The classic guide celebrates its 55th anniversary with a special edition this year, and the Kenai Peninsula has the starring role.

The peninsula gets unique billing on the pull-out "plan-a-trip map," plus about 15 percent of the space in the 768-page book.

"It is important to be competitive in marketing out there," said Aud Walaszek, executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council.

This year, the Kenai Peninsula Borough put extra effort into promoting the peninsula, calling it "the playground of Alaska." Borough Mayor Dale Bagley and the borough assembly provided funds to the tourism marketing council to enhance its presence in "The Milepost." Walaszek said the peninsula's visitor industry is grateful for the official support and pleased with the advertising product.

"Our members who have seen it have been very excited about it," she said.

The borough assembly and administration already have renewed the map position advertising for the 2004 edition, which will add information about the upcoming Arctic Winter Games.

"They realize that the exclusivity of that spot is so valuable. It was a unanimous vote in support of it," Walaszek said.

Marion Nelson is "The Milepost" advertising representative for the peninsula, Whittier and Girdwood. She, too, is pleased to see the Kenai stepping out.

"I've grown (the peninsula section) quite a bit in the eight years since I've been working for the book. And the ads themselves have become more colorful," she said.

Nelson has been on the peninsula and in Alaska for 40 years. Working for "The Milepost" has been a great opportunity to meet people (and animals), watch businesses grow and understand what is happening throughout the area, she said.

"I do a lot of investigating and driving around," she said. "I know a lot about these communities."

The guide covers Alaska, plus the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, the Yukon and the Northwest territories. Most of the text is its distinctive mile-by-mile description of attractions and services along major and secondary highways. But there's more: ferry schedules, railroad info, history, maps, photos, a zillion advertisements and tips on everything travelers might want to know from passing through customs at the Yukon-Alaska border to cell phone coverage.

Visitors who are not driving still find it useful, and Alaska residents can use it year-round to plan outings or explore the state.

Nelson described it as encyclopedic, and noted that the Anchorage-based staff, particularly editor Kris Graef, literally go the extra mile every year to assure that information is accurate and timely.

"It astounds me every year when I look at it," Nelson said. "I learn something every year from it, too."

Newer editions have more junctions, more maps and enhanced special sections. Among the additions are maps of the Kenai River showing fishing areas and businesses that focus on the river. This year, a similar map for the Kasilof River debuted.

All this is a far cry from the first edition that came out in 1949. A copy of that book is included with the 2003 edition.

Juxtaposing them is a vivid reminder of how much Alaska has changed. The original book cost $1 and was 72 half-sized pages published by the Alaska Research Company. It appeared just as the Alaska Highway was opened, World War II had ended and people were flocking to the territory.

"This booklet is planned especially for those who travel over the Alaska Highway and the highways of Alaska," its forward read. "For the sportsman, the vacationist, and the lensman, these wilderness roads have very much to offer, but, like all highways opening up new regions, our north country routes hold many points of interest known only to local people, and which are neither found on most current maps or in the sparse literature dealing with the subject."

The section on the Kenai Peninsula consisted of half a page beneath a black-and-white photo of a mountain goat. Since that time, almost everything in "The Milepost" has changed except its milepost format and the attention to detail. Nelson said "The Milepost" has built a large following, and she hears many favorable comments from travelers.

"They come up to me and tell me, because I have 'Milepost' on my jacket," she said. "People approach me frequently during the summer and tell me how the book brought them to Alaska and how it is their bible."

One day, she was standing outside a restaurant in Seward.

"Literally everyone who came through the door said something about 'The Milepost,' such as, 'You brought me here,' or 'Thanks for the great book,'" Nelson said.

"There is no other guide across Canada and through Alaska that is as complete as the book, and we continue to get five-star reviews from national reviewers. I don't know how much better than that you can get."