Living in Alaska is not exactly your typical idea of normal American living. As a matter of fact, many in the Lower 48 might call us a tad bit weird. While we prefer to be called unique, or adventurous, we fully recognize that living in Alaska is simply not like living anywhere else. There are things we do here and stuff that happens here in Alaska that only real Alaskans will understand.
What are these things that only real Alaskans will understand? Well, I’m glad you asked!
Disclosure: This post not only shares information about Alaska, but also has Affiliate Links that I earn commissions from at no cost to you.
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100 Things Only Real Alaskans Will Understand
1. It’s not uncommon for every Alaskan closet to have at least one pair of XtraTufs, sometimes even more than that.
2. It’s not unheard of to see airplanes land on the road.
3. Wildlife damage is an everyday occurrence.
4. Winter is really long and really cold. Once those temps move above freezing, don’t be surprised when we break out the flip flops and act like summer has fully arrived.
5. The Midnight Sun messes with our concept of time. Hey… can you blame us? The sun doesn’t set until 2am and rises at 4am!
6. We aren’t afraid to jump in the ocean on a cold winter’s day just for the hell of it.
7. Dip Netting. It’s a completely normal way of fishing that many in the Lower 48 have never even heard of.
8. If you hear the lights are out it doesn’t mean a power outage. It’s time to head out and see the Northern Lights.
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5-Day Golden Aurora Circle: Yukon and Alaska Summits
The Golden Circle tour contains some of North America’s grandest scenery, wildest places and plenty opportunities for viewing the Aurora Borealis. This great tour offers totally different landscapes, from boreal forest to coastal rainforest to immense icefields. |
9. Spotting eagles is very, very common.
My sticker company, Alaska Wild & Free, has this Bald Eagle Sticker.My sticker company, Alaska Wild & Free, has this Bald Eagle Sticker.
10. We pay a fortune to live here.
11. We pay a fortune to buy stuff online as we are often charged double the shipping.
12. We don’t ride snow mobiles, we ride snow machines.
13. Alaskans have a deep respect for the Native cultures and people that have lived on this land for hundreds of years.
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Alaska Native Heritage Center Tour
Enjoy an exclusive 4-hour tour of the Alaska Native Heritage Center for a rich cultural experience in Anchorage. This tour operates in the fall and winter. Includes entrance fees to the Hall of Cultures, as well as a guided walk around Lake Tiulana, a film presentation, and a traditional tea experience. |
14. We have to put up with things like this. People have NO IDEA where Alaska is located.
15. We like to fish in crowds. Combat fishing is no joke.
16. And sometimes those crowds include bears and other wildlife fishing alongside us.
17. Many of us work in deadly jobs, but that’s just our way of life.
18. Dropping our crab rings before heading into work is a completely normal way to start the day.
19. Talkeetna is an amazing place that Alaskans absolutely love.
20. Only in Alaska is it completely normal to see your neighbor out walking their pet reindeer.
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21. Alaskans plan their lives around the peak tourist, fishing, and hunting seasons.
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Kenai River Alaska Fishing Charter
Spend a full day catching fish and most importantly having fun! Your guides have been fishing the local waters for their entire lives and have a passion for showing you just how incredible the Kenai River can be. Quality over quantity as your guides treat every customer like their only customer. |
22. What’s a snow day? Schools allow recess until it is -10 degrees below zero!
23. The Alaska Craft Beer scene has some of the best beers brewed anywhere in the world. Our beer is made with glacier water!
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Alaska Brewery and Railroad Experience from Anchorage
Go behind the scenes and learn the art of craft beer making at four popular breweries during this full-day tour from Anchorage. Enjoy a 3-hour train ride to Talkeetna in the shadow of Denali before visiting four of Alaska’s best breweries and dining on a delicious packed lunch. This tour is the perfect opportunity to see small-town Alaska, meet locals, and get a peek at the thriving craft beer-making industry. |
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Alaska Crafted Tour – $259.00
Join us on this 8 hour round-trip tour from Anchorage highlighting the Alaska craft beverage industry. Your day begins as your Hoperator escorts you on one of the most scenic 40 mile stretches of highway in North America to Girdwood, Alaska. Included in the tour is a tram ride and lunch atop Mt. Alyeska and private tours and tastings at Girdwood Brewing Co., Anchorage Distillery, and Double Shovel Cider Co. Let us show you a one-of-a-kind off-the-beaten-path Alaska tour experience! |
