Anchorage - A World Class Destination

You know, I was out skiing on the trails in Anchorage on Sunday, cruising along the coastal trail just west of downtown, and had to pause. In front of me was miles of groomed trail, to my left wooded, inviting neighborhoods, and to my right Cook Inlet. Across the inlet, less than 50 miles away, was the snow covered skyline of the Neacola Mountains. Denali could be seen 300 miles away further north.

I was skiing in the 23rd Tour of Anchorage nordic ski race, where over 1800 participants came out on a beautiful Sunday to truly enjoy our trail system, and the uniqueness of our city. World Class comes to mind. Skiing through the heart of Anchorage without having to wait for traffic, navigating an amazing trail network that was groomed to olympic standards the night before the race.

As much as the race was the focus of my weekend, the happenings in Anchorage and Alaska this past weekend really prove that Alaska is a World Class destination, any time of the year. On Saturday, we celebrated the ceremonial start of the Iditarod, with dog teams racing through town with spectators lining the streets. Sunday, while we were busy skiing, the official start was happening 100 miles north, as mushers checked their gear one last time before heading out into the wildest wilderness Alaska could throw at them. It really is the last great race.

Why am I writing this? We are busy this week at a conference in Palmer for the Alaska Wilderness Recreation and Tourism Association. The true mission of this great organization is to promote sustainable tourism in Alaska, and represent small business that get lost in the blanket marketing for the state. They promote sustainable practices, have launched a green certification branch known as Adventure Green Alaska, and have recently unveiled a new website, Visit Wild Alaska, designed to help promote their members, and get the word out that people looking to come to Alaska don't have to just get on a cruise ship. We all agreed how Alaska is the perfect destination, not only for the group minded cruise passenger, but even more so for those independent travelers in search of adventure. Alaska is the last place in the nation that can offer that - true, unscripted adventure. Its a hard place to beat.

Alaska. World Class. Amazing trails, spectacular wilderness, the Iditarod! - and its the middle of winter.

Alaska Gurus

Anchorage - A World Class Destination

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