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I'm a Midwesterner who visited Alaska for the first time. Here are 8 things that surprised me.
I'm a Midwesterner who visited Alaska for the first time. Here are 8 things that surprised me.
Abby ArmatoApr 3, 2022, 20:32 IST
I visited Alaska to see the start of the Iditarod.William Sheahan; Abby Armato
I visited Alaska for the first time to be at the start of the Iditarod, an annual dog-sled race.
Even though we didn't see the Northern Lights, our journey was full of wonderful surprises.
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Alaska in the winter was full of surprises.
Kids skating on a frozen lagoon in Anchorage, Alaska.William Sheahan
The mountains feel even closer than I thought they'd be.
The Chugach Mountains behind the buildings of downtown Anchorage, Alaska.Will Oldham
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The snow didn't stop people from being outdoors, but we needed microspikes to get around on the ice.
The snowy entrance to Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, a coffee shop and bakery connected to a plant, produce, and liquor store in downtown Anchorage, Alaska.Abby Armato
The parts of Alaska I visited had strong local brew scenes — and the size of the flight pours didn't hurt, either.
A hefty tasting flight at Denali Brewing Company in Talkeetna, Alaska.Abby Armato
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Driving in and around Anchorage was shockingly doable.
The view from our windshield as we drove north toward Talkeetna and Denali National Park.Abby Armato
The ceremonial start of the Iditarod felt like a party.
A dog-sledding team taking off down 4th Avenue.William Sheahan
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And being 4 feet from a racing dog-sled team in action was incredible.
Veteran musher Michelle Phillips and her team during the official start.Abby Armato
I'm a nervous flier, but flight-seeing was totally worth it.
A breathtaking view from a Talkeetna Air Taxi plane.Abby Armato
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Riding in a dog sled was the most peaceful 30 minutes of the trip.
We thanked the dog-sled team with some scratches after pulling us around for an hour.Will Oldham