While it's not exactly possible for Alaskans to see Russia from their house, the state retains many traces of its Russian heritage. Alaska was purchased in 1867 for just over $7 million and is now separated by the Bering Sea, three miles from the Russian border at its shortest point. Today, visitors can visit several former Russian villages where people continue to learn their mother tongue, attend Russian Orthodox churches and glimpse a unique and fascinating culture that blends Russian traditions with the area's native Aleut and Athabascan ways of life.
Homer Travel & Tours offers customizable tour packages that can include visits to Ninilchik and Nikolaevsk, which are perhaps Alaska's best known Russian villages. Ninilchik is a scenic old Russian village that sits on the Kenai peninsula and the shores of the Cook Inlet. Once a Russian fur-trading village, several residents in Ninilchik still speak Russia. Visitors can see the century-old Russian Orthodox church and visit the town's historic cemetery. Nikolaevsk, located further inland, features a restaurant that serves Russian food, as well as the scenic Church of Saint Nicholas.
Homer Travel & Tours
126 West Pioneer Avenue
Homer, Alaska 99603
907-235-775
alaskahomertravel.com
Alaska Timberwolf Tours and Journeys features an eight-hour coach tour through the scenic Matanuska Valley, north of Anchorage. The trip features a stop at Eklutna Village, a Russian settlement that dates back to 1650. The town offers a unique mix of Russian and Athabascan culture and visitors can explore the "Spirit Houses" -- or decorated alters -- on the graves in the town's Russian cemetery. They will also visit an old Russian church with genuine religious icons and shop at stores selling authentic native crafts. The tour also includes a stop at the Matanuska Glacier overlook, a Musk Ox Farm and the Iditarod Headquarters.
Alaska Timberwolf Tours and Journeys
802 East 82nd Avenue
Anchorage, AK 99518
907-344-9653
alaskatimberwolftours.com
St. George is the largest island in the Pribilofs, a small archipelago near the center of the Bering Sea. The Russian/Aleut village was settled in the 17th century and is now a National Historical Landmark. It sits on a gorgeous bluff overlooking the sea, and is a nesting habitat for puffins and other Arctic sea birds, as well as a large seal population. The island offers interpretative tours that delve into the island's fur-trading history and stops at the Russian Orthodox Church, and other historical sites. Visitors can also explore volcanic beaches, sprawling tide pools and miles of hiking trails.
St. George Traditional Council
Tourism Office
P.O. Box 940
St. George Island, AK 99591
877-479-SEAL
stgeorgealaska.com
