Anchorage Local Customs

We live in a beautiful place, and don't want it mussed up by thoughtless people who litter, so please find an trash recepticle for any unwanted items.

This dumpster is located at the House of Harley, and is the prettiest darn dumpster I have ever seen!

You can go to the Alaska Zoo and make a friend. Children enjoy the petting zoo, and animals like this camel that enjoy visitors stopping by. It’s a really great place for children to learn a little about some animals native to Alaska, and also from foreign lands. The Alaska Zoo is a popular destination for families and school groups, but there is plenty for adults as well... supporting a good cause. Some of the animals they’ve had over the years were orphans who needed a place to be safe. When I was young one of the more popular animals for about twenty years was Binky, an orphaned polar bear, or nanook, who found a home at the Alaska Zoo and one the hearts of Alaskans and visitors alike. Binky and Nuka, another polar bear, lived there for years. Binky hit the national news one year when some foolish person tried to get in his cage. Binky and his friend Nuka passed away in 1995.

Ship Creek is a small creek running through the center of Anchorage, parallel to the railroad. Only half a mile east of Anchorage Train Station on Whitney Rd, you'll find a salmon viewing platform. Combat fishing is popular in the summer when salmon swim up the creek from Cook Inlet.

Combat fishing in Ship Creek can be quite a sight if you have never seen it before. Fishermen stand shoulder to shoulder along the bank or in the water. They cast their lines so fast it's like fly fishing.

Be friendly with the locals and they just might let you visit this barber shop! I think it might be a secret, because I had never heard of it until I walked past it on a cold cold Sunday this past Feburary! It's rather reassuring looking with it's welcoming pole, don't you think?

What took me by surprise was the fact that the Native Alaskan already knew who we were. I would walk into a shop, food place, just about anywhere and the Native people would say "Your dine'" which in my native tougue (Navajo) means the people. They would say "Your the break-away-people". About a 1000 years ago a group of people sojourned over the snowy mountain but did promise to return...to make a long story short, we never did return but venture down to the Southwest part of the United State, there the Spanish people call us Navajos.
What I did learn from the nice gentle people of Alaska is the genuine kindness, and sense of sharing their culture and way of life with the world. Always SMILING!

You might be invited to go out for Ice Cream in cold cold freezing winter weather. Alaskans consume the most ice cream per capita of any state in the USA. I guess the theory is "Why wait for a sunny day?"!

For the best ice cream in Anchorage, Try

Cold Stone Creamery

2813 Dawson Street
Anchorage AK, 99503
PH: 907-569-0305
Cross streets: On Dawson between Northern Lights Blvd. and Benson

It may seem strange to us Europeans and I from Edinburgh where I'm used to seeing people drink at tables on the pavement. But you may be asked to give your date of birth, you will not must not be seen with Beer, before leaving a shop drink must be in a bag. It must not be seen. Your salesperson may not be allowed to serve you {to young} so must ask someone else to serve you alcohol.

expect to meet people wherever you go- literally on every street corner! People are extremely friendly and will always stop to give you a hand with directions, a recommendation for a place to hike, to fish, to eat, etc. Don't hesitate to talk to any of the residents about their great state. They love to tell stories about life here and are very proud of the state's history and geography. Most people will also extend an invitation to their favorite fishing spot or a floatplane ride to a place you'd otherwise never see. Mixing with the locals is the best way to see the real Alaska.