If you've never been to Alaska ...

[11 Bravo]

well, you need to give it a go. Prior to this week I had either lived in or visited Coronado, California; St. David Maine; Key West, Florida; and Lihue, Hawaii. This week, I hit Seattle, Washington (thus completing my four corners continental US bingo card), and Sitka, Juneau, and Ketchikan, Alaska ... (thereby filling out my rest-of-the country wish list.)
I have to say, Alaska ... at least the part of it I was able to see ... is one of the most incredible geographic vistas on the planet. From Orcas, to humpback whales, to sea lions, otters, brown bears, bald eagles, and puffins; it was a remarkable and non-stop experience.
Plus, there was no internet connection. And ... every now and then ... that's probably a good thing.

[steve2470]

1. Yes people should, if they can

I've never done the maritime tour but seen Denali and the North Slope. Highly recommended.

[NYC_SKP]

2. I was in Anchorage maybe two years back, amazing.

The backdrop of mountains makes the Rockies look like babies.

I was struck by how late the sun set, even in early May.

And I got to meet up with a couple solid DU members!

[11 Bravo]

3. We were sitting out in broad dayligh at 9:30 pm!

It was incredible!

[Blue_In_AK]

11. Hey!

[NYC_SKP]

12. =:^)

[JI7]

4. it's a place i am considering moving to

nothing serious now. but if i ever get into a situation where i had enough money to do so i would .

[bravenak]

5. Please come.

I would love to see some of you.

[Skip Intro]

6. Nature over cyber? Yes! n/t

[Stargleamer]

7. What may await you there. . .

[No Vested Interest]

8. I visited twice, and wouldn't mind going again,

even though there's still much of the lower 48 I would like to see as well.

[Hamlette]

9. It will take your breath away.

I was born in Seldovia, Alaska which is on the Kenai Peninsula just South of Anchorage. We went back a few years ago, drove all over the Peninsula. When we got to Seward, we extended our trip a few days and looked for land to buy. We didn't buy any, but it was tempting.

I've been all over the world, when it comes to beautiful, wild nature, Alaska is the most spectacular. Makes the fjords look ordinary.

There is a strange mixture of politics, as you know. People with gun racks on their trucks and bumper stickers urging the legalization of pot. Libertarian vibe. And some crazy religious nuts were taking over some areas. Still, lots of salt of the earth types.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. That's exactly why I live here.

Did you take a cruise or the ferries?

Next time you come to Alaska, come on up to Southcentral. Equally as beautiful as Southeast, but different.

[11 Bravo]

14. We were cruising. Hell, we made the news when our ship caught on fire!

Now I need to go back when I can spend more time ashore. We hit Tongass this time, but now we need to visit Denali.
What an amazing state!

[Blue_In_AK]

18. I guess that was some excitement you didn't bargain for.

If you make it anywhere near Anchorage, let me know. We know all the good places around here and would be happy to show you around.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

13. From all I've seen, it looks quite beautiful.

But it looks way, way too cold for me to spend any significant time there.

[KamaAina]

16. Not in summer.

Just cool. And becoming less so quite rapidly.

[Blue_In_AK]

19. Anchorage where I live

was often warmer than many places in the Lower 48 this past winter. Even in normal years, it's no worse than the Upper Midwest. Summer is wonderful.

[KamaAina]

15. Could you see Russia from your cabin?

[hunter]

17. Alaska is one of the few states I've never visited.

I'm not "Spaceman Bruce" .......yet.

Robert Bruce Facer walked through life one barefoot step at a time, entirely at his own pace.

That life ended after 65 years on April 15 in Monterey, the final stop of a journey worthy of poets and mythologists.

Facer was a raggedy man who was homeless by choice, not circumstance. His floppy hat, tattered clothes and ever-shoeless feet attracted strange looks wherever he wandered — and it's hard to imagine anyone ever wandered farther. Between 1984 and 2012, Facer traveled more than 4,000 miles, from Alaska to Monterey, exclusively by foot and kayak. He lived a humble but amazing life, leaving in his wake a lot more friends and admirers than he probably realized.

"I wouldn't describe him as a unique child — not at all. I'd say he was very run-of-the-mill," says his sister, Mary Beth Nowinski, who lives in Maryland. "He began to change, I think, in the '60s, when young people were experimenting and dropping out. That's when he started making different choices in his life."

http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_20559767/life-spent-nature-ends

RIP, Spaceman.