The historic Iditarod Trail took center stage during a meeting held by the Army Corps of Engineers Tuesday on the proposed Donlin Gold mine. The route has been changed, but not far enough to suit some longtime mushers.
Tourism
Ketchikan Borough to help fund city tourism projects
The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted Monday to approve about $230,000 of the borough’s cruise passenger head tax funds to help pay for City of Ketchikan tourism-related projects.
Hotel near Denali Park entrance to add 64 rooms for 2017
A hotel outside the entrance to Denali National Park is expanding with an adjacent facility. Denali Hotel Properties says it has broken ground on a 64-room addition to Denali Bluffs Hotel to be called RiverView at the Bluffs.
Skagway tourism season comes to a close
As the air gets colder and the days shorter, the Skagway tourism season is coming to a close. Overall, tourism staff says this summer was a success. The last cruise ship of the season has come and gone and shop owners around Skagway are preparing for winter, cleaning up and closing their doors. The streets that were recently busy with visitors are quieting down.
Consumer demand for Alaska cruises growing again
A growing consumer demand for Alaska cruises has put the state back in the million-passenger club as it rebounds after a leaner stretch. And next year is expected to be even better with larger capacity ships added to the Far North lineup.
Stormy weather diverts three Sitka cruise ships
Gale-force winds and high seas on the outer coast are keeping about 4,500 cruise ship travelers from seeing Sitka this week.
Two hikers lost and rescued off West Glacier Trail
Troopers identified the hikers as 41-year-old Enrico Solano of Mexico and 28-year-old Lucas Pezzi of Argentina.
Master carver welcomes canoes home from Hoonah
Two canoes returned home to Haines this week, after spending some time in Hoonah, where master carver Wayne Price assisted in the Huna Tlingit homecoming to Glacier Bay. A team of volunteers sing as they bring two canoes off of the LeConte Ferry and onto shore in Haines.
High winds send cruise ship toward Haines, away from Skagway
Thousands of unexpected visitors made a stop in Haines today, when an unscheduled cruise ship docked in town this Tuesday morning. The boat was headed for Skagway, but high winds caused a change of plans. The ferry dock is crowded and the wind is strong. It’s a reminder of why the Crown Princess is stopped in Haines and not Skagway. Some passengers walk back and forth to town. Others wait nearby, while tour operators mingle with the crowd.
Homer tourism reaches all-time high, visitor center coordinator says
Homer, the little town at the “End of The Road,” is becoming an increasingly popular travel destination.
2016 has been a record-breaking year for the Homer tourism industry, said Jan Knutson, the Visitor Center coordinator with the Homer Chamber of Commerce.