Page 123 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

last weekend in May and first weekend in June,
destinations typically include the coast road to Safety Mining Nome’s Golden Sands
Sound and the Kougarok Road over two days. Less photo by:
than twenty miles from Nome on the Council Road, VC Travel Guide
Safety Sound is an immense migrant trap before
breakup, while Council is the only place to see forest
dwelling birds. It’s typical to spot between 65 and
80 species on each of these field trips. There are also
affordable local guides for hire.
If you’re planning a trip to Nome at the height
of birding season, be sure to book lodging well in
advance. Visitors can check the Birding Board at the
Nome Visitors Center to see what species have been
spotted lately, download area guides and checklists,
and find social media updates on current sightings.
Museum and Cultural Center
The Richard Foster Building, located at 7th and
Steadman, houses the Carrie M. McLain Memorial
Museum, Kawerak’s Katirvik Cultural Center and
Kegoayah Kozga Library.
Carrie McLain came to Nome as a young girl in
the early 1900s and spent her adult life collecting oral
histories, ivory artwork and historical photos from
the surrounding area. Opening in 1967, the museum
collection was greatly expanded through generous
donations of photographs, artifacts and archives.
Interactive exhibits feature the landscape, Alaska in 2016 to realize the vision of regional elders to Extravaganza, and the Midnight Sun Festival
Native artwork, and the town of Nome from Tent City celebrate, educate and share the rich culture and complete with a staged bank robbery. Sports and
beginnings to its present-day role as a regional hub. heritage of the Bering Strait. The center hosts competition feature in the wintertime Bering Sea Ice
Step inside a miner’s tent, listen to audio recordings displays that represent themes embodying aspects Classic Golf Tournament and summer-long softball
in one of Nome’s old telephone booths, and imagine of the culture of Inupiaq, Central Yupik and St. games, the wacky Great Bathtub Race down Front
mushing across the tundra as you check out a sled Lawrence Island peoples. Street and Labor Day Rubber Duck Race, Nome
from the 1st Iditarod sled dog race. Relax in the mini- Festivals in Nome River Raft Race, Polar Bear Swim, the backcountry
theatre for even more tales from Nome’s early days, Nome is a lively, friendly town hosting a wealth walk-run-or-bike Wyatt Earp Dexter Challenge, and
and browse the museum’s gift shop for related books, of community events nearly every month. Of the Cannonball and Nome-Golovin Snowmachine
photos and clothing items. course Nome celebrates with a July 4th spectacular, Races. The 2300-mile Iron Dog Snowmachine Race
The Katirvik Cultural Center was established community Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas is the world’s longest and toughest, so racers and the

Best Hotel
in Nome!

From summer exploring on the Seward Peninsula to catching
the northern lights and the Iditarod finish line in winter, we’re
the perfect base camp for your next Nome adventure.

• Flat Screen TV & Dish Network • Free Parking
• Sauna Available for Guests • Conference Room
• On-site Vehicle Rentals

302 E. Front St., Nome, AK 99762 | (907) 443-3838 | aurorainnome.com

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