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When the jaded editors at Alaska magazine gathered around a table at Gwennies Old Alaska Restaurant in Spenard last winter, our task was to conceptualize a feature that would include the input of our readers. Fueled by sourdough hotcakes, eggs and heaping bowls of reindeer sausage, we came up with the Best of Alaska. We brainstormed a list of categories—places, events and activities that define Alaska, from your favorite fishing river to the state's most memorable outhouse—and printed them on a ballot bound into the magazine that asked you to name your favorites. Then the ballots started pouring in. Responses came in equal numbers from in-state and out-of-state readers and we received ballots from as far away as Austria. There were more than a few smart-aleck responses. Our favorite came from a Texas reader who wrote, "The Best of Alaska has yet to come; an Alaska magazine without all of those damn tear-out cards and surveys."
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Chris Ware Illustration | ..> Most of you, however, responded enthusiastically and, from reading your responses, it's fair to say that there are so many wonderful people and spectacular places in Alaska that finding standouts among such an outstanding crowd is tough. Perhaps the best of Alaska is Alaska itself. Still, as the ballots were carefully organized and tallied, specific choices emerged. So, we proudly present the results of Alaska magazine readers' votes for the best Alaska has to offer . . .
Breakfast
Gwennies Old Alaska Restaurant at 4333 Spenard Road in Anchorage took the category by storm.
(We concur!)
(907) 243-2090.
Restaurant
Our readers had many favorites, so to be fair, we'll name winners by region.
Southcentral: The Double Musky in Girdwood (907) 783-2822.
Interior: The Pumphouse Restaurant and Saloon in Fairbanks (907) 479-8452.
Southwest: The Buskin River Inn in Kodiak (907) 487-2700.
Southeast: The Fiddlehead Restaurant & Bakery and DiSopra in Juneau (907) 586-3150.
Arctic: Pepe's North of the Border in Barrow (907) 852-8200.
Cinnamon Rolls
The Bake Shop in Girdwood (907) 783-2831.
Microbrewery Beer
The Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, 3300 Old Seward Highway, Anchorage (907) 258-2537. The beer is good and the pizza is the best you'll find this side of the Arctic Circle.
Shopping
Tourist Trap
We'll have to spread the pain here because there was no clear winner. Anchorage's Fourth Avenue was popular, as was the city of Skagway and Alaskaland in Fairbanks. Most Alaskans didn't make a selection but a majority of those who did chose Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn, Mile 328 on the Parks Highway (20 miles outside Fairbanks).
General Store
Coghill's General Store in Nenana. Here you'll find groceries, guns, ammunition, clothing, garden supplies, traps, furs and fishing supplies (907) 832-5422 or visit the Web site: www.mtaonline.net/~ncc/coghills/storex.html.
Authentic Gifts
The gift shop in the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage (907) 729-1122.
Bar
Dog-themed bars seem popular with our readers. Visitors preferred the Salty Dawg on the Homer Spit (907) 235-9990, while Alaskans chose the Howling Dog Saloon, 2160 Old Steese Highway, Fairbanks (907) 457-8780.
Candy
Alaska Wildberry Products, 5225 Juneau St., Anchorage (800) 280-2927 or visit the Web site at www.alaskawildberry.com.
Fishing
Spot
As you might expect, locals were a bit tight-lipped on specific locations. Big Eddy on the Kenai and the mouth of the Olds River on Kodiak Island were the most specific places identified. Most interpreted "spot" broadly, naming Kachemak Bay and Resurrection Bay.
Derby
The Seward Silver Salmon Derby received top honors. The derby will take place Aug. 10 -18, 2002. For more information, contact the Seward Chamber of Commerce at (907) 224-8051.
Alaskans preferred the less accessible Dutch Harbor for its halibut derby. If you want to see big fish and big seas, Dutch Harbor is the place to drop a hook. The Dutch Harbor/Unalaska Halibut Derby will run from June 1 to Sept. 15, 2002. For more information call (907) 581-4242.
