All throughout the Last Frontier, those who live in Alaska have a deep sense of pride for all things wildly caught, locally-grown and sustainably sourced. We are proud of our small businesses, and it is our responsibility to be educated on the products we can buy in order to keep our money with local, hardworking people throughout the great 49th state. We also enjoy being one with nature, exploring in the backcountry, and outfitting ourselves with the warmest and most durable Alaska Native clothing attire in the entire world. With that being said, you also need to check out these 20 things that everyone in Alaska should avoid at all costs.

  1. Farmed seafood.

Flickr/fs999 With the exception of responsible aquaculture, of course (we have some of the best farmed oysters EVER). If you haven’t already taken the wild, natural, sustainable Alaska seafood oath… you better get on that STAT. As the third largest industry in the entire state, wild seafood is just the name of the game and the claim to our fame in the 49th state.

  1. Or buying fish in general.

slashvee - Flickr If you have the time, always try to catch your own wild Alaska seafood, even if you’re just visiting. There is just something you can’t deny about fish that tastes better when you’ve caught it yourself. Check out some of the best places to go fishing in AK in some of our previous articles.

  1. Even feeding your dogs farmed fish.

Facebook - Yummy Chummies Don’t you dare do it! Hey, our state sport is dog mushing. That means our dogs have to take the wild, natural, sustainable seafood oath as well. And by how quickly these bags disappear off our shelves, we think they are A-OKAY with it!

  1. Eating hot dogs.

Flickr/Travis Say no to hot dogs and YES to reindeer dogs! When visiting the Last Frontier… do as the Alaskans do!

  1. Camping without a view.

Flickr - Christopher Griner No views = no go. If you were in the lower 48, we’d understand if you wanted to pitch a tent somewhere sub-par. But in Alaska, go big or just go back home. Fortunately, there’s no “worst” time to visit Alaska, so feel free to camp with a view in every season.

  1. Snacking on chips from the lower 48.

Facebook - Alaska Chip Company LLC You heard it right folks. Even our potato chips are better than the mass produced options. It’s easy to feel less guilty about indulging in savory snacks when you know you’re supporting incredible Alaska businesses.

  1. Shopping at big corporate box stores.

Facebook - Three Bears Alaska Inc. Serving Alaska since 1980, Three Bears stores sell everything from guns and hunting supplies to cleaning supplies and delicious meats. Keeping money local is a huge part of what being an Alaskan is all about.

  1. Drinking wine that isn’t from Alaska.

Facebook - Alaska Berries Nowadays, with so many excellent beverage options in the last frontier, there is no need to give our money to out of staters! Plus, our wines are way better anyway.

  1. Or drinking beer that isn’t from Alaska.

Facebook - Icy Strait Brewing Same goes for our breweries! With hard working Alaskans crafting the most delicious blends on the market, we won’t ever go back the boring stuff.

  1. Who are we kidding… spirits too!

Facebook - Port Chilkoot Distillery That’s right! We have a little bit of everything, here. And with flavors infused with birch, smoked salmon and so much more… we will keep it Alaskan, always.

  1. Combat fishing.

Flickr - Susan Admittedly, we’re guilty sometimes too. But really, there is no place we’d rather be than away from the rush and fishing in peace somewhere… anywhere… else. We know we aren’t the only ones!

  1. Giving away secret secluded fishing spots to those visiting Alaska.

Flickr - Bureau of Land Management Don’t you DARE! The moose are watching. And so are the bears, wolves… and us!

  1. Buying produce without an ‘Alaska Grown’ label.

Facebook - Alaska Grown With so many local Alaskans working tirelessly and putting their blood, sweat and tears into making sure that we have the most delicious products around, eating Alaska Grown is always the responsible (and most delicious) choice.

  1. Seasoning your meat with a product that isn’t made in Alaska.

Facebook - Alaska Seasoning Company Say whaaat? Yup, that’s right. Say goodbye to traditional seasonings and clean out your cupboard. Alaska Seasonings Company and others in the state offer the most superior products on the market! Plus, if you dare to season your meal without the proper Alaska-made seasoning, your meat just might jump right off the grill and run back into the woods. Don’t take that chance.

  1. Or buying meat in general.

Flickr - Warren Hoflich I mean, when you have so many animals that you can responsibly hunt, it doesn’t get much more organic and humane that gathering your meat with your two bear hands. Oops, we mean “bare” hands.

  1. Shopping for name-brand winter gear.

Flickr - Larry Eiring These traditional Native Alaskan products don’t even play ball in the same arena as the products that you’ll find in the stores (which are generally all made outside of Alaska, or even America).

  1. Heck, don’t even think about breathing air that’s not from Alaska.

Facebook - Sample Alaska LLC. - Birch Syrup & Gourmet Food Wink wink, nudge nudge. 😉

  1. Going into the backcountry unprepared.

Flickr - James Brooks In this wildly uninhabited and unforgiving state, it would just be silly and not smart at all to go into the backcountry unprepared. Ever.

