I received a letter in the mail recently from the governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin.

I have to admit it was a little exciting to see it. She spelled my name correctly, included a personal invitation for me to visit Alaska and touted the adventures that await those who travel to the vast wilderness in the great Northwest.

“Alaska is different from every other destination in the world,” Palin wrote. “Every day offers an unforgettable memory: a mother moose and calf, glaciers and mountains, unique Native cultures, our Russian legacy and gold rush days.”

Though the letter features the official seal of the State of Alaska, and Palin’s picture and signature, it is generic and most likely not penned by her personally. She simply wants the Auburn Journal to publish features about traveling to Alaska to boost her state’s tourism economy. That’s understandable and no-doubt good for Alaska in many ways.

Considering the buzz that her vice-presidential candidacy created, I am sure editors across the country who received these letters, which include a survey I filled out, were a little surprised to see a letter from Palin in their mail.

I spent a week at Prince of Wales Island with the owners of Brehm Communications and some of our other company general managers and publishers two summers ago.

We stayed at the fairly luxurious El Capitan fishing lodge. It was unbelievable, in a very good way. We had an open bar, satellite TV, a fantastic chef who made sure every meal was treasured, maid service and more.

And, the fishing was spectacular.

We caught dozens of salmon as well as halibut and assorted other fish I can’t remember. It was “fish on,” constantly.

At the lodge, they clean and vacuum seal the fish you catch every night so you take home these huge boxes of fresh salmon on the plane. I still have one or two salmon left in the freezer from a year and a half ago and it is scrumptious.

Plus, we saw whales breaching right next to the boat, bald eagles flying overhead and scenery that is truly mind-blowing. Alaska features pristine, untouched wilderness. It was thrilling. I felt like the explorers must have felt when they first saw Lake Tahoe. Except we were in a state-of-the-art fishing boat, staying in cabins with maid service, a chef …

I don’t know what Palin and company will send since I gave her my contact information and indicated we were interested in Alaska. But, it was certainly one of the more interesting pieces of junk mail I have received recently.

Oh, and by the way, Sarah recommends you all visit www.triptoalaska.com. … I’d like to go back and helicopter ski on a glacier, fish for salmon, go whitewater rafting and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

What’s also interesting to me is that a year ago most of us had no idea who Sarah Palin was …