Californian visitors Candy and Nicholas Smith outside of the Discovery Center.

KRBD is unveiling a new feature this week: K-Town Street Beat.

Each week through August, news intern Marco Torres will be walking the streets and talking with people around town. This week on Street Beat, visiting tourists were asked, “What is something you’ve learned about Alaska that you did not know before?”

Over at Berth 1, Gary and Dot from Pennsylvania shared that they enjoyed learning about local totem poles.

“The totem poles. It’s very interesting. Very. There’s a history to them. There’s beliefs. Each thing means something, and I never knew that before,” said Dot.

Outside the Discovery Center, Candy Smith, and her son Nicholas, from San Diego, were surprised by the abundance of Alaska minerals.

“I guess all the minerals. That’s probably our biggest surprise. That there’s a lot more minerals than stones and gems and stuff,” said Candy.

Pennsylvanians Gary and Dot on the docks.

On Creek Street, Jason from Australia spoke of his fun times ziplining and exploring the Yukon.

“We did ziplining in Juneau. The Yukon was absolutely beautiful. We took a bus tour from Skagway up into the Yukon and then came back by the White Pass Railway,” said Jason.

And by the Fish House, visitor Kevin said he was amazed by the sheer size of the state.

“Alaska is a big state. It’s a land of superlatives. You can’t hardly describe it. It’s so awesome being out on the water, seeing the glaciers, mountain after mountain, it’s just unbelievable,” said Kevin.

That concludes this week’s K-Town Street Beat, compiled by our news intern, Marco Torres. Check our website for more as the summer progresses.