  1. Staying inside when the Northern Lights are dancing.

Bureau of Land Management - Flickr When Mother Nature and the Aurora Borealis come together to give you the most magnificent FREE show of your life, don’t offend them by staying inside. Live in the moment and lose out on a little sleep. You’ll thank us in the morning.

  1. Uttering the words “I am bored" in Alaska.

Paxson Woelber - Flickr The best time to visit Alaska is ALL THE TIME. So unless you want the longest eye roll of the century passed in your direction, don’t ever say that you are bored here. It’s freaking ALASKA. Boredom is not possible in the last frontier. Nope, nadda, no way José!

Can you think of anything else that everyone who lives in Alaska should avoid? What advice would you give to someone who’s considering visiting? Let us know in the comments!

Flickr/fs999

With the exception of responsible aquaculture, of course (we have some of the best farmed oysters EVER). If you haven’t already taken the wild, natural, sustainable Alaska seafood oath… you better get on that STAT. As the third largest industry in the entire state, wild seafood is just the name of the game and the claim to our fame in the 49th state.

slashvee - Flickr

If you have the time, always try to catch your own wild Alaska seafood, even if you’re just visiting. There is just something you can’t deny about fish that tastes better when you’ve caught it yourself. Check out some of the best places to go fishing in AK in some of our previous articles.

Facebook - Yummy Chummies

Don’t you dare do it! Hey, our state sport is dog mushing. That means our dogs have to take the wild, natural, sustainable seafood oath as well. And by how quickly these bags disappear off our shelves, we think they are A-OKAY with it!

Flickr/Travis

Say no to hot dogs and YES to reindeer dogs! When visiting the Last Frontier… do as the Alaskans do!

Flickr - Christopher Griner

No views = no go. If you were in the lower 48, we’d understand if you wanted to pitch a tent somewhere sub-par. But in Alaska, go big or just go back home. Fortunately, there’s no “worst” time to visit Alaska, so feel free to camp with a view in every season.

Facebook - Alaska Chip Company LLC

You heard it right folks. Even our potato chips are better than the mass produced options. It’s easy to feel less guilty about indulging in savory snacks when you know you’re supporting incredible Alaska businesses.

Facebook - Three Bears Alaska Inc.

Serving Alaska since 1980, Three Bears stores sell everything from guns and hunting supplies to cleaning supplies and delicious meats. Keeping money local is a huge part of what being an Alaskan is all about.

Facebook - Alaska Berries

Nowadays, with so many excellent beverage options in the last frontier, there is no need to give our money to out of staters! Plus, our wines are way better anyway.

Facebook - Icy Strait Brewing

Same goes for our breweries! With hard working Alaskans crafting the most delicious blends on the market, we won’t ever go back the boring stuff.

Facebook - Port Chilkoot Distillery

That’s right! We have a little bit of everything, here. And with flavors infused with birch, smoked salmon and so much more… we will keep it Alaskan, always.

Flickr - Susan

Admittedly, we’re guilty sometimes too. But really, there is no place we’d rather be than away from the rush and fishing in peace somewhere… anywhere… else. We know we aren’t the only ones!

Flickr - Bureau of Land Management

Don’t you DARE! The moose are watching. And so are the bears, wolves… and us!

Facebook - Alaska Grown

With so many local Alaskans working tirelessly and putting their blood, sweat and tears into making sure that we have the most delicious products around, eating Alaska Grown is always the responsible (and most delicious) choice.

Facebook - Alaska Seasoning Company

Say whaaat? Yup, that’s right. Say goodbye to traditional seasonings and clean out your cupboard. Alaska Seasonings Company and others in the state offer the most superior products on the market! Plus, if you dare to season your meal without the proper Alaska-made seasoning, your meat just might jump right off the grill and run back into the woods. Don’t take that chance.

Flickr - Warren Hoflich

I mean, when you have so many animals that you can responsibly hunt, it doesn’t get much more organic and humane that gathering your meat with your two bear hands. Oops, we mean “bare” hands.

Flickr - Larry Eiring

These traditional Native Alaskan products don’t even play ball in the same arena as the products that you’ll find in the stores (which are generally all made outside of Alaska, or even America).

Facebook - Sample Alaska LLC. - Birch Syrup & Gourmet Food

Wink wink, nudge nudge. 😉

Flickr - James Brooks

In this wildly uninhabited and unforgiving state, it would just be silly and not smart at all to go into the backcountry unprepared. Ever.

Bureau of Land Management - Flickr

When Mother Nature and the Aurora Borealis come together to give you the most magnificent FREE show of your life, don’t offend them by staying inside. Live in the moment and lose out on a little sleep. You’ll thank us in the morning.

