Alaska is a land of incredible beauty and rich cultural heritage, offering an array of unique gifts that capture its essence. Whether you just returned from an Alaskan adventure and are looking for a handmade keepsake, one-of-a-kind jewelry, or delicious local delicacies, Alaska has something special for everyone on your gift list.
From unique home pieces, such as totem poles made by Alaska Native People, to beautiful jewelry and the best-smoked salmon you will ever have, you will find the perfect gift to make everyone on your gift list happy.
Here is a list of the best Alaska gifts. However, the best gift would be a trip to the 49th state!
1. Alaska Ulu Knife
Finding a souvenir or gift for someone who has everything is always challenging.
But even those who have everything probably need an authentic Alaska Ulu knife. An Ulu is an ancient tool that Native Alaskans have used for thousands of years.
The Ulu knife has a wide-arced blade, sometimes called an "ooloo" knife.
Whatever you call it, the uber-utilitarian Alaska Ulu knife can be used for everything from mincing vegetables to cutting meat, filleting salmon, chopping nuts, and dicing vegetables. It's also handy for cutting pizza, of course.
Invented by Alaskan Inuits, the Ulu knife, short for uuluurag, or woman's knife, has a history that goes back as far as 3,500, even 5,000, years. But it is as helpful today as when the Inuit used it to separate skins for clothing.
Modern or otherwise, no kitchen is complete without an Alaska Ulu knife.
To make your gift even more unique, check out this Ulu from the Great Alaskan Bowl Company or with a large chopping bowl from the Ulu Factory. We also have dozens of other Ulu knives, from moose antler Ulus to walrus jaw bone Ulus to deer Ulus and everything in between. Best of all, most Ulus have free shipping on voyij.com
An original Alaska Ulu knife is the best gift for anyone who enjoys cooking. If you have an Ulu, try cooking traditional Alaskan dishes like reindeer sausage or smoked salmon!
2. Totem Pole
Nothing says uniquely Alaska more than a totem pole.
Totem poles are monuments created by Alaska Native Artists, depicting everything from history to life and death. These dramatic testimonies to Alaska's indigenous people's culture are unique Alaskan gifts. These large totem poles will proudly tower over your backyard or place of business as a memorial to the art and history of Alaska.
For smaller budgets, totem poles are available in desk size or as an objet d'art in your living room.
An Alaska totem pole is not only a beautiful tribute to Alaska's indigenous peoples' history; it also tells a story. Alaska's tribes did not use totem poles for worship. Instead, the totem pole tells a story and illustrates the past in an unforgettable form. The Rain Barrel has an amazing collection of Totem Poles that you can order online. A small totem pole is one of the best Alaska souvenirs you can buy! While we are talking about Totem don't forget to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center or the Totem Bight State Historical Park to view real-life-size totems.
3. Alaska Jade Jewelry
Sure, you've seen jade or what you think is jade.
Maybe you even have some jewelry with jade embedded in it.
But you've never seen anything like rare Alaska jade.
Alaska jade is so special it's the state's official gem. How much more authentic Alaska can you get?
Alaska jade has a remarkably smooth and luminescent finish, and its colors range from green and yellow to red, black, and white. But it's lavender jade that is uniquely and authentically Alaskan. The term "jade" itself is really the generic name for the minerals nephrite, chloromelanite, and jadeite.
Call it what you want – it's beautiful!
You don't have to remember the mineral names for Alaska jade. Just think of it as gorgeous, special, and a uniquely Alaska gift from the state's rugged and mountainous terrain. You can get Alaskan Jade articles at a wide range of prices, from a more affordable
When you think of authentic Alaska gifts, always remember: "Thar's gold in them thar hills!"
Lots of it.
Alaska's landscape is loaded with rocks and fossils, gems mining collectibles, not to mention a large selection of gold nuggets, gold-in-quartz, and shipwreck coins. That's what drew thousands of prospectors to the last frontier during the gold rush.
