We flew up from Fairbanks for a one day exploration of the town. What an experience. We dipped our feet in the Arctic Ocean, walked and talked with local residents, and took a taxi to the outskirts of town. We went in the first week of August and it was drizzly and about 38 degrees. Certainly not a tourist destination! There on a Sunday. Two places available to eat - Pepe's and a pizza place. Wonderful experience.
It certainly is not a beach to sunbath on but it is beautiful. How many times in a lifetime do you get the chance to see the Arcitc Ocean and polar ice cap?!
Did a day trip to Barrow with my 7 year old son. And in February 8 hours is more then enough. We drove most of the roads in the town but this was our favorite landmark. Hard to tell where the beach ended and the water began but we can say we went to the Arctic Ocean. The people of Barrow are very friendly but there really is no tourism in January. That is why we did it as part of a routing from Fairbanks to Anchorage.
Barrow is the most far point that you can go to in the United States which lies on the Artic Ocean. It is mostly Alaska native population but they will make you feel welcome. The best time of the year to go is during July and the first part of August during the midnight sun. The sun never sets and is daylight 24 hours a day but make sure that you wear or take cold weather gear with you or a bathing suite if you are one of the not so smart one's that want to take the plunge into the artic ocean. They do have a post office and it is worth a stop to mail yourself something back home to show where you have been. I do not recommend an overnight trip unless you have made some kind of arrangements far in advance, The cost of everything is extremely high a cup of coffee can cost you much more than $2. and that is with no refills. The water in Barrow is shipped in just like all of their other goods as well milk is more than $14. a gallon so make sure you go by the grocery store so you can get the shock of your life. The best part of Barrow is there is a bus system that will take you near the most far point and pick you up in about 15 minutes, sometimes they will wait but most of the time the bus will come back and pick you up in the next round which is about 15 minutes and it is one thing that is affordable to do is ride the bus.
It's Barrow and it's the top of North America-you have to go and touch the ocean!!! It is really different
Top of the world is wonderful, come get your picture here. I have traveled to the southern most part of our country Key west, and the eastern most area which is East Port main, so get your photos here.
July 4th, 38 degrees, 31 water temp - GO Ahead, DO the Polar Plunge, and 28 degree wind chill. Not 100 yards off shore are massive ice floats. This "beach" is all pebbles not sand. Put a couple in your pocket as mementos. You ARE at the "Top of the World"
We LOVE the water, nearly everyday we walked to the shoreline to watch the waves - whether calm, violent, clear water or ice berg filled - day light or moon light (watch for polar bears first). We saw stones we never saw on any other coast, and thick sanded glass and small pieces of ivory. We saw seals playing on the ice in July and whales off in the distance in late September. Yes, there is garbage on the beach, look beyond it and relax and take it all in.
Barrow in late AugYou could spend a lot of money and could be easily disappointedYou need to keep an open mind and understand the locals have a very different attitude to on time and even showing up to previously scheduled commitments, even expensive ones.The people are great, friendly and helpful but they dont get excited if things fall apart or dont happen. Ex Hotel bus to airport didnt operated but desk staff, although helpful and friendly really didnt know and explained that drivers, worker etc lots of time dont show up and that applies to just about everything. You can wing things, I did and it worked out great but lots of speed bumps,Attractions range from Whale carcass on beach to Polar Bears to unmarked 1800 buildings to Information center to prices in grocery store to grave yards and lots of local colors (house shambles to bird wtching
Barrow Beach is different to any beach I have been to. Travel is about the journey and contrasts and this happened here.