The third time the two flight attendants said "You're so lucky," all I could do was smile and say "You're right."
And they were.
My wife and I were walking along Fourth Avenue on a gorgeous June afternoon when we encountered the two women from Phoenix. The flowers were bright, the sun was brighter yet. It was about 70 degrees.
It was one of those days that can make Alaskans a bit smug -- "Yep, we live here, and you folks are just tourists."
But mostly, Alaskans love to share their state. Whether its a shopkeeper, the guy selling reindeer sausages, a charter boat captain, a bed-and-breakfast owner or just some lucky stiff walking along the street, we bask in what makes Alaska great.
Many of us started off just like today's tourists -- we were visitors. And then the long summer daylight grabbed us and wouldn't let go. After years in the North, our love of the outdoors, of the unique personalities here and of the beauty of being an Alaskan remain strong. Hopefully we can share that with you.
You've come to one of the most stunning places on Earth. Enjoy. Right now, you're lucky too.
We hope this guide will help you select some activities that will make your trip to Alaska something to remember.
To help, we've included some special features. Throughout the guide, you will find several "What locals say" boxes. We want to let residents tell you what they love about "the Great Land."
Also, we have boxes titled "24 / 48." They give a brief list of some things you may want to consider when you're visiting a community for just a day or two -- say 24 or 48 hours.
Of course, there are more things to do than you can possibly fit into one short vacation. So get started.
-- Steve Edwards
Special sections editor
sedwards@adn.com
