Era serves some of the most picturesque destinations in Alaska. From the tundra of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region to the mountains of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park to the Emerald Isle of Kodiak, Era can take you there.
ANCHORAGE - Alaska's Largest City
Anchorage, spread across a triangular plain between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet, is by far the largest city in Alaska. With 260,283 people, it holds nearly half of the state's population even though it didn't become a city until 1915. It's a world air transportation hub and a jumping-off spot for highway, rail and air travel into the state. Anchorage is home to numerous restaurants, hotels, and many other amenities of a big city. Yet even with all of its cosmopolitan touches, it is not entirely uncommon to spot a moose wandering through town (especially during winter).
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HOMER - Where the Land Ends and the Ocean Begins
Homer, positioned at the tip of Kachemak Bay, at the end of the road, is as far west as you can drive on the North American continent. Founded in 1896 by goldseekers, Homer is a thriving art community and regional sport fishing center. Popular with Alaskan fishing enthusiasts, Homer is a busy town during the summer months. Kachemak Bay, recognized as one of richest marine ecosystems in the world attracts prolific sea life to these waters and 45kg halibut catches are not uncommon. Both scheduled and charter boats make regular trips across the bay from Homer to Seldovia. The magnificent location of Homer and the appeal of its lifestyle set it apart from other small communities.
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KENAI - World Class Fishing
The twin cities of Kenai and Soldotna, some 65 miles south of Anchorage, are the population centers of the Kenai Peninsula Borough, which encompasses the Kenai Peninsula, Cook Inlet and a large area northeast of the Alaska Peninsula. The area is renowned for world-class sportfishing and access by road to many recreational activities, from hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting and bird watching to snowmobiling, sled dog mushing and cross-country skiing, and camping in all seasons. It is also known for economic diversity, which allows for steady growth.
The king salmon appear in Cook Inlet beginning in late May, then gradually find their way into the river systems, with numbers peaking from late June through mid-July. Red salmon are also readily abundant in Kenai Peninsula during July. In August look for silver salmon in good numbers, continuing into September. Closely following the silvers are energetic dolly varden who like to feed on salmon eggs that float down stream from spawning grounds. October offers great rainbow trout fishing, however rainbows are catch and release only.
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KODIAK - Alaska's Emerald Island
Kodiak Island lies off the southern coast of Alaska and is the second largest island in the U.S. The island has a rich historical and cultural heritage, the Alutiiq people first inhabited Kodiak Island more than 7,500 years ago. Kodiak became the first capital of Russian America and was a major fur trading center for many years. The original otter pelt warehouse, built by Baranov, now houses the museum. The collection includes prehistoric Native artifacts, remnants of Russian colonization, mementos of Alaska's territorial days and W.W.II memorabilia. The most lasting legacy of the Russian era is the Orthodox religion and a prominent landmark in the heart of Kodiak is the Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church. For most people, Kodiak's identity is inexorably linked with its most famous resident, the brown bear. The Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1941 to protect bears and wildlife habitat. About 3,000 bears inhabit the archipelago and many more are living along the Katmai Coast. The proximity of these two large bear populations make Kodiak an ideal hub for wildlife trips. The island has very few roads, only about 80 miles in total. Most villages are reached by air or by sea. Animals are rarely spotted from vehicles and the majority of bear viewing is by aircraft or from special wilderness lodges.
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CORDOVA - Alaska's Hidden Gem
Visiting Cordova is a step back in time to Alaska of the 1940's; wooden buildings from another era, friendly people, and a slow pace of life. Established in 1906 as the railroad terminus for the Kennicott copper mines, today Cordova is one of Alaska's hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. Prince William Sound is America's largest intact marine ecosystem with more than two million birds coming through the Copper Delta on their spring migration; trumpeter swans and rare dusky Canada goose nest here. The rich Copper River Delta supports moose, brown & black bear, wolves and black-tailed deer. Harbor seals play in the local waters. Orca Adventure lodge was once a cannery built in the 1880's. Orca has recently been rebuilt into Alaska's finest adventure destination.
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VALDEZ - Alaska's Little Switzerland
Valdez is a picturesque community located on Prince William Sound. The surrounding coastal mountains have been compared to views of the Swiss Alps. The town was established in 1897 as a port of entry for gold seekers bound for the Klondike gold fields. That year 4,000 stampeders traveled through Valdez and some set up shops and businesses in the budding tent city. In the early 1900s the trail was developed into a sled and wagon road and re-routed through Thompson Pass rather than over Valdez Glacier. This wagon road was later developed into an automobile road in the 1920s connecting Valdez and Fairbanks. On March 27, 1964 an earthquake that measured 9.2 on the Richter Scale struck Alaska. The quake lasted over four minutes and was centered a mere 45 miles from Valdez. Since its gold rush days, Valdez has evolved into an important shipping center because it is the most northerly year-round, ice-free port in the western hemisphere. Construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline was completed in 1977 and Valdez was chosen as the terminus for the 800 mile pipeline out of Prudhoe Bay. During the construction phase of the pipeline, Valdez's population surged to 10,000. When it was completed and the oil started flowing, the population settled to its current level of about 4,000 year-round residents.
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BETHEL – Hub of Western Alaska
Bethel is the transportation center for dozens of Native villages in the Yukon/Kuskokwim Delta and home to the Kuskokwim campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Surrounding the town is the 20-million-acre Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. It is one of the largest waterfowl breeding areas in North America. To learn about the area and its inhabitants, visit Bethel's visitor center and the Fish and Wildlife Service's visitor center. Other activities include bird watching, river trips, walking tours, winter dog sledding and shopping for Native arts and crafts.
For more Alaska travel information, be sure to visit TravelAlaska.com
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