9 Best Things to Do in Nome, Alaska: Go Beyond Gold

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In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the top things to do in Nome, Alaska, a famous gold rush town. Go beyond gold history and the Iditarod to learn about all of the other unique things to do. Make the most out of your visit to this remarkable destination.

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“There’s a million dollars out there that could be yours,” the guy at the table behind me says.

“I don’t know,” the man says in a doubtful tone, “the season is about half over.”

I continue to eavesdrop as they share numbers back and forth. The strange thing is that the first guy is probably right. There are a million dollars out there at the bottom of the Bering Sea, after all this is Nome, a gold town. Nome drew people from all over the world during the gold rush era.

As you would expect in a gold town, it feels like the Wild West as the whole cafe is filled with men talking about gold as a disgruntled-looking waitress tops off coffee cups around the Polar Cub Café.

When I arrived in Nome, AK, Richard picked me up from the airport and took me to the little Nome Visitor Center on Front Street, right across from where the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race ends each year. The Nome Visitor Center is a great place to start your visit and learn about local attractions.

Within 2 minutes of being in the visitor center, I found myself holding a flask of gold flakes that a dredger had ‘scooped’ up. The Italian miner who owned this little flask of gold looked pretty haggard as if he had been out at it for a few days, but he was pretty happy with his bounty.

Explore gold panning tours with AKAU Alaska Gold Adventure

I stared at the flakes and turned the flask to see the light reflecting off the gold flakes and thought – Nome is cool.

I like Nome – this is my kind of town. No, I’m not going to move here; I just like to observe (however, there is an abundance of men). It’s gritty, dirty, hard-living, and that holds some weird allure to me. Nome has a fascinating gold history. However, I wasn’t there to pan for gold; I was there to be nowhere.

Nome has a fascinating gold history, however I wasn’t there to pan for gold,
I was there to be nowhere.

Where is Nome?

Nome, population 3,500, is located on the Seward Peninsula (once the Bering Land Bridge), along the shores of the Bering Sea, and is completely disconnected from the rest of Alaska. The Bering Sea coast plays a significant role in the local culture and history. The only way in is via plane or dogsled in the winter.

Nome is also known for hosting the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, one of the toughest sled dog races in the world, covering a challenging 1,000-mile route and drawing participants and spectators to Nome for various festival events.

It has three roads, but none of those roads connect Nome to anything but remote communities. I was here to see what life was like in this old gold rush town and drive the roads to nowhere.

Hiring a Guide in Nome, AK

Richard Beneville, the founder of Nome Discovery Tours was my guide for Nome and the roads to nowhere. Richard, a 70-year-old former Broadway actor, is the most entertaining character in town.

“Thank God for Alaska – it saved my life,” Richard said with a hearty smile. He weaves his fascinating and theatrical story about his life, alcoholism, living above the Arctic Circle, and how he ended up in Nome as you spend the day with him.

I can’t stress this enough: meeting Richard Beneville is actually enough reason to go to Nome.

But if you want more reasons, I have plenty more reasons to go and things to do in Nome.

Update from 2020 – Mayor Richard Beneville, 75, was first elected mayor in 2015 and was serving his third term when he passed away in May of 2020. He was known for his flamboyant and outgoing personality, unconditional love for the town, and tireless work to revitalize the arts in the community.  I was saddened to learn of his passing, and I’m sure the whole town of Nome feels this great loss.

Hire a local guide from Nome Discovery Tours | Email them at [email protected]

9 Things to Do in Nome, Alaska

If you think a town like Nome sounds boring, think again. It has a unique personality, and plenty of things to do that will keep you entertained! Downtown Nome is a hub for various attractions and historical and cultural sites, making it a significant part of your visit. Additionally, downtown Nome features the largest gold pan in the United States.

1.  Drive Nome’s Roads to Nowhere

Three roads of no more than 300 miles lead out of Nome like a spoke and connect some remote communities to Nome. The roads are gravel and only maintained from June to September – after that, winter takes over and all bets are off.

Along these roads, you can encounter artifacts of the gold rush, including old mining claims, abandoned dredges, and turn-of-the-century steam engines. There are no gas stations or facilities, so leave prepared.

Driving the roads is a great way to get a feel for the Arctic tundra landscape and gold history, do some photography, and see how locals live in the cabins that dot the landscape. Richard and I saw dramatic scenery and even stopped and talked to reindeer herders along the way.

2.  Visit the Site of the Last Train to Nowhere

We drove Council Road East out of downtown Nome to view the Last Train to Nowhere (as it’s called today); a rusted-out train that is sinking in the tundra about 40 miles out of Nome. I love abandoned photography so I was eager to see this sorry, rusty sight.

