Go on a tour
Click here for a full list of summer tours!
Bird Watching
Spring in Nome means the return of hundreds of species of migratory birds returning to their breeding and nesting ground.
Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum
A wide variety of artifacts, pictures and remnants of the past. Exhibits include gold rush history and Inupiaq Culture. The Carrie M. McLain Memorial Museum is located at 100 W 7th Avenue, Nome, AK inside the Richard Foster Building.
Visit with the staff at the Katirvik Cultural Center to celebrate, learn and share in the rich culture and heritage of the Bering Strait Region. The name Katirvik, meaning “Gathering Place” embodies the intent of the center, to bring together not only people, but cultural events, language sharing opportunities, constructive social justice dialogue and artifacts from traditional lifestyles while celebrating and honoring the region and its people. Appropriately the most unique, important and defining feature of the cultural center is the central circular space, designed to emulate the look and feel of the traditional gathering place, the qasgi/qasrgi.
The Katirvik Cultural Center is located at the Richard Foster Building at 100 West 7th Ave Nome, AK 99762 and is open Thursdays and Fridays 2pm-6pm, and Saturdays from 12pm-4pm. You can also call 443-4340 to arrange a private tour.
Walking Tour
A self-guided tour of the historical buildings in Nome that survived the numerous fires & floods is laid out in the “Historical Walking Tour”. For those who enjoy a walk on a beautiful day, ask for the “Walking in Nome” handout. For those who want a more vigorous workout ask for the “Day Hikes” handout. All handouts are available at the Visitors Center.
Gold Dredges
Swanberg Dredge is within walking distance from downtown Nome, head east on Front Street and you will see it on the left-hand side of the road approximately one mile from town. There are over 40 remnants of gold dredges visible from the road-system. We highly recommend you rent a vehicle and explore our road-system, looking for dredges and wildlife along the way.
National Park Service Visitors Center
Inter-active displays, natural & cultural history displays, videos on request, located in the Sitnasuak Building on Front Street. For more information, call 443-2522.
Wild Flower Excursions
Over 2,000 species of wild flowers grow on the Seward Peninsula between June and August. Guidebooks of Alaskan wild flowers are available at the local gift stores.
Pan for Gold
For gold panning options, please call the Nome Visitors Center at (907) 443-6555.
World's Largest Metal Gold Pan
Take your photo next to the largest gold pan in the United States, or with the statues of the Three Lucky Swedes, located at Bering Street & Seppala Road.
Stop in for information and handouts on Nome, view historic photos, restaurant menus, etc., located at 301 Front Street across from City Hall in the gazebo building.
Visit an Eskimo Village
Several air carriers offer regularly scheduled flights to the surrounding villages. Visit a village for several hours between flights or overnight. Consider timing your visit to coincide with the Savoonga Walrus Festival (May or June), the Shishmaref Carnival (late April) or the Gambell Whaling Festival (July).
Fishing
The Nome area contains 14 rivers for you to enjoy, most accessible from the road system. From salmon and dolly varden to pike and arctic grayling, we have it all. Nome is a fly-fisher's paradise with several rivers shallow enough to wade and the fish caught are dependent on the time of year and bait used. Bring your own gear or rent from local outdoor suppliers. You can also charter fishing trips with local fishers. Overall, the fishing here is spectacular, and a license may be purchased at the many different stores around town. For guided fishing trips, you may contact Alaskan Northwest Adventures, Twin Peaks Adventures, or AK AU & Resort.
For all ages. Under the age of 8 can split time with two kids (a sibling is preferred, or it can be another child of close to the same age). Includes horse care for before and after riding.
Sightseeing by Automobile
Sightseeing by rental vehicle is an excellent way to see the countryside. There are three major roads leading out of Nome for a distance of approximately 70 miles each. Over 200 head of musk oxen call the Seward Peninsula home. These remnants of prehistory may be seen from the road. The Visitors Center keeps a record of wildlife sightings and can give directions to areas used by these animals. Camp at Salmon Lake, fish in the many rivers crossing the road-system and look for wildlife along the way.
Gift Shopping
Nome offers a variety of stores with excellent Alaskan gifts such as sealskin slippers, mukluks, grass baskets, Alaskan art, Eskimo dolls and numerous ivory, jade or soapstone carvings. A list of places to shop and a city map are available at the Visitors Center.
Flight Seeing
This is an excellent way to gain an appreciation for the vastness of this area. Depending on the time of year, you may see musk oxen, reindeer, bear, walrus, seals or an occasional whale or polar bear. Contact local air carriers for price information.
Cookout on the Beach
Nome’s public beach is abundant with driftwood, easily used for a cooking fire or bonfire. Try catching your dinner in the river and cook it on the beach for a Nome-style picnic. Please observe routine fire safety precautions and show courtesy to your fellow beach goers by cleaning up after yourselves.
Sea Glass Beach Combing
Walk the beaches of Nome in search of beach glass and other items in the sand. Pick up items such as tableware, pottery shards, and other colorful objects of Nome’s past.
Swimming
Summer temperatures combined with the non-stop midnight sun warms the Bering Sea to a tropical 40° to 50°F. Some Nome youngsters consider this warm enough for swimming and on rare occasions, adults can be seen kayaking and windsurfing. For those visitors who like a challenge, an invigorating swim in the Bering Sea might be something to write home about. Join Nome Rotary Club during the Mid-night Sun Festival for the Polar Bear Swim. For the more conservative visitor, an indoor swimming pool is located at the high school complex approximately three miles out of town. For prices and times call (907) 443-5717.
The Rec Center offers racquetball, a sauna, weight machines, treadmills, stair steppers aerobic classes and many other activities. (907) 443-6645.
An activity center for Nome’s Elders. Visitors are invited to join them for lunch at 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday any time of the year. If possible, but not mandatory, please call ahead for lunch. There is no charge for visiting senior citizens; others are asked to pay a nominal fee. On Fridays, the menu includes local foods such as reindeer, blueberries, salmon, etc. Ask about the native arts & crafts sold there. (907) 443-5238.
Stop by the library and browse through their rare book collection. (907) 443-6628.
Whether you need a map, trip advice, or just some good old conversation, the staff at the Nome Visitor Center are more than happy to help.
Hours: Open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