But perhaps the most exciting is gold-in-quartz. First discovered in 1880, gold-in-quartz was formed millions of years ago by intense heat 3,000 ft. below the Earth's surface as lava streams cooled and welded gold into surrounding quartz. It's unusually tricky to find authentic gold-in-quartz because the mines where it is found are kept secret. That's why it's important to have a certificate of authenticity to avoid imitations.
The results of all the earthly activity are spectacular. Gold-in-quartz jewelry is an unusually lovely authentic Alaska gift that will leave sparkles in the eyes of its recipient.
Several specialty stores such as Orocal Gold Nugget Co. have a huge collection of Gold Quartz & Gold Nugget Jewelry that you can check out.
5. Alaska Seafood
It may seem funny to present your loved one with the gift of Alaska seafood. "Merry Christmas, honey! Here's a salmon!"
But seafood is a great Alaska souvenir, similar to maple syrup being one of the most common Canadian souvenir available at gift shops around Canada.
Sure, you've had shrimp, oysters, salmon, and the like from other sources that you might have gotten at a local grocery store or your fish market. But, if you've never eaten fresh-caught wild salmon or seafood from Alaskan seas, then, well, you're in for an experience that you'll want to repeat again and again. And again.
Better yet, seafood caught fresh from Alaska's pristine waters is a treat that also contributes to heart health, mental health, and lowering blood pressure.
Alaska seas are the best place for seafood the discerning home chef needs for the perfect dinner.
It's even delicious canned. One favorite is canned smoked sockeye salmon, a showstopper at any meal.So, here's the deal:
Alaska seafood is tasty, and it's good for you. What else can you ask for from a meal?
6. Fossilized Woolly Mammoth Ivory And Jewelry
Millions of years ago, woolly mammoths roamed the Alaska landscape. Although the woolly mammoth has long since disappeared in the last Ice Age, their tusks remain a popular Alaska souvenir. The tusks are often discovered in the Alaskan wilderness by gold miners or when they emerge after heavy rains.
The tusks themselves can be up to 16 ft. in length. They're heavy, too, weighing as much as 300 lbs. Each tusk is uniquely colored in dark browns, tans, greens, and rare "blue ivory." Alaskan artists use the tusks as a medium for scrimshaw or ornamental engravings.If you're not in the market for 300 lbs. of ivory, and sure, that's tough to gift-wrap, material from woolly mammoth tusks is also used in bracelets, necklaces, and other uniquely Alaska gifts. At Voyij, we carry an array of
Alaska's unique and authentic art is a gift with the heart of Alaska built in.
Alaska Native art is diverse, eclectic, and uniquely Alaska.
Alaska Northwest Coast art features bold designs and Earth-tone colors. Baskets, blankets, caps, masks, stone carvings, sterling silver totemic jewelry, and even totem poles are some items that should be added to your souvenir list. There are dozens of items to choose from to make a loved one happy. But while you're at it, grab something for yourself. You've been good all year, after all.
But don't forget Alaska Inuit art! Talk about authentic gifts from Alaska, this is the real stuff!
Alaskan art is divided into categories such as Southwest Alaska and Central Interior Alaska, which reflect the tribes who live there. Baskets made of beach grasses, beadwork, and ceremonial blankets are part of what Inuit culture offers.
Perhaps the most spectacular example of an Alaskan souvenir – next to a full-size totem pole – is ivory from Northern Alaska. Only Alaska Natives may possess pure ivory, and it can only be sold after it is hand-crafted.
If you haven't checked out Alaska native art while looking for the best souvenirs from Alaska, you're missing out on some great unique Alaska gifts!There are many stores & studios that feature a wide range of Alaskan Art made by local artists, including the famous
If you've got aches and pains – oh, yes, you do! – Devil's Club Salve is a uniquely Alaskan remedy.
Coming straight from the rainforest of Alaska's Southeast, Devil's Club Salve Products will help you get through the day.
The devil's club or devil's walking stick (Oplopanax Horridus, for the botanists among you) is a woody-stemmed shrub covered with small thorns, large leaves, and red berries. It is commonly found in the rainforest of Southeast Alaska.
