Theres A Town In Alaska Where Everyone Lives Under One Roof

When people talk about sheltering or living under one roof, they typically refer to a family, or at most a hotel or a college dorm.

But did you know that in a (very) small town in remote Alaska, most of the population officially lives under one roof?

Whittier, Alaska, is a small town about 60 miles (96.5 kilometers) south of Anchorage. Approximately 127 people live in Whittier, which is only accessible via a boat or a one-way, one-lane tunnel that is a bit of a hair-raiser. The tunnel is quite narrow, and the direction that traffic is allowed to enter changes every 30 minutes.

And instead of Whittier’s residents living in a smattering of houses or farms, the majority of them have banded together to live in one building. As if this mutual decision wasn’t unique enough on its own, the building happens to be a former Cold War-era Army barracks.

The population in Whittier and Begich Towers occasionally does climb above 127 when tourists come to town. The building serves as a bed and breakfast as well, in which guests can get to know not only a one-of-a-kind small town in remote America but also many of its residents intimately.

And to complete the unique environment, there are also animals that come with a residency in Begich Towers: Reindeer roam the lawn in front of the condo.

Once you’re inside, if you’re lucky, you’ll be visiting a condo with a view of the scenery outside. While the units themselves seem small, some of them feature windows with jaw-dropping views of Alaska’s beautiful wilderness outside, including water, mountains, mist—and maybe a few reindeer.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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