No Place Like Nome

On our Alaskan vacation Heather and I were greeted by many curious expressions by Alaskans who were amused by the fact that we would choose to spend a couple days of our trip in Nome. Each expression, in its own way, asked us, “Why the f@#k would you go to Nome?” Good question. Aside from being home to the finish line of the Iditarod, Nome is a largely forgotten place in the minds of Alaskans. Most haven’t been there. You can’t drive to Nome. There isn’t much in the way of attractions unless you’re an angler or gold prospector (Heather and I are neither). It’s nicest restaurant, by far, is Subway (which is also the entrance to the move theatre). The stilted houses are all made from recycled materials and most are slightly unleveled due to uneven ground thawing in the spring. Everything about Nome says, this is a tough life for those who reside here. So, why the f@#k did we go to Nome?

Simply put, because it’s different. It’s off the beaten path. It’s a place that most people may of have heard of, but would never dream of going. To walk along the pebbly beach in Nome and think about exactly where I was on the globe, gave me great joy. It didn’t matter that our flight landed at 11am, and by dinner we had seen the entire town. Just being here, where the way of life is so different from the daily hustle of being a professional was rejuvenating. But what really helps are the cool things that always seem to happen to you in places like this.  And it almost always starts with the local people.

After Heather and I arrived, we were picked up by Igor and transported to our Airbnb. Igor and Remy, our hosts, graciously advised us where to eat and what to see in town. Heather and I walked over to Pingo Bakery/Seafood House for what turned out to be a delicious lunch and dessert. To call Pingo cozy though, is an understatement. There are three tables and you just sit wherever and with whomever you can. Heather and I sat with an older couple and struck up a conversation, that inevitably led to us discovering that Gil, a travelling veterinarian, had grown up in the same southern New Jersey neighborhood as my mom, and was best friends with her husband. Seriously, stuff like this happens all the time when you are travelling. Gil was kind enough to loan us his Land Cruiser the next day so Heather and I could get out of town into the tundra and see the countryside. Cool experience #1.

Dinner on our first night in Nome found us at the Gold Dust Lounge at the Nugget Inn, where we grabbed a burger and a beer while peering out at the currently ice-free Bering Sea. Here we met several of the underwater gold miners from the reality TV show Bering Sea Gold. These guys put in long hours (14-15 hours a day) prospecting their claims in search of the occasional 10 ounce day (gold is about $1,250 an oz. right now) and hoping that 5 months of work will get them the rest of the year off. Completely unsolicited, one of the prospectors, Rick, offered Heather and me his Polaris side-by-side so we could go four-wheeling on the beach. So, Heather and I found ourselves tearing down the beach north of Nome under the midnight sun, loving life and feeling pretty lucky to have met more incredible people. Cool experience #2.

Ultimately, one of the reasons I love to travel is the unique people I encounter. Getting away from the tourist traps, all-inclusives and well-worn vacation spots increases the odds of this happening, exponentially. Local people in places like Nome are just as proud of their lives as anyone, and will go out of their way to make you feel welcome and show you their town. All you have to do is to step off the beaten path and let them.