Alaska Natives have been using the Devil's Club plant for thousands of years. It is a member of the ginseng family and is also known as "Alaska Ginseng."
Use it for arthritis, muscular aches, and pain, sore back, hips, knees, shoulders, carpal tunnel syndrome, skin rashes from diaper rash to eczema, burns, cuts, chapped skin and lips, bedsores, bruises, and insect bites.
9. Alaska Bear Claws Are A Culinary Game-Changer
Ok, Alaska bear claws are not real ursine paws.
But Alaska bear claws are the perfect Alaska gift for the chef in your life. Alaska "Bear Claws" is a pasta salad server, and they will change your life when it comes to hard-to-corral spaghetti, chopped salad, and other elusive dinner fares.Alaska bear claws are a must-have accessory for any kitchen. While thinking of kitchen utensils, the Alaska bear claw is a nice companion to the Alaska Ulu knife you've already used to chop your salad.
10. Alaska Northern Lights Photography Is Positively Dreamy
Sure, you can take your own Northern Lights photograph with an iPhone if you're in Alaska and have downloaded the Northern Lights app.
What fun is that?
You can purchase gorgeous Northern Lights photography that will transport you to the ethereal Alaska night sky.
If you've never seen the Northern Lights, well, it's a pity for you. Also known as the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights are colored streaks of light composed of tiny charged particles that collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms to create a color collage that rivals the best modern art.
Northern Lights photography is a thoughtful Alaska gift that makes for amazing wall art in the office or living room wall.
11. Want To Keep Your Niaqoq Warm? Qivuit Is Just The Furry Answer
First of all, niaqoq is the Inuit word for head. And, of course, you want to keep your niaqoq warm.
You may not have heard of qiviut, but it's the perfect Alaskan remedy for cold conditions.
Pronounced "ki-vee-oot," qiviut is the inner wool of the muskox, a hooved, Arctic denizen with two thick layers of fur. The inner layer is especially warm and used for everything from ultra-warm hats and tunics to luxurious socks. It's softer than cashmere and is guaranteed to protect you from winter conditions.
Give the souvenir gift of warmth and history with a unique Alaska quilting design!
Although quilting is part of American history, it has a significant place in Alaskan culture. Alaska is home to several artists bringing Alaska alive with their quilting patterns. You can also get uniquely Alaska "kuspuk" or hooded overshirts with distinctly Alaska patterns for adults and children.
Considered an educational medium of Alaskan culture, Alaskan quilts, and kuspuks make for a gift that is, well, uniquely Alaska.
13. Don’t Forget A New Christmas Ornament!
All Christmas ornaments have a family history of their own. That's why you need to purchase a new family memory with an Alaska Christmas ornament.
Alaska has dozens of shops and stores that sell authentic Alaska Christmas ornaments that feature painted Alaskan landscapes, angels, whales, sled dogs, Athabaskan mittens, and everything you associate with Alaska.
An Alaska Christmas ornament is a sweet and sentimental gift idea that will not only decorate the tree but it will also warm hearts for years.
A FEW FINAL WORDS FROM VOYIJ!
Ordering is easy from Voyij.com Gift-giving from Alaska will impress your friends and family and show that you will go anywhere in the world to make them happy.
Our catalog also includes petrified wood inlaid jewelry, necklaces, pendants, and earrings – all from Alaska.
During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898, the newly built town of Skagway, Alaska housed 80 (illegal) saloons. Saloons were the lifeblood of the community.
If you plan your trip in July, you may witness a rare phenomenon known as bubble-netting, a new and specialized feeding technique unique to Southeast Alaska humpbacks and regularly practiced by only about 60 whales in the area.
The Alaska Canoe Experience Is A Spiritual Journey Into First Peoples’ History
When you take a trip with Alaska Canoe Experience in Ketchikan, it’s more than a pleasant jaunt on the water. It’s part of a spiritual journey that reflects hundreds of years of the history of Alaska’s First Peoples.