24. Driving on roads with no visible lines is completely normal, especially in the winter
25. Drivers need to watch for animals, dog mushing teams, and kids on sleds in the road.
26. It’s not unusual for someone to use the snow as a ready-made freezer.
27. ATVs are a completely normal transportation source as most of Alaska does not have a road system.
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Alaska Side By Side Nature Safari – $275.00
Explore the Tongass National Forest with Yamaha Rhino side by side OHVs. You will beautiful forest and meadow areas and view wildlife such as Alaska Coastal Brown Bears, Sitka Blacktail Deer and American Bald Eagle. Relax and enjoy refreshments on a secluded ocean beach on this 5 hour excursion. |
28. Rural Alaskans are happy to pay 8x the price for everyday grocery items if it means that they get to keep living in The Last Frontier.
29. Carnival rides in the snow. Most states have their fairs during the summer months, but we don’t need to wait.
30. Poop Festivals. For almost 40 years, there was a Moose Dropping Festival in Alaska, which was well known to many. Only real Alaskans can understand having a festival for moose poop.
31. Unalaska is a place, not a description.
32. Working for half the year, means 6 months of vacation for people who work the slope.
33. Breakup means something completely different up here and it has nothing to do with your love interest. Breakup means that spring has arrived, because the ice has begun to break up and thaw.
34. Denali – McKinley – Denali. The mountain name change confused many, but it has always been Denali to Alaskans.
35. Credit cards have more than one use in Alaska.
36. Our outdoor adventuring happens regardless of the season.
37. We often have to say things like “No, we are not a part of Canada, yes, we are part of the U.S.”
38. Alaskans tell distance in time, rather than miles.
39. Alaskans are outnumbered by bears in some areas and we are okay with that!
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Alaska Bear-Viewing Day Trip from Homer
Observe wild Alaskan Brown Bears in their natural habitat on this 6-hour day trip from Homer. Depart by bush plane and fly over volcanoes and glaciers enroute to viewing locations in either Katmai or Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. You’ll spend several hours on the ground while your guide narrates the behavior of Coastal Brown Bears. |
40. It’s totally normal for one person to own 10+ dogs.
41. Drivers often yield to moose and other wildlife.
42. Alaskans fully expect to yield to dog sleds as well.
43. The mosquitos are massive here. Unless you have been to Alaska, you wouldn’t understand.
44. Alaskan gardeners can often be seen working in their gardens during the snowy season.
45. Our fishing budget is higher than some of our monthly bills.
46. Nice rack is usually a hunting compliment instead of a sexist insult.
47. We have our own way of speaking up here.
48. We don’t pay state tax. As a matter of fact, the state pays us just for living here!
49. Alaskans don’t need cable.
50. Stop asking if we all live in igloos. It gets pretty old.
51. We don’t all own dog sleds and wear parkas year round either.
52. Alaskans know that not all salmon is the same. It’s rare for Alaskans to eat Pink Salmon, we sell that to the stores in the Lower 48. 😉
53. Moose yoga.
54. We often see moose in places they shouldn’t be. Like this.
55. The 3rd best pizza in the country can be found right in Anchorage – Moose’s Tooth Pizza.
56. Having to explain to people that Alaskans don’t know every other Alaskan. Do you even know how big this state is?!
57. Many of us know someone who has been on a reality show (there are just so many Alaska reality shows) and no our lives are nothing like those shows. Most of the reality shows are in fact, fake.
58. Gold fever is still a big thing in Alaska.
59. Going to “the city” means going to Anchorage.
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Best of Alaska in a Day Tour from Anchorage
Come explore on this 7-hour, small-group tour with a multilingual driver/guide. The best of Alaska in a day tour provides a quintessential sampler of Alaska: mountains, glaciers, and animals. This is one of the favorite trips that never gets old, even for the locals. The group size is limited to 14 people. |
60. Massive temperature fluctuations. For example, Fairbanks has reached highs of 90 degrees in the summer and lows of -60 degrees. That is a difference of 150 degrees!!
