Originally Posted by
TrojanHorse
I'd be interested to know what else there is to do. I agree for the distance traveled, it would make sense to spend a few days but from everything and I do mean everything I've read, there isn't a whole lot to do
.
If you splurge and rent a vehicle, the road that leads to the natural gas field south of town is a great place to see snowy owls in the summer. Often tundra swans also. Lapland longspurs, long tailed ducks, jaegers and other arctic birds. Beautiful tundra landscape. Turn right on Cakeater Road and the road goes about 10 miles south.
There is a tour that goes out towards Point Barrow that looks for polar bear, although I saw one playing in the surf on the way out to the football field area this past summer. The North Slope Borough police department was present to watch out for it. Also have seen gray whales rolling around in the surf zone, or just offshore. Cultural history is showcased at the Heritage Center. The library is next door and has comfortable seating and internet access. The supermarket is across the street and has a few basic souvenirs; there are ivory carvings and other art on display in the foyer of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.
The Barrow area has been inhabited for thousands of years and there are archaeological sites in many places including at Point Barrow itself. Not too far from the end of the airport runway along the beach (near Arctic Pizza) are the remains of subterranean ancient dwellings and a sign that explains them. The Will Rodgers Wiley Post memorial is on the other side of the airport; I think that is challenging to get to; I have not been there. So a few things to do, although it depends upon your interests of course.
Originally Posted by
TrojanHorse
How did you get to the field, its like five miles from town correct? I take it they have concessions? It looks like there is a lake on one side (closer to the field) and across the road is the Arctic Ocean
.
The local Barrow native corporation rents vehicles near the airport
http://www.uicalaska.com/family-of-c.../uic-holdings/
Also taxis, yes the football field is very close to the ocean out of town just beyond the community college, the North Slope Borough Dept. of Wildlife Management and the Barrow Arctic Science Center.
Originally Posted by
TrojanHorse
As for flying, are these flights generally packed? It's all Y correct so who really is on these flights? it can't be all tourists.
Flights tend to be pretty full in the end, some but not too many tourists, a lot of government employee and local and regional Native corporation traffic, scientists doing arctic research and locals coming and going for shopping, etc. Flight cancellations due to fog and low clouds in the summer are not uncommon, and this also fills the follow-on flights. There is some service on non-combi planes, so it is possible to fly first class in and out of Barrow occasionally.