Surf City native gives ‘Let’s Go’ tour of Alaska

Coral Wilson

Jason Unger gets out and about. The Edison High School, UCLA and

Harvard University graduate has been to Europe, Africa, New Zealand

and the Caribbean. His next destination is Alaska.

But this time he is going as a researcher-writer for the popular

travel guide, “Let’s Go: Alaska.”

“[Alaska] was at the top of my list, I’m excited I got it,” Unger

said. “Everyone who comes back from Alaska says it is a

once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

A lover of kayaking and hiking, the 28-year-old said Alaska is a

place that has always intrigued him.

“It’s one of those places not a lot of people get to,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing bears -- from a distance, not up

close.”

“Let’s Go” is a budget travel guidebook written entirely by

Harvard students. It started out in 1960 as a 20-page pamphlet handed

out on campus by students and offering budget travel tips to Europe,

said Nitin Shah, director of marketing and business development for

Let’s Go Publications. The series of books now cover six continents.

For Unger, research skills will be as important as good writing

since this is the first year an entire book will be dedicated to the

icy northern state. For two months this summer, Unger will be one of

a team of five writers and two editors. He will travel independently,

concentrating on Anchorage and south central Alaska, including many

of the national parks. He will return in August and the book will be

released in November.

Unger said he has no dreams of becoming a travel writer. Instead,

with a masters degree in administration and public policy, he plans

to work as a legislative assistant for a congressman or senator. But

Shah said writing for “Let’s Go” can be compelling work.

“Writing for a travel guide is cool and fulfilling work,” Shah

said. “It’s fun, it’s so completely different and it forces you to

talk to everyone.”

After seeing the world, Unger said that Huntington Beach still

ranks high on his list of beloved places.

“I’m a big fan of Huntington Beach,” the well-seasoned traveler

said. “It’s a great town, and it was a great place to be a kid.”

His home and family are here. And 10 years after graduation, he

still keeps in touch with a close group of friends from Edison High

School.

If he was writing a travel guide about his home town, Unger said

he would be sure to include his favorite hang outs -- the Mexican

restaurant Las Barcos, the Sugar Shack, the older homes and parks on

Main Street and, of course, the beach.

* CORAL WILSON is a news assistant who covers education. She can

be reached at (714) 965-7177 or by e-mail at

coral.wilson@latimes.com.