By Jennifer Ciotta
Close by to San Francisco, is Oakland, home to Jack London. A visitor needs to bring their senses of taste and smell to enjoy the full experience. In Jack London Square, a compilation of shops, restaurants and nightlife, one can swallow fresh oysters, while sipping on refreshing wines, straight from the wine country close by. Night activities include jazz music and new releases at the Jack London Cinema. The author's cabin, his dwelling place from Yukon gold hunting days, was brought to Oakland many years before and is open to the public.
In the Yukon Territory (in Canada but bordering Alaska) one can find a series of arctic adventures, just like Jack London. In the sport of husky dog sledding one zips through the forest, inches away from trees, letting the dogs take control of the ride. A visitor can either try steering a sled, or in February, watching the Yukon Quest, a 1000 mile dog sled race. Then there is the annual Yukon River Quest, held in late June/early July, which is the world's longest canoe and kayak race, spanning 460 miles over several days. Other outdoor activities include: fishing, hunting, mountaineering, hiking, and snowmobiling. At night, many opportunities arise to catch a glimpse at the mysterious Northern Lights, a.k.a. Aurora Borealis.
The last part of London's life was spent in Sonoma, CA. The stunning Jack London State Historic Park encompasses the exquisite beauty of the wine country and the home of the author himself. One can visit the gravesite of Jack and his wife, or roam the museum named the House of Happy Walls, constructed by Charmian (Jack's wife), which contains photographs of the author at work, books and custom-made furniture intended for the Wolf House. London's dream home, Wolf House, was burned to the ground in 1913. The scenic trail from the museum to Wolf House is an hour walk consisting of birds, redwoods and shrubs. The houses ruins show its eerie destruction, but rumor has it, London's spirit roams the property, keeping him very much alive.
