Scott McMurren
A self-professed travel-holic and travel evangelist for Alaska, McMurren runs the website alaskatravelgram.com.
Where do you live? Anchorage. I’ve lived in Alaska for 42 years. Coming to Alaska was a surprise—a snap decision after graduating from college. My short-term plan was to stay three months…and that was more than 40 years ago. Along the way, I met a girl. We raised some kids, and got a dog, and we were embraced by the wonderful people in this state.
Place to send visitors: Any national park. The close ones are Kenai Fjords National Park (Seward) and Denali. But there are others, including Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.
Restaurant: Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria in Anchorage.
Brewery or distillery: HooDoo Brewing Company in Fairbanks.
Place to watch the northern lights: Wiseman. Head to Fairbanks, then sign on with Northern Alaska Tour Company for a trip up the Dalton Highway to Coldfoot. Throw your bag in your room at the old man-camp (Slate Creek Hotel) and take a quick nap before your guide picks you up at midnight. Then, drive 14 miles to Wiseman, where you’re literally under the birthplace of the northern lights (the “oval”). They have a cabin set up for keeping you warm while you wait for the lights to put on a show.
Hike or bike: There are so many hiking trails around Anchorage. But it’s easy to just roll out and pedal the 32-mile paved loop called “The Moose” in Anchorage. It winds along creeks, greenbelts, and the coastal trail. Fabulous!
Flightseeing route: Fly with K2 from Talkeetna up to Ruth Glacier on Denali. You can see why explorer Brad Washburn called the area “my cathedral.”
Piece of outdoor gear: Petzl headlamp…for those winter nights.
Camera: Years ago, I sold off my “big glass” in favor of a sturdy point-n-shoot: Sony RX-100.
Book about Alaska: Just finished Alaska Under Arms, published in 1942 by Jean Potter.
Museum: Whoa. Anchorage Museum is my favorite, but don’t forget the UA Museum of the North in Fairbanks and the Alaska State Museum in Juneau.
Lake or river to fish: Kulik River near Katmai National Park.
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