INUVIK
Summertime in Inuvik brings with it the 24-hour sun, a lot of bugs, and tourists.
As the summer slowly creeps up on its residents and the mosquitoes start to buzz, the dust-covered motorhomes of the Dempster Highway travellers also steadily begin to appear.
Tourists brave the gravel highway from the Yukon, the Canadian provinces or even further corners of the world, and settle into Inuvik as if they've always been here.
"Everyone is very welcoming here. I feel like a neighbour," said Andrea Kittler, a tourist from Germany.
Tourists come for the rich arts and culture in the community. There are festivals and activities held throughout the summer to promote the cultures of the North and the people who live here, including the upcoming popular Great Northern Arts Festival.
The event draws visitors and artists from all over the country, with the hope that they spread the word about the vibrant community.
"You'll learn a lot of things talking to the locals," said Felicitas Kraus and Thorsten Engel, two German travellers who decided to drive to Inuvik to conquer the Arctic Circle and see what Inuvik has to offer after being told they couldn't miss the Canadian North while visiting the country.
After being surprised at how warm it actually is above the Arctic Circle, they enjoyed the remainder of their sunny visit to Canada by travelling to Tuktoyaktuk from Inuvik, experiencing and learning about the dynamic culture and history of the two towns, as well as to also "always pack bug repellant."
Inuvik also attracts travellers of the outdoor-adventurer and explorer variety.
"The majority of our visitors drive the Dempster Highway. They're called fully-independent travelers - Canadians renting motor homes and travelling up," said Anne Kokko, the tourism development officer for the Department of Industry, Tourism, and Investment with the territorial government.
Inuvik is in the Western Arctic and as a destination itself, it also works as a jumping-off point for activities on the land, like visiting the pingos or taking guided tours of the Dempster, and flying up to Tuktoyaktuk for guided whale watching and hiking tours.
Travellers have also used Inuvik is a place to begin a journey, since it's the furthest you can drive north in Canada.
"We're starting a bike trip to Argentina from here," said Nyle Feist from Squamish, B.C. He's here with his partner, Kittler, from Germany, who spent the week in Inuvik enjoying cultural activities held at the Western Arctic Visitors Centre and getting to know the people in Inuvik while waiting for a bike part to begin their trip.
