things to do/culture etc (Anchorage, Bethel: buy, theatre, to live)

[ChasT]

Ive been thinking about going to Alaska just to visit and to explore. My question is there anything to do and how is the culture (diversity etc..).I'd like to get out and do things and not worry about being a tourist lol.

[AKNana]

2 suggestions:
1. Read the many great posts already on this forum regarding things to do in Alaksa.
2. Ask more specific questions, based on your needs and interests.

[mal_flisk]

The open questions become a thing for the local enthusiasts of whatever. We're talking about a lot here. Might ask what you can do in NYC or in CA. Kind of wide open. Give us something to focus in on.

[Chilkoot]

Check out this board which is similar to city-data but specific to cruising. It gives a lot of ideas on how to explore Alaska.
Alaska - Cruise Critic Message Boards

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by ChasT

Ive been thinking about going to Alaska just to visit and to explore. My question is there anything to do and how is the culture (diversity etc..).I'd like to get out and do things and not worry about being a tourist lol.

1. There's a lot to do, especially dealing with the outdoors...too broad to go in further detail.

2. Culture...think Sarah Palin...hunting, fishing, snow mobiling, atving, hiking, simple/casual clothing (excluding her campaign outfit budget), Conervative, Republican. Diversity...depends where you come from if you will find Alaska diverse or not: Anchorage is probally the most diverse city...70% White, 10% American Indian, 6% Black, 6% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 5% mixed/other (ABOUT).

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Anchorage is probally the most diverse city...70% White, 10% American Indian, 6% Black, 6% Hispanic, 3% Asian, 5% mixed/other (ABOUT).

Granted that Los Anchorage is probably more diverse than most larger cities Outside, but it doesn't come close to being the most diverse in Alaska. It does have the advantage that it isn't really divided up into clearly separate ethnic communities. For example in Los Angeles it is possible for a Korean person to live a lifestyle that is almost indistinguishable from being in Korea itself, and that certainly is not possible in Anchorage.

But still, Bethel, Nome, Kotzebue, Barrow and a number of other Alaskan towns are much more diverse than Anchorage. Barrow, for example, is basically an Inupiat village, except it has the Western infrastructure required of a 1st Class City in Alaska. The population here is about 57% Native or part Native, about 22% Caucasian, about 1% Black, about 10% Asian and about 3% Hispanic.

But the significant characteristic of Barrow's population is that, while it is like Anchorage and has no Korea Town... it is simply impossible to engage in life here without constantly rubbing shoulders with all of these diverse groups. You cannot buy food, buy gasoline, pick up your mail, or much of anything else without actively engaging with a majority of people who are different than you are. On a typical day in Barrow it is almost a guarantee that you will hear 4 or 5 different languages being spoken, and maybe 7 or 8, by people you are also likely to be talking to in English.

[insertusernamehere]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Culture...think Sarah Palin...

Has anyone seen Sarah Palin just walking around Anchorage? Any photos you can share?

[Rance]

I don't believe I'd waste my time or camera battery on a picture of her. You can google a thousand of them tho.

[Chilkoot]

Originally Posted by ChasT

Ive been thinking about going to Alaska just to visit and to explore. My question is there anything to do and how is the culture (diversity etc..).I'd like to get out and do things and not worry about being a tourist lol.

If you want to get away from the tourists and enjoy real rural Alaska go to Barrow for Nalukataq. There are several North Slope communities who are celebrating this month besides Barrow including Nuiqsut, Pt. Lay, Kaktovik and Point Hope.

[Lovetheoutdoors]

The Anchorage Museum recently expanded. We have theatre companies and other arts groups. However, most take the summer "off" so they can enjoy the long daylight hours while it exists. Anchorage has one of the best bike paths of any metro area and the coastal trail is something I can do every day (in fact, I do).

As to diversity, Anchorage pretty much has that. Many nationalities call this city home. Anchorage is pretty much like any other city except that it is located in one of the most beautiful areas on Earth.