Let your spirit for both adventure and learning take flight when you explore the attractions at the Alaskaland Pioneer Air Museum. Learn about how the area was primarily explored and then developed through the efforts of early pilots with a passion for exploration. Interestingly, they were also exploring the possibilities of flight as they surveyed the area from some of aviation's earliest aircraft. See some of those captivating planes on display, as well as related memorabilia, records, photographs and other pieces that help to tell this fascinating facet of Alaska's history.
If you are in the mood for something a little different tonight, make plans to spend an unforgettable evening with the talented performers who make up the North Star Ballet. This noteworthy entertainment company is also a school that trains aspiring dancers how to develop both a detailed craft and theatrical presentation that defines each and every performance. There are various productions put on throughout the year, the most popular of which is The Nutcracker during Christmastime.
Some of the best attractions in Alaska are the natural kind, and you can see them up close when you take time to visit the Large Animal Research Station in Fairbanks. This is actually one of the more popular attractions in the area, as the facility has thousands of visitors each year. The large number of people who walk through the doors of the Large Animal Research Station is understandable as they all look forward to seeing such indigenous creatures as muskoxen and caribou at a dramatically close distance.
Of all the traditions that are still honored in Alaska, the Yukon Quest Dog Sled Race is one that is as challenging as it is enduring. This is a 1,000 mile international trek that takes place “at the top of the world” in the Yukon and Alaska wilderness of northwestern North America. Held every February, the race runs its course starting from either Whitehorse, Yukon, or Fairbanks, Alaska. To say that undertaking this race is a test of skill and fortitude is an understatement. Despite the bitterly cold conditions, participants and spectators alike respectfully acknowledge Alaska's time-tested tradition of traveling by dog sled.