By Bus in Kodiak, Nome, and the Bush

By Bus

There's no regular bus service between communities in the bush, though some tour companies do offer motor coach tours along the Dalton Highway, between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay.

Visiting in Winter

Although many people think visiting Alaska in the winter is insane, there are plenty of good reasons for doing so. It takes a bit of attitude adjustment, an adventurous spirit, and proper clothing.

The northern lights (aurora borealis) are active all year long, but it has to get dark before you can enjoy them. On a clear night, away from city lights, these shimmering curtains of color in the sky are absolutely breathtaking. Weather and solar activity have to cooperate in order to make the aurora performances happen, but when they do, the results are astounding.

There are fewer bugs in the winter months; if you've visited Alaska during the summer and been subjected to hordes of mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and white socks, this alone might be enough to entice you.

For a real Alaska winter experience, dog mushing is the ultimate. Spectators can watch sprint and long distance races all over the state, capped off by the Yukon Quest and Iditarod races in February and March. There are numerous outfits in the Interior and South Central that will train you to mush your own team for a day, an overnight, or an extended trip. Fodor's discusses dog mushing and surrounding competitions with the expectation and hope that all the animals are treated with care and respect.

For both downhill and cross-country skiing adventures, you can charter a helicopter to go backcountry skiing in the Valdez area or visit one of the downhill areas near Anchorage, Fairbanks, or Juneau. You can also ski in the winter or summer by chartering a plane to a glacier in Denali National Park.

At Juneau, Eaglecrest is across from the city on the slopes of Douglas Island. Skiing is also done on the glaciers of the Juneau Ice Field, reached by helicopter. Turnagain Pass, 59 mi from Anchorage on the Seward Highway, is often trafficked with backcountry skiers and snowmobilers. Hilltop Ski Area and Alpenglow are small alpine ski areas within 10 mi of downtown Anchorage.

The World Extreme Skiing Championships are held at Valdez every April. Cross-country skiers will find many miles of groomed trails in Anchorage. Additional cross-country ski trails can be found around Fairbanks, Homer, and Palmer. Snowboarding has more than caught on in South Central Alaska, and boarders are welcome at all three Anchorage ski areas. Rentals are available at the various ski areas and outdoor equipment shops.