Most common misconceptions about Alaska? (Petersburg, Wrangell: travel, income, job)

[User 2]

I think another one of the newer misperceptions that appears to be gaining traction is the myth that most Alaskans love and will welcome more and more tourists.

That's just not an affinity anywhere near what most of my neighbors hold.

These are not unfriendly people, they just have witnessed that the carrying capacity for their environment and limits of their local access to resources cannot sustain the growing influx.

There's a growing realization of the threat to their lifestyle, their way of life has suffered, and will continue to suffer, with more and more accomadation to more and more demands put on those resources and the environment by trying to accomodate unregulated growth in the tourism industry.

A popular river I know of had two guide services a few years ago, two, now there are maybe as many as 400 guides working the same river. It looks more like a theme park ride than what it used to be.

[tuxedocat]

That would be the greatest tragedy -- the theme park analogy sickens me. and I know what you mean because it can be seen in so many other places --our beaches and mountains for example. There must be some way to stop it. The pics Warptman posted of the people drying their fish -- so real and authentic and the way things should be.
That sickens me about it becoming a theme park.

[tuxedocat]

Ya'll may not notice it so much up there, but I live in the south -- AL -- and I can see that the world seems to be getting a lot more crowded and land and space and nature a lot harder to find. The statistics on how the population increases are downright scary.
Maybe in the not too far off future the only way to house all the people will be for the whole world to be covered with high rise condominiums.

[Metlakatla]

I think another one of the newer misperceptions that appears to be gaining traction is the myth that most Alaskans love and will welcome more and more tourists.

Southeast is a freaking mess that way. What I find puzzling is when some touron makes some remark along the lines of how these communities wouldn't even exist if it weren't for them. That's probably quite the truth in the case of Skagway these days, which really is little more than a theme park, but they needn't flatter themselves that they are contributing in a substantial way to the economy.

Economically, the kind of tourism that is taking over SE is not conducive to the overall financial health of these communities. For every carpetbagger that moves up for the season, there's a family that moves out.

For the most part, the communities that are actually thriving in SE are the ones that don't have the ships.

[DannyL]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Southeast is a freaking mess that way...............
Economically, the kind of tourism that is taking over SE is not conducive to the overall financial health of these communities. For every carpetbagger that moves up for the season, there's a family that moves out.

Exactly. And this had a little to do with juneau's "head tax".

There are so many misconceptions about alaska I get tired thinking about it.

Alaska has got to be the most mis-understood state in the nation, followed failrly closely be montana and wyoming.

[cobolt]

You know it's pure tripe when a touron says that x community wouldn't even exist if it weren't for tourists. I mean, did they think that these communities popped up as a result of tourism? Certainly Skagway existed BEFORE the tourists came along. Now, maybe the economy is sustained and enriched by tourism, but to say a community wouldn't "exist" without it is just ignorance. Be glad those morons don't live up there!

[Sweden]

Ok, I'm starting to believe we have better tourists over here... Was I that bad? Rance? Surely, I wasn't? Was I? (Remember, you drove me to all those souvenir shops eventhough you knew I loved them!)

It seems as if there are some misconceptions that are applied to "more northern" countries- like, oh yeah, the polar bears... ("No, there are no polar bears in Sweden. No, there are no polar bears running around in Stockholm...")

The one that seems to have an eternal life, is the thought that "Alaska is all ice and snow". No one here wants to believe me when I tell them that it was actually warmer in Alaska (ok, North slope excluded) than in southern Sweden this August.

So... not everyone owns a gun. Is it a "hot issue"? (Is that why the thread got a bit...off topic - I'm sorry, I didn't mean to)


Thank you for your replies this far, it's been very interesting to read them!

(P.S. Yes, we went through Luleå. That's where we were first going to stay, before we found out that there was actually one car-rent store - or whatever the word is- up in Kiruna. It's on the east coast, and in the winter the iron ore from Kiruna has to be shipped through Norweigan Narvik instead of Luleå, since the Bottniska viken freezes up into a 3 meter thick layer of ice. Just some more nonsense facts about that town...)

[irishgirl4]

I am an irish girl thinking of heading to alaska for a small trip just for the fun. I thought ireland is cold so maybe i might be okay with the alaskan weather. Haven't a clue where to go or what to do there but would love some advice. Just for 2 weeks with a bit of culture and of course being irish nice pubs. All suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. Cheers and tanx a million.

[Metlakatla]

Come on up, Irishgirl. I'd suggest a couple of weeks in Talkeetna. No Irish pubs there but you've got the Fairview. You'll love it. Hang out at the Roadhouse for breakfast and blackberry pie.

Sweden, I doubt you were "that bad" or bad at all. The problem with the cruise ships is that although it can be a good way to see the Inside Passage...the whole thing's gotten freakin' out of control. What used to be "cultural tourism" is now canned vacations. Some people, like karla with a k who you and I were both lucky enough to meet while she was here on vacation, are smart enough to think outside the cruise ship box and not allow themselves to be herded around. But for the most part...

I just don't know anymore...the damned carpetbaggers and offshore interests have infested the place until it isn't even Alaska anymore.

There are tourons, there are tourists, and there are travelers.

[allforcats]

Irish, a great resource for a 2-week trip to a place you've never been is to study TripAdvisor.com.