Shugak detective series, which is set in the Alaskan wilderness and inspired by her own experiences growing up in the state.
4. Jewel Kilcher (1974–): Born in Payson, Utah, and raised in Homer, Alaska, Jewel is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and actress. She gained fame with her debut album Pieces of You and is known for her folk-inspired music and poetry.
5. Sybil Davis (1921–2016): Born in Juneau, Alaska, Sybil Davis was a pioneering bush pilot and one of the first female pilots in Alaska. She contributed to the early aviation history of Alaska and was an important figure in remote Alaskan communities.