If the lure of adventure is calling you northward, you won’t find a more unique experience than dog sledding in our 49th state.

Dog sledding (or mushing) affords you thrills, challenges and opportunities to view pristine wilderness in remote locations that aren’t accessible in other ways. You’ll get to experience the real Alaska.

Whether you’re feeling bold or conservative, there are options to meet your needs:

If you want to mush your own team of sled dogs on a 4-6 day excursion with someone who has completed the famed Iditarod dogsled race numerous times, Jerry Austin of Alaska Dog Sledding in St. Michael, Alaska, is ready to train and escort you. It’s pricey (around $2,500 per person), but it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Or if you’re less of a thrill-seeker, like me, you can get a taste of dog sledding on a two-mile excursion in Seward, Alaska, at Ididaride Sled Dog Tours.

The scenery is breathtaking, and you’ll experience the power and energy of 13 Iditarod sled dogs as they pull a wheeled sled. When you return to the kennel, the guides, who are all Iditarod racers, will teach you about the sport. Perhaps the most memorable part is that you get to hold and cuddle with husky puppies that will one day be sled dogs. Prices are $59 for adults and $29 for children.