Winter in Alaska

When you think about Alaska and wintertime you probably think cold, snow and negative temps. Though true, there’s also many great things celebrated during the winter months here in the 49th. The beauty of this state shows all year round through the extremes of frosts and blooms. Enduring the winters, you find a slowness that you learn to appreciate before the long days of summer arrive. You can find the fun and the wonder all around in each season. But for now, let's talk about winter!

Winter in Alaska is full of festivals and activities that you won't find in many other places! Mid February, the celebrations begin with a 12-day Fur Rondy festival! Dog sled races and numerous community activities, including the Rondy Carnival, Grand Parade, Outhouse Races, Running of the Reindeer, even snowshoe softball! A long tradition of celebrating the spirit of Alaska. The first Saturday of March in downtown Anchorage a ceremony kicks off the great Iditarod Sled Dog race! The race officially will begin Sunday in Willow and continue for 1,049 miles. “The Last Great Race”! There are so many mush races throughout the state and you can even visit the sled dog kennels and take your own personal tour pulled by the excited pups!

The rivers and lakes are frozen solid which means great ice fishing and bonfires (yes those two go hand in hand, this is Alaska). The packed snow on the mountains make for some amazing skiing/snowboarding conditions! Places like Alyeska in Girdwood, Hilltop in Anchorage, or one of the newest developments, Skeetawk at Hatcher Pass. You’ll have tons of options to hit the slopes wherever you may live. Along with downhill skiing/snowboarding we also have trails all over the city and surrounding parks that offer paths for Nordic/cross country skiing. Seeking more? Snowmobiling, dogsled tours and northern lights hunting are also some of the popular winter activities Alaska has to offer. A bonus about a state this big, we have lots of space for everyone to enjoy!

If you want to take in the scenic views you have to check out the winter travel packages offered by the Alaska Railroad! South to Seward or north to Denali the train rides are an amazing adventure. Beautiful sites may even include the dancing auroras! Head to the North Pole and you’ll be sure to see the sky unlike you’ve ever seen it before. There’s plenty of wildlife to experience when traveling on the train such as moose, mountain goats, beluga whales, bears and caribou. If you prefer to drive, the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage are fun places to go to see a wide assortment of Alaskan animals. Seward is beautiful and when you visit you can see adorable sea otters, walruses, sea lions and seals at the Sea Life Center! Think we have told you about it all? Not quite! 

One of our absolutely favorite places to visit is Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer. Not only do you get to see these amazing domesticated reindeer up close you also get to hand feed them and literally hangout in their pen! On the farm they have a couple of moose, some alpaca and also a bison! Schedule a tour and after you’ll want to head over to the Musk Ox Farm and tour there as well! We can’t make this up, it’s that awesome up here! You’ll get to meet these ice age giants that are unlike anything you’ve seen before. So much fun to be had when exploring the beautiful wildlife of Alaska. 

No matter which direction you go you’ll be sure to run into the beauty and wonder all around you. Glaciers, mountain peaks, frozen waterfalls, blue waters and so much more.

Excited to enjoy the Alaskan winter yet?! So much to see and explore. Embrace the amazing beauty of Alaska all year long! 

Come back later for our blog on summer in Alaska!

(Beautiful photo of Alaska in the winter provided courtesy of Tami Biorn Photography)