Up until last week, the only thing I really knew about Alaska was Sarah Palin hailed from there and it was far away. And supposedly you could see Russia from the coast. But then I spent seven days traveling the coast and stopped in some of their most popular cities. I visited Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. What I saw in Alaska changed what I thought I knew about this mystery state.

As I made my way to each port, I sailed by some truly unbelievable sights. Beautiful glaciers and snow covered mountains took over the horizon. Waterfalls scaled the sides of rolling hills. Bald eagles soared above me. It was a side of nature I had never been exposed to before. I was mesmerized by the scenery before me.

The cities I stopped in were not what I had pictured at all. I I had previously been on a few cruises on the east coast of the country. On those we stopped in cities in places like Mexico and the Bahamas where there main industry was tourism. You would step off the ship and instantly be met by people looking to sell you their tours and excursions. The port would be lined with little shops and kiosks that help postcards, handmade gifts, and shirts with whatever city you were in for the day. When I imagined what I would see in my Alaskan stops I guess I assumed it would be like any U.S. city that lived on the water. I was looking for local shops and restaurants and residents going about their own business. What I found was the opposite. In between the stunning landscape laid tiny cities who were as dependent on tourism as those I had seen in my previous east coast cruising experiences. The ports where we docked were filled with "Alaskan Outfitters" that had post cards and chachkies literally spilling out the door. Locals lined up in front of kiosks trying to persuade visitors to take their tour. It was mind boggling that one of my country's 50 states appeared to be so reliant on others' travels to their state. I guess the part that made the least sense to me was that most of the tourists that visited were citizens of the same country as Alaska. Here I was, completely blind to what was happening on the other side of my home country.

I got to talking to some of the locals in the different cities. One woman in Skagway told me how there were 800 people that lived there during the summer, and even less during the winter. She explained how they went elsewhere during the winter not because of the cold but because they needed to find work. Most of the 800 people helped operate the port and shops and excursions during the summer months. The woman also told me how there was a graduating class of two from the high school - her son and his girlfriend.

The way of life in the cities I visited are so different than what I am used to. In a sense I feel bad for them, it must be such a challenging lifestyle. On the other hand, none of the locals seemed to mind. Everyone I came across was friendly and happy. There was none of the hustle and bustle that I am used to experiencing. I wonder how many of these people chose this sort of life versus those who were born into it. This is America, where there is supposed to be endless opportunity. Does this said opportunity pertain to only the contiguous 48? Or are there more places like this in the U.S.?

In my non expertise opinion, Alaska is one of the most breathtaking places I have ever seen. It is a part of the country that needs to be praised and recognized. The people who keep it as untouched and beautiful deserve to be appreciated. I am forever thankful I was able to experience this part of the country. I advise all who have the opportunity to journey out west to that state only Sarah Palin talks about.