Shauntel Bruner-Alvanna is on a mission to put Nome on the map for travelers in Alaska and the Lower 48. In her dual capacity running Nome’s Visitor Center and Nome’s Chamber of Commerce, she sees outsized potential in the small city.
Unlike other Alaska communities that receive a rush of tourism in the summer and a dropoff in the winter, Nome has attractions year-round. Says Bruner-Alvanna, “If you want to come up for community events, November, December. If you want to come up for Iditarod, Iron Dog, The Serum Run, January to March. Spring breakup, birding. It’s just phenomenal.”
Another strength Nome has is culture. Other communities push “cultural tourism,” but Bruner-Alvanna says Nome is different: “In Nome, it’s not cultural tourism. It’s just tourism because we’re still Indigenous.” She is including Nome’s Indigenous community in commerce and tourism planning, for instance by having an Indigenous person edit the Nome visitor guide.
Nome is notably off the road system, so Bruner-Alvanna is brainstorming creative solutions to draw visitors. She thinks that if airlines offered multi-day layovers, that could make it easier for Alaska visitors to add on a trip to Nome.
Bruner-Alvanna has spent the last several months attending conferences and advocating for the things that make Nome special.
Whenever you visit Nome, stop by the station. We would love to see you!
