Located on the northwest coast of Alaska, Nome offers colorful, sweeping views of seemingly endless tundra, plentiful wildlife, gold rush history and Eskimo culture. Nome also happens to be the finish line for the 1,049-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The race begins the first Saturday in March in Anchorage and the first dog teams begin arriving in Nome as early as nine days later. Nome's Iditarod Festival begins a week after the start and continues as the mushers trickle in.
Nome may only be accessible by air or sea, but once there you can explore 350 miles of roads that wind through tundra, mountains and coastal plains. You will see artifacts of the gold rush everywhere, including abandoned dredges, turn-of-the-century steam engines, old mining claims, and old railroad track and decaying trestles. Abundant wild flowers and tundra plants blanket the landscape while herds of musk oxen and reindeer graze within sight of the road. Grizzly bear, moose, fox, beaver, wolves, wolverine, lemmings, voles and shrews present additional wildlife viewing opportunities. The road system passes through a variety of habitats from beach to boreal, each boasting its own bird populations. Summer also provides great fishing with ample streams and rivers as well as the waters of the Bering Sea.
A stop off at the Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum is worthwhile. Daughter of a prospector, Carrie McLain arrived in Nome when she was eight and grew to become the town historian and one of Nome's leading citizens. The museum showcases the lives of the gold prospectors as well as presents the art and lifestyle of the Bering Strait Eskimos with rare artifacts and photos.