Attractions
Garden
The Alaska Botanical Garden located half a block south of the intersection of Tudor and Campbell Airstrip roads in Anchorage (907) 770-3692.
Museum
The University of Alaska Museum in Fairbanks, 907 Yukon Drive on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks (907) 474-7505. The Pratt Museum at 3779 Bartlett St. in Homer was a close second (907) 235-8635.
Cemetery
The Sitka National Cemetery was favored by visitors. It is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Alaskans chose the Russian Orthodox Cemetery 26 miles north of Anchorage in Eklutna, open from mid-May to mid-September.
Native art
Walrus ivory carvings.
Art Gallery
Norman Lowell's 4 miles south of Anchor Point (907) 235-7344.
Wildlife Viewing
Bears
McNeil River. Access is controlled by a permitting process; request an application information packet from: Alaska Department of Fish & Game Division of Wildlife Conservation, 333 Raspberry Road, Anchorage AK 99518-1599,
ATTN: McNeil River
Birds
Haines was named the best for eagles, and Creamer's Field in Fairbanks is the best for migratory waterfowl. Haines hosts a Bald Eagle Festival each November to celebrate the gathering of more than 3,000 eagles at the Chilkat River. Call (907) 766-2202 or visit the Web site at www.baldeaglefest.org. The Sandhill Crane Festival will be held at Creamer's Field in Fairbanks Aug. 24-31. Call The Friends of Creamer's Field (907) 452-5162 for more information.
Whales
Sitka's Whalefest was the favorite organized whale watching event (www.sitkawhalefest.org) and Point Adolphus in Icy Strait just outside of Glacier Bay National Park is the most popular spot.
Events
Footrace
The Klondike Relay from Skagway to Whitehorse (867) 688-4236.
Festival Fair
The Alaska State Fair in Palmer (907) 745-4827.
Sled Dog Race
The Iditarod won hands down (www.iditarod.com), but many Alaskans argued for the Yukon Quest (www.yukonquest.org) between Fairbanks and Whitehorse.
RIVERS
Favorite fishing river
The Kenai took the honors with a healthy majority from both in-state and out-of-state readers. Visit the Kenai River Professional Guide Association's Web page at www.krpga.org.
The Wood River in the Wood-Tikchik State Park was the favorite among Alaskans. For more information, contact the park headquarters. The summer telephone number is (907) 842-2375, the winter number is (907) 269-8698.
Float Trip
Among Alaskans the answers varied widely, but the Karluk on Kodiak Island received the most votes. Contact the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge at (907) 487-2600.
Out-of-state readers chose the Kenai.
Kayak Trip
Prince William Sound was the clear favorite among all readers, but a fair number of Alaskans chose the less accessible Shuyak Island State Park (907) 486-6339. For information on Prince William Sound Kayak outfitters and guides visit this U.S. Forest Service Web site and click on guides and outfitters: www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/lands/index.html.
Whitewater Rafting
The Nenana was the hands-down favorite. Here are some of the businesses that offer raft trips on Nenana River.
Nenana Raft Adventures Inc. (800) 789-7238. Denali Raft Adventures Inc. (888) 683-2234.
Alaska Raft Adventures
(800) 276-7234.
Travel
Day trip
The riverboat Discovery, which runs mid-May through mid-September at 1975 Discovery Drive in Fairbanks (907) 479-6673.
Eco tour
Ohmer Creek Nature Trail, 22 miles from Petersburg on the Mitkof Highway, follows Ohmer Creek through mature, temperate rain forest, muskeg and over a beaver pond. Interpretive signs line the route.
City Park
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage.
Travel Tip
The most popular tip from Alaskans is to bring rain gear. Visitors said to bring bug repellent.
State Park
Denali State Park. There are three campgrounds, two public use cabins and six hiking trails within the park. For specific inquiries contact the Denali Ranger District Office at (907) 733-2675 or the Mat-Su Area Superintendent, HC 32 Box 6706, Wasilla AK 99654 (907) 745-3975.
