Summer is coming to an end unfortunately, but I am so excited. Not only is my Parental Unit coming to visit, but my Honey and Aunt. Try and fit as much as I can in 4 days. It’s a big order, but challenge is accepted.
They made it on the red eye and we were all a bit tired so we rested and stayed close to home. We then went and ventured down town and acted like tourists. Went to the Northern Light movie down town. Went through several shops with awesome tourists buys. Then we went to 49thState Brewery and indulged in another fabulous meal. There may be a theme …. Food!
Ending our evening with a stroll around the lake in my back yard. Watching my Mama’s excitement as we watched the floatplanes come in was perfect with amazing sunset that provided a gorgeous backdrop. The colors were so bright with the pink, yellow, and orange that broke through the darker clouds... Perfect ending to the first day of adventures.
Day 2:
Time for a road trip!! Headed out to the Matsu Valley to check out the Iditarod Head Quarters to see the importance and history behind what the Iditarod represented for the Alaskan Natives before cars and roads were available. It was what kept people connected in the bush villages. This is one of my favorite spots. The love and history behind it is so powerful.
We then continued up the road to Talkeetna. Coming down the hill and seeing the beautiful Denali in all her glory was breath taking! It was a rare day when the weather was crystal blue and clear to where we could see the ENTIRE mountain. Stopped at the pull out and took a ton of pictures because it is so rare to see her out in full glory. As we continued down the road towards Talkeetna the drive was the perfect fall weather with trees changing from greens to golds, and red.
As we finally arrived in Talkeetna and drove through town, I instantly fell in love. This town is absolutely adorable and quaint. The locals hanging around telling you stories and taking in the day getting to know all the tourists that walk in out of all the little stores. Cannot wait to go back for a fun weekend, be it summer, fall, winter, or spring! We even got to sit and have an awesome meal at the Roadhouse and we're able to socialize with tourists as well from all over the world. These are the awesome experiences that make Alaska forever special in my heart!
Day 3:
Took the gang to one of my favorite resteraunts in Anchorage, South. Breakfast lunch or dinner, you cannot go wrong there. After breakfast we picked up my Aunt, she was joining the group from Oregon. Once we got loaded up, we headed out to the Wild Life Nature Center and Girdwood. Nature Center is always an awesome experience. Can’t go wrong with moose, musk ox, and bears.. oh my! After getting our animal fix we went and sat outside on the lawn in Girdwood and it was a beautiful relaxing time chatting and catching up. Honestly, can’t beat the view. The Parental Unit and I decided that is where our family outing will be this year. Pretty excited to spend more time up there, especially in the winter.
After a long afternoon we worked up an appetite and had to try a recommendation and made our way to Double Musky. Let me just say… that place is AMAZING!!
Icing on the cake was getting to pull over on our way back home and watch the beluga whales pass by. Mother nature is so amazing and beautiful!!
Day 4:
Hitting the ground running today and heading to the Alaska State Fair! When I was little we use to go to the Del Mar Fair for my birthday with my parents and aunt. So it is just like old times, but in a different state and several years older. The best part was getting to walk around and see the local stores with all the creative clothing and gadgets...So hard not spend hundreds of dollars there between the clothing and food!
Making our way to the petting zoo and getting to see all the FFA students with their animals...such a special bond they share. Those animals are all well loved and There was so much pride in all of the students as they show and hang out with their animals in the pen.
After the seeing the animals,we have to take a gander at the HUGE veggies. The power of green houses is unreal!! The winners of pumpkins, squash, zucchini had to be lifted by at least two people if not more. That is a lot of veggie!
We surprisingly didn’t eat crazy foods at the fair, so we headed back to the wonderful 49th State Brewery. I tell ya…. It is an obsession and just so darn good! Then went and sat out on the deck in my back yard and watched the floatplanes come in with another gorgeous sunset as a backdrop. The perfect ending to the trip before I have to take my parents back to the airport.
Day 5:
Parents had to leave, but my aunt and uncle did not. My aunt took a trip up on the train stopping in Talkeetna, Denali, and ending in Fairbanks where I will meet her. My uncle had a restful day while I was at work, and then I picked him up and we went to dinner before I had to take him to the air port to head back home. We kept him busy that he really appreciated the day of rest.
Day 6:
Heading to Fairbanks and actually getting out of the air port and playing tourist. My aunt is already up there after taking the train and we are planning to explore for the day. We were able to check out the ice museum in town. It was an awesome video on the process and skill required. Got to watch a gentleman who worked there make a flower in the block of ice and then got to go play in the ice wonderland that they had sculpted. They had a sled you can jump on and ride down, a castle, and ice bar, polar bear and moose ALL carved out of ice. It was such an awesome experience.
We then moved over to the visitor center and walked around their displays about Alaska life and watched the different documentaries that they had on animals, life style, and individuals. Many people say there isn’t much to do in Fairbanks, but we kept ourselves busy by ending out day with the Steam Boat River tour! If you are in Fairbanks I highly suggest it in the spring and summer time. It was wonderfully done and you felt like you were part of the family. The steam boat river tour is started by one family who still maintains it and has through the generations
Antler arch.
