Mark your calendars, Betsteroids. That's right, Sunday is July 16, Alaska Tourist Day, the day we celebrate the first tourist to Alaska. If you know your Alaska history -- and of course you do -- you'll recall that in 1741 naturalist Georg Steller set foot on Kayak Island, the first European to visit Alaska.

Hey, he even came over on a cruise ship. OK, the St. Peter wasn't one of those big floating hotels, but still. And Georg was an ecotourist to boot.

OK, July 16 isn't really Alaska Tourist Day, but why not? Maybe some legislator with a sense of history -- there are bound to be one or two still in office -- will introduce a bill making it so. Make July 16 a day to celebrate our visiting friends and relatives, or just visiting strangers, or strange visitors.

Why wait for legislators, though? This Sunday, take time to welcome our visitors. Yeah, yeah, sometimes they ask stupid questions, and some of them can be downright pushy. People can be like that. Embrace their wonder. We might live here, but for tourists, Alaska may be the most amazing place they'll ever see. Weren't we all tourists once, even those whose ancestors hiked across Beringia thousands of years ago?

And if you meet a visitor looking lost and wondering what to do, tell 'em to try out some of these Best Bets:

BEST DUSTY DAYS BET: With four volcanoes across Cook Inlet, we on the Kenai Peninsula pay special attention to the Alaska Volcano Observatory status reports. Want to learn more about our seismic situation? Check out "Volcanoes: Dangerous Beauties," a slideshow and talk 3-4 p.m. today at the Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitors Center.

BEST FEET ON THE STREET FAIR: OK, if the Street Fair is in the Homer High School parking lot, how come it's called the Street Fair? Well, believe it or not, at one time the Homer Council on the Arts annual arts and crafts festival was held on Heath Street. Now the parking lot works better. Check it out from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. Luscious food is on sale, with entertainment provided throughout the day.

BEST BEFORE THERE WAS JEWEL BET: In the long history of women's music, Jewel is just the latest woman with a good voice. Starting Friday at 8:15 p.m., some of Homer's hottest women vocalists present "Old Songs and Lipstick," a musical comedy review of women's music over the past century. Friday is budget night. The show repeats at 8:15 p.m. Saturday and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, at Pier One Theatre, of course. Call 235-7333 for ticket information.

BEST BIG SALE BET: Here at the Homer News, we have a serious fork shortage in our break room. Somehow all our metal forks have gone walkabout. Maybe it's time to hit a garage sale, so why not go for the best? That's right, it's time for the big annual Homer Senior Citizens Garage Sale, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the senior center on Svedlund Street. Proceeds benefit the center.

BEST IT'S A KEEPER BET: It seems like only yesterday Cook Inlet Keeper came about to keep an eye on the Kenai Peninsula watersheds, but really, it's been 10 years. From 5-9 p.m. Sunday, Cook Inlet Keeper celebrates with a fish barbecue, music by Three Legged Mule and a special guest appearance by Robert Kennedy Jr. Tickets are $25 a person or $15 for Keeper members.