11 Things That Will Always Make Alaskans Think of Home

Living in Alaska imprints on the mind and heart in a very particular way. Whether you grew up there, spent one summer there as a young adult, or lived through a winter in the Alaskan mountains, anyone who has lived in The Great Land will always be a little bit Alaskan.

The sight of moose grazing the tundra, the smell of wild blueberries and dried salmon, and the sound of your shoes crackling against a bitter, crisp snowfall are found nowhere else in the same way. Here are more natural wonders that will always make Alaskans think of home—no matter when and where you come across them.

1. The Northern Lights

No matter when these come up in conversation, or from where they're able to be seen, Alaskans are sure to remember being rousted from their warm beds to go out and see a spectacular display of aurora borealis. The best time of year to catch this brilliant natural light show is from August 21 to April 21—also known as "Aurora Season" by folks in The Great Land.

2. Mosquitoes

The familiar buzz of swarms of mosquitoes will definitely make any Alaskan think of home. The state has about 27 different species of the insect, with more than 17 trillion (yes, trillion) mosquitoes hovering throughout the state each summer, the University of Alaska notes. Most Alaskans can recall unfortunate times when "the bugs were really bad," getting bitten up by buggers the size of your thumbnail.

3. Salmon

If you grew up in Alaska, you've eaten your share of salmon. Each summer, most inland Alaskans fill their freezers with fish for the winter, while those on the coast tend to eat seafood year-round. There is nothing like the distinctive taste of wild Alaskan salmon: The fresh, buttery, savory taste is surely one of home.

Peak salmon season in Alaska is May through September, with prime fishing spots located along Kachemak Bay, the Kenai River, and the Russian River. But most self-respecting Alaskans will never share their favorite fish spot. Instead, they'll talk about local dives to enjoy delicious salmon, such as The Alaska Fish House in Ketchikan.

4. Wildfire Smoke

Any time an Alaskan smells wildfire smoke, they are bound to be transported to a time and a place from summer in their home state. Wildfire season typically runs from late May to the end of July, sending the National Park Service's Wildland Fire Management team into action to maintain them. As a result, smoke can be carried miles away from the original burn spot, leading to a looming fog-like haze over nearby cities and towns.

5. Blueberries

Any small, tart, dark blueberries will likely transport an Alaskan back to the wild varieties they could pick right off the bush in the woods. Wild blueberries in Alaska taste totally different from other kinds—they're abundant and a staple in early August through September.

Whether it be a homemade blueberry muffin from your childhood or memories of picking blueberries out on the Denali tundra or the Rendezvous Peak Trail, finding these little sweet fruits growing wild (or at the market) might make you feel a little homesick.

6. Mountains

Alaska has three main mountain ranges: the Brooks Range, the Alaska Range, and the Aleutian Range. The state is covered in staggering mountains and spectacularly snowy (and lush in the summertime) foothills that roll before them. The horizon is rarely a straight line in The Great Land, making much of the rest of the world fall somewhat flat for an Alaskan.

7. Moose

Any mention of a moose will take Alaskans back to pulling over the car and watching one of the majestic creatures slowly chew vegetation in a marsh. While you can see moose in other parts of the U.S., like Maine, for example, there's nothing quite like spotting one grazing outside your window with the expansive tundra or mountains in the backdrop.

8. PFD Time

If you're a former Alaskan, you might miss the feeling of that Permanent Fund Dividend (aka PFD) hitting your account in early October. Each year, eligible residents are paid investment earnings of the state's mineral royalties, which helps benefit current and future Alaskan generations. This allows Alaskans to share in the revenue earned from minerals gathered from the land. The annual payout is usually accompanied by excellent airline ticket sales.

9. Snow

If Alaskans move to a place with less snow, the fluffy, light, perfect powder that falls across their home state is sorely missed—especially among those who enjoy winter sports. Locals and former residents know how each snowfall makes the entire state look like a winter wonderland.

Every winter brings a lot of snow. But the snowiest "full" winter on record saw a whopping 194.3 inches from November 1964 to May 1965.

10. Muktuk

The Indigenous Alaskan Inuit people, also known as the Iñupiat, hold the long-standing tradition of serving muktuk (small slices of whale blubber) at special events and gatherings. It's considered a state delicacy that's still enjoyed by many people along the Alaskan coast. Whether it was a staple growing up or you tried it at a special event, the sheer mention of muktuk will have people turning to you (the Alaskan) for details, and have you dreaming of home.

11. Bitter Cold

A blast of cold air can send Alaskans back in time, when they had to walk uphill both ways in 50-degree-below-zero temperatures just to get to school—or so it seemed that way in childhood. Either way, it's undeniable that Alaska is cold, so if you were born and raised there, you were built to survive the arctic blast. Just a taste of this weather anywhere else will feel like home.

Care to reminisce about the wonderful benefits of living in Alaska? Plan a homecoming trip—or a first-time visit!—using Only In Your State's itinerary planner.