Historic Site
Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ascension of Christ in Unalaska.
National Park
Alaskans chose Denali; visitors chose Glacier Bay.
Flying Service
Talkeetna Air Taxi (800) 533-2219.
Unpaved Road
The Denali Highway.
Scenic Highway
The Seward Highway.
Flight-seeing Trip
Mount McKinley. For more information on flight-seeing, visit the park Web site at
http://www.nps.gov/dena/home
/aviation/page10.html or call (907) 745-3975.
Trails
Ski
The University of Alaska Fairbanks trail system.
Bike
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
Day Hike
Angel Rocks. This is a popular trail in the Chena River State Recreation Area near Fairbanks. The trail leads to granite pillars that are popular with climbers, and continues along an alpine ridge to Chena Hot Springs.
Nature Hike
The Eagle River Nature Center trail.
Extended Hike
Alaskans chose the Denali backcountry while visitors chose the Chilkoot Trail.
Snowmachine:
The White Mountains near Fairbanks. For more information, contact the Bureau of Land Management Public Room in Fairbanks at (907) 474-2250.
Off the Beaten Path
The Kobuk Valley National Park
http://www.nps.gov/kova.
Entertainment
Native Performance
The Yupik vocal group Pamyua was a favorite of Alaskans and visitors alike. Read about Pamyua in the September 2001 issue of Alaska magazine or check out their Web site at www.pamyua.com.
Other Alaska show
Mr. Whitekey's Fly By Night Club at 3300 Spenard Road in Anchorage was the favorite. But the Northern Lights (the ones up in the sky) took a close second.
Entertainment in General
Again, Spenard's Fly by Night Club which is open April 1 through Dec. 30, Tuesday through Saturday (907) 279-7726.
Alaska Adventures
Village
Shishmaref.
Day Cruise
Alaskans chose tours of the Kenai Fjords. Visitors preferred the 26 Glacier Tour of Prince William Sound out of Whittier. Contact Phillips Cruises and Tours at (907) 276-8023 or (800) 544-0529.
Hot Spring
Chena Hot Springs, (907) 452-7867, won overall, but many Alaskans preferred Tenakee Hot Springs, (907)736-2207.
Berry Picking
Alaskans were tight-lipped about their berry picking spots, giving no specific locations. Visitors named Hatcher Pass.
Sled Dog Ride/Tour
Seavey's Iditaride Sled Dog Tour in Seward (800) 478-3139.
Public Use Cabin
Big Bay on Shuyak Island (907) 486-6339.
Accommodations
B & B
Rockwell Lighthouse in Sitka (907) 747-3056.
Outhouse
The Mountain House on Ruth Glacier (907) 733-2414.
Hotel Lodge
Alaskans named Camp Denali (907) 683-2290. Visitors chose the Kenai Princess (907) 595-1425 or (800) 426-0500.
Transportation
Airline
Alaska Airlines (800) 252-7522.
Cruise
Visitors chose Alaska Sightseeing Cruise West (800) 426-7702. Alaskans chose the Aleutian run aboard the state ferry Tustumena. Schedules are printed in The Milepost. Call the Alaska Marine Highway System at (907) 465-3941 or (800) 642-0066.
Drive/Route
The Richardson Highway.
Railroad Excursion
The White Pass and Yukon Route from Skagway to Lake Bennett (800) 343-7373 or (907) 983-2217.
Other Sources
of Information
The Alaska Wilderness Guide. Order from www.themilepost.com or call (800) 726-4707.
The Milepost. Order from www.themilepost.com or call (800) 726-4707.
Alaska State Vacation Planner (907) 929-2200 or visit the Web site at http://avp.travelalaska.com.
Alaska Public Lands Information Center, 605 W. Fourth Ave., Suite 105, Anchorage AK 99501 Phone (907) 271-2737 or visit the Web site at www.nps.gov/aplic/
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