Posted in Alaska December 29, 2016 by

26 Things People From Alaska Always Have To Explain To Out Of Towners

The wildly rugged Alaskan life certainly is not like anywhere else in the world. With that being said, we locals are pretty used to hearing a wide range of goofy questions pour in when visitors from the ‘lower 48’ and across the world come up to visit The Last Frontier. Our northern paradise might seem crazy to some, but it’s the only place we would ever choose to call home.

1. The Bush.
Flickr - National Park Service, Alaska Region
Otherwise known as a village in rural Alaska.
2. And when you visit the bush, get ready to spend $10 for a gallon of milk.
Flickr - Travis
Just think about how much work it actually took the supplies to get there, and then you'll understand why it costs so much.
3. A float plane is actually a plane that floats.
Flickr - Steve Betts
The floats are placed underneath the belly to create buoyancy. This is a very common means of transportation for Alaskans looking to access isolated areas and remote land.
4. What is ‘lower 48er’?
Flickr - Lava
Ahem, look in the mirror…
5. No, people here do not live in igloos.
Flickr - MegaBuddy
Can you even imagine what that would do to the real estate market? LOL!
6. They are called ‘bear proof’ containers, and yes – they are necessary.
Flickr - Dana Orlosky
Because this is Alaska after all. Where the wildlife roam down every street corner.
7. Snowmachines in Alaska are not used to make snow.
Flickr - Dan Logan
Yeah, brah! Get with the program. This ain't the lower 48.
8. Why does the water look so dirty? It’s called silt.
Flickr - kisforkate
You can blame the glaciers for that.
9. Sled dog teams are not actually a common means of transportation.
Flickr - Brian Gratwicke
But dog mushing is the official state sport.
10. Yes, there is internet in Alaska. And cell reception.
Flickr - Ian Collins
Alaskans actually don't live underneath a rock - surprise!
11. It’s true, it will never get fully dark during many of the peak summer months.
Flickr - Calmuziclover
So either invest in some good black out curtains or get used to hibernating during the winter months, just like the bears.
12. No, there are not penguins in Alaska.
Flickr - Yvette Wohn
Don't worry, we get that all the time.
13. Bunny boots are not for actually for bunnies.
Flickr - sandwich
They are for keeping your toes from turning blue!
14. Xtratuf’s are a staple in every Alaska resident’s closet.
Flickr - Canopic
Pair them with a nice flannel shirt and you'll fit right in!
15. And they come in very handy during ‘breakup season’ – which takes on a whole new meaning in Alaska.
Flickr - Travis
No matter how you look at it, it ain't pretty.
16. Never leave the house without mosquito spray, trust us.
Flickr - Western Arctic National Parklands
You can't take on that deadly swarm without proper precaution.
17. Also, never leave the house without multiple layers of clothing.
Flickr - Sipris
Because the weather up here definitely has a multiple personality disorder.
18. A ‘sloper’ isn’t a ski bum.
Flickr - jweston_40
It’s someone who works on the North Slope
19. The northern lights do not come out on a timed schedule, so stop asking.
Flickr - Bureau of Land Management
Aurora chasers, unite!
20. And neither do the wildlife.
Flickr - rubyblossom.
C’mon people! WILD. LIFE.
21. If you want to drive somewhere new, get ready for the longest road trip of your life.
Flickr - JLS Photography - Alaska
It's a big ol' state, better get used to it!
22. Oh, and if you were expecting a smooth ride, you better get ready to handle some gnarly potholes.
Flickr - amy halverson
Bouncy, bouncy, bouncy!
23. Those plug-ins hanging from cars and spread throughout parking lots?
Flickr - Malcolm Manners
Yeah those will keep your engine from seizing up in the wintertime.
24. No, school doesn’t get closed when there are blizzardly white out conditions outside.
Flickr - Michael Hayes
Because kids in Alaska were built tough to weather all the storms.
25. If you’re wondering why those trees are stunted like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, it’s called permafrost.
Flickr - Jeremy Reding
And 85% of our land is covered with it (underground that is).
26. No, people that choose to live in Alaska willingly are not crazy.
Flickr - Frank Camp
Or maybe we are just the best kind of crazy. 😉

If you thought those things were wild, check out these 20 extremely weird things that only people from Alaska do. Also, these 20 surefire ways to always spot a tourist in Alaska will have you laughing out loud.

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