With summer winding down in Alaska, travelers may be tempted to think the hiking boots and kayaks are about to be hung up for the winter. But Alaskans live for adventure in every season. If you'd like some insight on what makes year-round residents tick (and keep ticking at when the mercury drops to 40 below), TravelAlaska.com's local Alaskans may just shed some light. In it, locals talk about their favorite haunts and pastimes, from which visitors can glean tips on putting the polish on their plans for vacations in every region of the state. Need more inspiration? Alaska's shoulder season is approaching, which means reduced rates around the state and fewer anglers with which to battle for trophy rainbows and other sport-fish species. And if the sheer draw of adventure isn't enough to lure travelers toward autumn in Alaska, the fall foliage in Denali National Park is enough to postpone that return flight at least another month.

Travelers interested in Alaska may finally be able to answer some of the age-old mysteries of the 49th state - what does the sun look like at 4 a.m.? Does reindeer meat taste like chicken? And the most harrowing of all: are mosquitoes really the state bird? Colorful Alaskans can put some of these questions to rest. Click HERE to learn about some well-known Alaska residents and the reasons they love their unique hometowns. Gain insider access to local restaurants, museums, cafes and hidden jaunts treasured by those who know Alaska best. Learn where to get the best Cajun-style food in Alaska from Olympic snowboarder Rosey Fletcher; discover mystery-novelist John Straley's favorite hiking trail in Sitka; and find out why world-famous totem carver Nathan Jackson loves the lumberjack show in his hometown of Ketchikan. As for how Alaskans manage to rake in fish after record-breaking fish: the best secrets must be learned and not told.

Those travel enthusiasts regretting their decision to take a "stay-cation" this summer can still salvage 2008 with a trip to Alaska this fall. The "shoulder season" provides an extended chance to see the great outdoors with the added benefit of fewer crowds and better deals. Many tour operators, lodges and hotels offer discounts for travel between the months of September and May. Autumn is a pristine time to view bears, moose, caribou and fox against the backdrop of magnificent fall colors; the silver salmon and trophy rainbow trout keep anglers in action long into October; and because the daylight starts to decrease as early as September, travelers may even be able to glimpse the northern lights. So while the summer clothes may need a tumble in the wash before spring, Alaska offers a fresh adventure well past summer's end. For more information on traveling to Alaska, visit www.travelalaska.com.

Speaking of autumn pleasures, fall foliage is the perfect excuse to extend that summer vacation, and the season arrives sooner than you think. In Denali National Park, as early as August, purple and gold appear on the magnificent birch trees, cottonwoods and aspens, the blueberry bushes display red and orange, and the fireweed turns a striking fuchsia. Many Denali tour operators offer fall foliage tours to flaunt the 6 million acres of color that saturate the park from mid-August to early September. But don't take it from us. Read the Associated Press' piece on fall colors in Alaska by clicking HERE. To learn more about travel to Alaska, visit www.travelalaska.com.