Living in the last frontier has its own set of challenges. And most of the United States knows nothing about Alaska. We don’t live in Igloos, we don’t ride polar bears to school, we aren’t next to Hawaii. Yes, those are real questions that Alaskans are asked when we leave the state. Here are some things you should know, from a born and raised Alaskan!!
Related: The Top 10 Restaurants In Fairbanks, Alaska
Largest State
Alaska is the largest state in the U.S. This makes it unique in and of itself.
Lower 48
The 48 states excluding Hawaii and Alaska are sometimes called the contiguous U.S. or the Continental U.S. However Alaskans refer to it as the lower 48.
Common Misconceptions
We don’t live in igloos. Our state is not next to Hawaii. We don’t use animals as our primary form of transportation including the following, polar bears, sled dogs, moose (although my husband does have an aunt who had a pet moose, it is now illegal)
Community
Alaska has a community feel to it because we have to stick together to get through our rough winters. Many Alaskans are quite friendly.
Northern Lights Norm
The Northern Lights or Aurora Borialis is a common occurrence for native Alaskans. However, we are still fascinated by them and enjoy watching them dance through the sky.
Coffee Huts
Coffee huts are basically small trailers that coffee is served from without needing to get out of your car. They are found all over Alaska in great volume.
Ice cream
We are the coldest place in the U.S. but we are also the state that eats the most ice cream per capita all year long.
Snow Machine
What you may call a snowmobile is a snow machine here. If you refer to it as a snowmobile you may get some weird looks
Using Outside As A Freezer
I used to leave ice cream outside of my window during the winter time to make the best use out of nature’s freezer, and I currently have some frozen cookie dough out on our deck.
Extreme Weather
While it can get to -50 where I live, it can also get into the high 90’s during the summer time. Due to our constantly changing weather, it’s also a common statement to say “if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes.”
PFD
PFD stands for Permanent Fund Dividend. If you live in Alaska under certain specifications, you may qualify for a PFD where the state gives you money around October. There are many sales that occur around this time that fuel our economy.
Vitamin D
Most Alaskans are deficient in vitamin D. If you move from out of state, it may affect you more. Happy lights or full spectrum lights and vitamin D supplements can be helpful.
Casual Dress
Alaskan’s aren’t huge on fashion. Usually we dress for function. Most fashion doesn’t reach Alaska until 3-5 years later.
Expensive
The cost of living in Alaska is much higher than many other states. Our grocery costs are the second highest out of all states. Hawaii’s prices are the only ones that cost more.
No Sales Tax
In most of Alaska there isn’t sales tax except in a few cities where that specific city decided to initiate a tax.
Shipping
Shipping is a nightmare. Many places won’t ship or if someone does, it costs a lot more. I’ve had to pay more money for shipping than the actual item was worth.
Strict Alcohol Purchasing
If you purchase alcohol in Alaska, it is a lot more regulated than other states. Alcohol is not sold on normal grocery shelves, instead there is a separate part of the grocery store that houses any alcoholic beverages.
Black Out Curtains
In the summer the sun lasts pretty much all day and night, so black out curtains can be great to make sure you get the sleep you need.
Indoor Recess
In schools, indoor recess happens when the temperature is below -20 outside. Any temperature above that is fair game. If wind conditions are severe that temperature may also be moved to a bit warmer.
No Penguins
Alaska is not home to any penguins. They only live south of the equator. Go to Australia to see those.
Bison
All bison that live in Alaska are not native to Alaska. They were brought over from Greenland as a science experiment and they have thrived in our land.
Mosquitos
It’s a joke to many Alaskans that the mosquito is the state bird, due to the plethora of their presence.
Bunny Boots & Xtratufs
Many Alaskans turn to Bunny boots and xtratufs to keep their feet warm during cold winters.
Dry Cabins
A dry cabin is a cabin that has no running water. These are quite common in Alaska. Many places need water to be carried to the location. My husband grew up in a home where water was delivered to their tank once a month and if they ran out they ran out. When we were first married we lived in a cabin that had no indoor toilet, and we had to carry our water in 5 gallon jugs.
Out In The Bush
The bush is isolated villages that are accessible by plane, boat, or trails. They frequently order food from larger cities (Fairbanks, and Anchorage) and they fly them out to their village to get better prices and food choices. I worked at Safeway and frequently shopped these orders before grocery pick up or instacart existed.
Glacier Water
Water from glaciers is basically the best in the world. It comes from melting glaciers and it’s always crisp and cold.
Cat Mayor
In the small town of Talkeetna, they have a cat that they have elected as mayor.
Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs is a common destination for visitors. This tourist attraction is a naturally occurring spring where the water is warm to hot. If you go in the winter you can dunk your head in and your hair will freeze.
Capital Is Not Landlocked
Our capital city is only accessible by plane or boat, and as a result I have never personally visited it.
Permafrost
Permafrost is frozen ground during the winter time. It can stay frozen all year round. It becomes a problem when it does unfreeze if a house or anything that is supposed to be solid is built on it because the contracting ground shifts as it thaws.
North Pole Alaska Isn’t The North Pole
North Pole Alaska is about 30 minutes north of me, however it is not the north pole of the world. They do like to decorate as though it is Santa’s home.
Related: 13 Things That Are Different About Driving In Alaska
Seafood
You don’t eat salmon from other places once you have had Alaska salmon. Alaskan seafood is fresh and amazing.
Amazing Adventures
White water rafting, glacier hikes, kayaking, zip lining, skiing, snowboarding, dog sledding, yoga with reindeer, hiking, hunting, fishing, there are tons of Alaskan adventures to have.
Kangaroo Tastes Like Reindeer!
This is more of a weird note but I tried kangaroo in Australia and it tastes just like reindeer. If you have the opportunity to try it out it’s delicious.
Growing up in Alaska makes it harder to know what makes Alaska unique, it’s just home to me. Through my interactions with people moving here, or my travels outside of the state, I have learned these things that truly set Alaska apart from the other 49 states.