Paxson Woelber - Flickr

The best time to visit Alaska is ALL THE TIME. So unless you want the longest eye roll of the century passed in your direction, don’t ever say that you are bored here. It’s freaking ALASKA. Boredom is not possible in the last frontier. Nope, nadda, no way José!

Now that you know what to avoid, dive into what we LOVE about Alaska! Pack up some of those Alaska Grown snacks and beverages and check out these amazing Alaska day trips.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Living In Alaska May 11, 2022 Beth Price-Williams What are some things I should know about living in Alaska? If you plan on visiting Alaska, you may just fall in love. Now if you decide that living in Alaska is for you, you’ll have to be prepared. Some things, for example, are a whole lot more expensive in Alaska. (You’ll likely discover, however, that all of that natural beauty is well-worth the extra cost.) Get ready to pay a lot more for everyday items – from milk and ice cream to frozen pizza and olive oil. Alaska is mighty expensive if you want to live there, and you’ll also pay high prices for rent, going to concerts, and shipping. Ever notice that a lot of companies offer free shipping to everywhere except Alaska and Hawaii? If you move to Alaska, you’re saying goodbye to free shipping. On the upside, did you know that Alaska is one of the happiest states in America? Yep – and for good reason. We’re able to get outdoors and explore Alaska’s many hiking trails, which helps us stay healthy. We have delightfully fresh air, and the scenery? The absolutely gorgeous landscape? How could we not be happy in a place that’s so much like paradise? Is Alaska safe? As with any state, you’ll find good places and not-so-good places in Alaska. However, if you’re seriously considering relocating, you might want to think about heading to one of the safest places to live in Alaska. With a population of under 10,000, Sitka ranks as the safest place to live in Alaska, followed by Palmer and Seward. If you’re looking at a well-known Alaskan city that’s safe, head to Juneau. The gorgeous state capitol is home to just under 33,000 and had only 134 violent crimes in 2013. One of the most peaceful places to live in Alaska is also one of the safest – Ketchikan.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Living In Alaska

May 11, 2022

Beth Price-Williams

What are some things I should know about living in Alaska? If you plan on visiting Alaska, you may just fall in love. Now if you decide that living in Alaska is for you, you’ll have to be prepared. Some things, for example, are a whole lot more expensive in Alaska. (You’ll likely discover, however, that all of that natural beauty is well-worth the extra cost.) Get ready to pay a lot more for everyday items – from milk and ice cream to frozen pizza and olive oil. Alaska is mighty expensive if you want to live there, and you’ll also pay high prices for rent, going to concerts, and shipping. Ever notice that a lot of companies offer free shipping to everywhere except Alaska and Hawaii? If you move to Alaska, you’re saying goodbye to free shipping. On the upside, did you know that Alaska is one of the happiest states in America? Yep – and for good reason. We’re able to get outdoors and explore Alaska’s many hiking trails, which helps us stay healthy. We have delightfully fresh air, and the scenery? The absolutely gorgeous landscape? How could we not be happy in a place that’s so much like paradise? Is Alaska safe? As with any state, you’ll find good places and not-so-good places in Alaska. However, if you’re seriously considering relocating, you might want to think about heading to one of the safest places to live in Alaska. With a population of under 10,000, Sitka ranks as the safest place to live in Alaska, followed by Palmer and Seward. If you’re looking at a well-known Alaskan city that’s safe, head to Juneau. The gorgeous state capitol is home to just under 33,000 and had only 134 violent crimes in 2013. One of the most peaceful places to live in Alaska is also one of the safest – Ketchikan.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

If you plan on visiting Alaska, you may just fall in love. Now if you decide that living in Alaska is for you, you’ll have to be prepared. Some things, for example, are a whole lot more expensive in Alaska. (You’ll likely discover, however, that all of that natural beauty is well-worth the extra cost.) Get ready to pay a lot more for everyday items – from milk and ice cream to frozen pizza and olive oil. Alaska is mighty expensive if you want to live there, and you’ll also pay high prices for rent, going to concerts, and shipping. Ever notice that a lot of companies offer free shipping to everywhere except Alaska and Hawaii? If you move to Alaska, you’re saying goodbye to free shipping. On the upside, did you know that Alaska is one of the happiest states in America? Yep – and for good reason. We’re able to get outdoors and explore Alaska’s many hiking trails, which helps us stay healthy. We have delightfully fresh air, and the scenery? The absolutely gorgeous landscape? How could we not be happy in a place that’s so much like paradise?

Is Alaska safe?

As with any state, you’ll find good places and not-so-good places in Alaska. However, if you’re seriously considering relocating, you might want to think about heading to one of the safest places to live in Alaska. With a population of under 10,000, Sitka ranks as the safest place to live in Alaska, followed by Palmer and Seward. If you’re looking at a well-known Alaskan city that’s safe, head to Juneau. The gorgeous state capitol is home to just under 33,000 and had only 134 violent crimes in 2013. One of the most peaceful places to live in Alaska is also one of the safest – Ketchikan.