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Winter On Stage

By Travel Trade Staff

One of the biggest misconceptions we strive to dispel in Alaska, is that the state virtually turns down the lights and lowers the curtain after the magical date of September 15. Sure, it marks the official end of the summer tourist season, but that’s the beauty of it – it’s also the end of the great droves of tourists – as well as the flash and kitsch that accompany them.

Alaska itself doesn’t close the show in fall, she just transitions into a new scene - and her autumn and winter sets are spectacular. As for the act, well, it’s a bit slower paced, self-possessed, and real. It becomes easier for visitors to fit into local life. Audience participation is welcome.

This is the part where Anchorage disrobes from flashy flower gardens and baskets, and redresses in twinkling fairy lights. The Chugach Mountains remain a constant on the set, transforming from summer greens to autumn reds, to winter white under a backdrop of northern lights. They still beckon to the adventurous to come play, but the play evolves from hiking and biking to skiing, snowmobiling, and dogsledding. Many local tour operators likewise take on a new role evolving from operating summer tours to offering unique, winter adventures.

Throughout the whole production, common threads remain: great hospitality, cultural offerings, and plenty of entertaining activities and events. Throw in a great winter carnival, The Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, and the start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race along with a mild, maritime winter climate in southcentral Alaska - and you have the makings for a great, year-round production. But unlike even the greatest Broadway hit, this is one heavenly show that never ends.