Alaska would look a lot different today if gold had never been discovered in the then US territory in 1897. As the 20th began, thousands of people traveled there in search of their fortune. Visit Fairbanks and Skagway where there is still reportedly gold to find, and you can actually take part in an actual gold panning tour and learn all about the historical impact gold had on the state.
The well-known Chena Hot Springs was first intended to serve as a place where the many miners could relax and recharge. Today one can still relax and recharge there, but now the springs are but a single part of the entire contemporary Chena Hot Springs Resort complex. Visit at the right time and you might even be able to glimpse the legendary Northern Lights through all the steam. Other activities offered by the resort include snowmobile and ATV tours, dogsledding demonstrations, and the chance to enjoy a cocktail at the popular Aurora Ice Museum bar.