The Arctic North region of Alaska encompasses the communities of Nome, Kotzebue and Barrow. North of the Arctic Circle, these towns offer cultural attractions that are closely tied to the rich Native heritage of the area. Nome has a special combination of traditional Eskimo culture and a gold rush past.

Travellers may want to rent a car and tour the 480-plus km’s of road system surrounding Nome.  Nome also marks the finish of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the longest such race in the world. The town of 4,000 swells to many times that size every March with the arrival of the  much-anticipated race finish. Located on a three-mile spit of land on the Chuckchi Sea,  Kotzebue has much to offer cultural travelers. Among its attractions is the NANA Museum of the Arctic, local history and cultural films at the park service and the Senior Center Cultural Center.

Barrow is located at the tip of the Far North region, situated on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. A walking tour of the town includes a visit to the Cape Smyth Whaling and Trading Station, built in 1893. This is the oldest frame building in the Arctic. Also, visitors can see the Birnirk archaeological site, a group of 16 dwelling mounds representing the Birnirk culture (500-900 A.D.). Guests can witness the unique whaling culture of the Eskimos every spring when the annual bowhead whale hunt and festival gets underway.

Activities: Visit the Gates of the Arctic National Park, Dip your toes into the Arctic Ocean on the coast of Barrow, Watch herds of caribou migrate north of the Brooks Range, Take a walking tour to Cape Smythe Whaling and Trading Station in Barrow, the oldest frame building in the Arctic, Drive the Dalton Highway, following the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, Look for polar bears on the ice floes around Barrow, Visit North Tent City in Kotzebue, an active traditional fish camp that is set up each year to dry and smoke the season’s catch, Drive from Nome to the Eskimo village of Teller, where guests can see the many remnants of Nome’s gold rush past. Mush dogs along the Iditarod Trail outside of Nome, Watch fireworks explode over the Chuckchi Sea on New Year’s Eve in Barrow, See traditional Native Alaska games and competitions practiced in Kotzebue as athletes prepare for the Eskimo Olympics.