61. Alaska road workers are the greatest in the world. In November 2018, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Alaska causing major road damage. Less than 72 hours later, those roads were completely repaired and ready for travelers once again.
62. A first date often includes a fishing trip.
63. “The Bush” is a perfectly acceptable way to describe your neighborhood.
64. We grow massive vegetables here. That 24 hours of sunlight doesn’t hurt either. It’s not uncommon to grow broccoli that is pushing 10 pounds or even more or cauliflower that takes two people to carry.
65. Alaskans are big into wildlife conservation and love to support the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and the SeaLife Center in Seward.
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Guided Winter Wildlife and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Tour
Travel south along the Turnagain Arm on this 4-hour guided trip, looking for native wildlife along the way. The main attraction is the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center where we will visit with musk ox, moose, elk herd, caribou herd, and more Alaskan wild animals. The musk ox are right at home in the winter wonderland, and even the once-thought-to-be-extinct wood bison make for a picturesque photo with the amazing backdrop of the Chugach Range and Turnagain Arm. |
66. Yes, you can survive without 4WD as long as you stay in the city.
67. Alaskans know that snow arrives long before winter does.
68. One in every 50 Alaskans is a pilot.
69. If an Alaskan doesn’t work in the fishing industry, someone close to them does.
70. By the time our cars actually warm up, we are already at work.
71. Everyone has fishing stories. Even me!
72. It’s not strange to see wedding fashion include XtraTuf or snow boots.
73. The greatest view in the world is from Flattop Mountain.
74. Alaska in the fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year.
75. Kenai Fjords National Park is like nothing you have ever seen or will ever see again. You can only get to this National Park via boat or plane.
76. Earthquake readiness. Alaskans know to be prepared for an earthquake, because we have thousands of them every year.
77. Frost heaves are no joke. This is when the permafrost pushes up the asphalt and makes little mountains in the middle of the road!
78. Stunted trees are a common site out in nature. That permafrost keeps them small.
79. If you are against hunting and fishing, you may want to stay away. The sustainable way of life is the Alaskan way of life.
80. There are few things more terrifying than suctioning glacial mud. Seriously, don’t walk on a beach that has a sign to stay off!
81. Alaskans don’t forget to plug in their cars when the temp drops too low. Yep, you read that right – we plug our cars into an electrical source to keep the engine from freezing.
82. Only real Alaskans understand how common it is to hear, “We apologize for the delay, our crew has begun the de-icing process” when waiting to board a plane.
83. Alaskan women are tough, super tough. They can fish for dinner, cook it like a gourmet chef, and run a multimillion dollar business to boot. Alaskan women are strong, bold, audacious, and kick ass in all that they do.
85. It’s not uncommon to string up Christmas lights in October before the snow falls. The lights also help to brighten up the place as darkness can last for 12 plus hours or more during the winter.
86. Alaskans understand that we can put Holiday decorations up outside all we want, but we very well might not be able to see them under all the snow.
87. We aren’t afraid of change in government. After all, we have a cat as a mayor, don’t we? Speaking of politics, it means less to Alaskans to be for or against one party, but rather are you for or against the greater good of Alaska?
88. Sled Dog racing is a way of life in Alaska and is our state sport.
89. Coffee is serious business in Alaska, with over 200 coffee shops in Anchorage alone. The coffee hut is a staple throughout Alaska – the drive thrus are quick, make a great cup of java, and often have dog treats for your pup.
90. Wildlife has been known to pick a fight.
91. Alaskans understand how common it is to see bears walking on oil pipes.
92. Supporting local, Alaska-made businesses is very important to Alaskans. Whether it is produce with Alaskan Grown or supporting local Alaskan artists at maker’s markets. Alaskans support their own.
93. Firing up the grill in the snow is a perfectly acceptable way to cook dinner.
94. Seeing strange news stories is no longer newsworthy.
95. We can’t actually see Russia from our yard, however, Alaska and Russia are only 50 miles apart.
96. Alaskans understand that fish have many benefits.
97. Fireworks on the 4th of July are a waste of money since it’s still daylight. New Year’s fireworks are where its at!
98. Alaskans know to never be the slowest one in the group.
99. Wildlife can affect your online shopping.
100. Alaskans know that while everything costs a little more here, the happiness can’t be beat and that’s well worth every penny spent to live in this gorgeous state.
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