The engines were originally used on the New York City elevated lines in 1881, then were shipped to Alaska in 1903 to serve the miners along this line to Nome. A huge storm in 1913 took out the tracks and stranded the rolling stock where it is today, literally dissolving under the influence of Bering Sea storms.

Anvil Creek, historically significant during the gold rush, played a crucial role in the development of the region and the establishment of mining operations.

3.  Grab a Beer at the Safety Road House

Council Road is also the site of the Safety Road House, the last stop/checkpoint on the Iditarod. We pulled up and parked in the afternoon, we were the only car around. The outside looked rather rough and tumble and the inside was no different. The walls were plastered with one-dollar bills, there were some old bar tables, old sofas that looked rather scary in the bright daylight, and an old bartender who looked like he had been a fixture there for a while.

Discover why an Alaska train trip should be on your winter itinerary

Richard told me that not only is this place packed during the Iditarod, but when the bars close in town at 2 AM, many people drive out here as they are open later; basically bar hopping in nowhere.

4.  Walk Around Pilgrim Hot Springs, Nome

Pilgrim Hot Springs is a subarctic oasis full of tundra trees and bubbling hot springs found about 7 miles off Kougarok Road. From a distance, you see pine trees, balsam poplar trees swaying in the wind, and a few old buildings remaining from a Catholic mission and orphanage. Constructed in 1919, it served children whose parents were wiped out by the 1918 influenza epidemic. You can explore the abandoned buildings that look like a nuclear bomb hit nearby with old rusted bikes out in the grass, or you can try to take a dip in the hot springs…but this is not a tourist site – so enter at our own risk.

The Midnight Sun Festival, held annually, offers various activities such as music, food stalls, and cultural performances, making it a vibrant event to experience. One of the fun events during the Midnight Sun Festival is the Nome River Raft Race.

Read More about my journey to Plymouth Hot Springs  – a tundra oasis

5.  Wildlife Watching

Migrating birds, tundra swans, reindeer, and muskox inhabit the tundra around Nome, so a drive out on any of the roads to nowhere will yield some great wildlife sightings – as well as some wild blueberry sightings. Richard was a pro at bird watching as we often screeched to a halt, and Richard got out his binoculars to investigate sightings.

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6.  Don’t Miss the Nome Cemetery

Why am I telling you to go visit a cemetery? First, it has nice views of the city and the coast. Second, it is also the only place in Nome City where you’ll find trees. Third, I love visiting cemeteries when I’m traveling.

And finally, it has a cookie recipe on one of the gravestones….yes, a cookie recipe. Happy hunting.

7.  Visit Cold War Remnants in Nome

During the Cold War, Nome was a pretty important place. Being the largest ‘town’ closest to Russia meant that there was a lot of potential for spying to go on. Richard took me to the top of Anvil Mountain, one of the highest points in Nome, not only to show me the view but also to show me some Cold War relics.

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You’ll see the abandoned White Alice Site remnants of a communication center used in the Korean War. It used tropospheric scatter for over-the-horizon links and microwave relay for shorter line-of-sight links.

8.  Eat Pho at Twin Dragon

After all of this sightseeing, you are bound to be hungry. Restaurants in Nome, Alaska, are all adequate, but the most surprising one to me was the Twin Dragon. In this remote little town, I actually found delicious Pho (Vietnamese soup). I ate lots of pho in Vietnam, and this is some of the best I’ve had since! Go in, get a big bowl, and get warm.

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9.  Have Breakfast at the Polar Cub Cafe

And if you want to go to the hub of Nome, then you must stop in at the Polar Cub Café. You can eavesdrop on gold dredging conversations, have a giant stack of pancakes, and also have a great view of the crashing waves in the Bering Sea.

Nome isn’t a normal stop on the Alaska tourism route, but in my opinion, it should be! It’s full of local culture and rich history and will give you a whole different view of the state.

Where to Stay in Nome, Alaska

There aren’t many choices for hotels in Nome, Alaska but I stayed at Aurora Inn Nome. It’s basic – very basic.  But then again – you can expect that of anything you find in Nome!  I think I was the only tourist there, it was mainly filled with workers who were there for the mining business.

Read reviews for the Aurora Inn | Check prices and availability for the Aurora Inn

Tips for Visiting Nome

Learn more about things to do in Nome at the Nome Convention and Visitors Bureau

Car Rental:
Stampede Vehicle Rentals – (907) 443-3838 or 800-354-4606.
Dredge No.7 Inn – (907) 304-1270 (For B&B Guests only)
Stosh’s Rental, Inc. – (907) 434-1499

Essential Travel Gear to Pack for Nome

Check out my winter packing list for extreme temperatures

See all of my Nome photography

Nome Photography

Disclosure:

I was a guest of Alaska Tourism during my time in Nome, however all opinions in this post are my own.