Hot spots in the cold of winter: there's always something to do in the great land.

• Author: Orr, Vanessa

Alaska is an incredible state at any time of year, and visitors who are willing to brave the winter weather are finding that there are lots of things to enjoy in the Last Frontier during this less-traveled season. From the World Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage and Nome, to the Ice Climbing Festival in Valdez, there is always something to do for those adventurous enough to visit Alaska after October.

Alaska has always been a great destination, full of activities, and we have a great time here in the winter, too," said Ron Peck, president and chief operating officer, Alaska Travel Industry Association. "Visitors can enjoy great cross-country and downhill skiing, snowmachining, winter king fishing, dogsled racing, music festivals, basketball tournaments, ice sculpting contests and more.

260,000 WINTER VISITORS

"It's also not as cold as everyone thinks," he added, laughing. "Grab a USA Today and compare the temperature in South Central Alaska to the temperature in Minneapolis in January. I'll tell you that I'd certainly rather be here."

It seems a lot of other folks agree. Approximately 260,000 out-of-state visitors are expected to travel to Alaska between October of 2005 and April of 2006, and thousands more in-state residents are expected to travel between cities for special events. Alaska is attracting international visitors as well, with Japanese tourists making up the majority of the market, in the roughly 8,000 to 10,000 range.

"What's really exciting this year is that the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau managed to increase the number of nonstop flights coming in from Japan during the winter season from three to six," said Peck. This accomplishment, which recently landed the FCVB a 2005 Destiny Award for Marketing Programs and Special Projects from the Washington, D.C.-based Travel Industry Association of America, will bring an extra 895 winter visitors from Japan to Fairbanks, with an economic impact of approximately $1 million.

FAIRBANKS WOWS

Visitors to Fairbanks, which bills itself as the world's premier aurora borealis viewing destination, can find a lot of things to do while in town. "The ice sculpting contest there is just awesome--I consider it a hidden gem," said Peck. "And though the Northern Lights are not an event, per se, they are definitely attracting visitors, and a lot of incremental business, to both Fairbanks and Anchorage."

Tourists can enjoy the Northern...