AK on the GO

Whew, AK Fam is all tuckered out this morning; but did you SEE those Northern Lights last night??? Wowza, if I was a better photographer I’d have all sorts of pics for you to view. Perhaps I will convince some of my photog friends to let me post theirs, but in the meantime, here is a shot of AK Kid around midnight, as we motor back from Highland Road in Eagle River, where we had a lovely view of the town, valley, and greenish waves of light.

I’m ready for Spring Break, how about you? Let’s kick things off with a big thank you to our Fun Friday sponsor, the wonderful Alaska Center for Pediatrics in Anchorage, who care for kids with the utmost professionalism and compassion. Awww….

FRIDAY: Remember that Jack London story “To Build a Fire”  we all had to read in middle or high school? Now your grade school kids have the chance to actually build.a.fire. at Eagle River Nature Center today from 12-3 p.m. This is a great class for learning about the mechanics of fire and fire-building, something every kid should know. You DO need to register for this class, however, and if you are at all interested in going, do it now! 694-2108. Free, $5 parking for non-members.

The sun is out, roads are clear, so today would be a fine time to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center in Portage. The staff have been working uber-hard to clear away the feet and feet of snow accumulated along the animal enclosures, and they are so happy to be open once again. The little bear cubs rescued from Kodiak last year, by the way, are so fluffy and awake and ready to see you, too! Do walk around rather than driving the property; it’s great exercise and you’ll get a much better animal “impression” too. Suitable for all ages. Bundle up.

Need a little family getaway? The fabulous Talkeetna Roadhouse has some open rooms this weekend, just right for some Aurora-viewing and awesome relaxing. I’d go there right now if I could; just the thought of sinking into Trisha Costello’s cozy couches or eating a fabulous cinnamon roll makes me want to hop in the AK Family Truckster. The whole family will love this place, I promise.

SATURDAY: The Alaska Zoo is hosting their annual IditaZoo event from Noon-4 p.m., with fun sled dog facts, activities, and the opportunity to meet some pretty fine canine athletes. Meet up in the Education building at 2 p.m. for some Iditarod-themed stories, too. Free with zoo admission. Highly recommend for all ages.

Eagle River Nature Center has a two-fur tomorrow; first, join other Junior Naturalists (K-6) for “Gross Anatomy” from 2-4 p.m. Dissecting owl pellets, inspecting poop, oh yeah, you’ll love it. Free, $5 parking for non-members. Second, stick around, or come back for the Family Owl Walk from 6:30-8 p.m. Owls are mysterious and oh-so lovely to look at, and ERNC is the perfect place to introduce kids to this beautiful bird. Kids MUST be able to maintain totally “quiet voices” during this little hike, however, so I’d recommend for grade school on up, OR, with infants who don’t do anything at this time of day but sleep. But gauge your own kids, and decide accordingly. Pre register for this event by calling 694-2108.

Homer has more Iditarod fun at “IdidaNature For Families”. Learn about the historic Iditarod Trail, sled dog facts, and have plenty of time to play in the snow. Call Carmen Field for more info at 226-4659. All ages.

Don’t forget that our Denali National Park friends have guided snowshoe hikes every Saturday and Sunday from 1-3 p.m., departing from the Murie Science and Learning Center. After listening to our guest Jake Frank, Interp Ranger from DNP talk about the beauty of Denali in the wintertime, I’m pretty excited to try this out before spring. Call 683-5932 for info, or go to the Denali National Park website HERE. All ages. Bundle up extra-well.

Kids growing up and you need to get rid of gently-used items? Kids growing up and now you need more stuff? My pal Sarah from Alaska Baby Rentals has partnered with another mom to create AKMom2Mom, a fabulous new way to buy, sell, and hopefully reduce the amount of new gear we need to buy for our kids of any age. So, tomorrow, these two gals will host their first-ever sale at ChangePoint Church, 6689 Changepoint Drive (you know, the Dome). Show up from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., pay the $2 admission fee, and buy, buy, buy! I’m going; AK Kid has completely blown out of his ski boots. Sigh.

SUNDAY: AKontheGO’s newest sponsor, Arctic Valley Ski Area and Alpenglow Lodge is telling us this is the best winter ever, and they want everyone to come on up and enjoy the view, great skiing, fun tubing, and delicious food in the Alpenglow Lodge. Seriously, we heart this place. Plan on bringing the whole family to A.V.; a kids’ corner has toys, people are super friendly, and the lift tickets are amazingly affordable. Check out their options and hours HERE.

The Anchorage Museum is hosting Sunday Fun Day – Machines from 2-4 p.m. at their downtown location. This is going to be very cool. Show your kids the machinery of our youth (you know, typewriters, record players, and computers that took up an entire room) – then compare them to today’s sleeker, more efficient models, and see what they say. I’m so all over this, since AK Kid uses our records for steering wheels in a pretend “Wheels On the Bus” game. Free with Museum admission. Kids grade school and up will enjoy this most, particularly the tweens and teens.

6:20 p.m. from the parking lot of Campbell Creek Science Center. Yessss!

Daylight Alert: No, no, don’t be afraid, it’s just Daylight Savings Time creeping upon us late Saturday night. Don’t forget to “spring forward” AKontheGOers, or you’ll be left behind.

Safety Alert: Don’t forget that Anchorage’s trails and tracks are becoming a commuting corridor for moose, since their usual ways are full of snow. Remind kids about safe and smart behavior around moose, and that this year, being extra cautious is probably the best option. When in doubt, go back.

With that, enjoy this beautiful Alaska weekend!

EK

Family fun in the 49th state starts now! Proudly sponsored by Alaska Center for Pediatrics, Fun Friday starts with a b.a.n.g. as we head into the final weekend of Fur Rendezvous, cheer on Iditarod sled dog teams, and ski, ski, ski this beautiful winter weekend away.

Look at my Alaska Travelgram cohost all havin' fun in Valdez...You'd think he did this every day!

We learned a lot about Alaska’s winter lineup of outdoor recreation opportunities this week, especially on the Alaska Travelgram Show, where cohost Scott McMurren called in from Valdez, and I hosted Casey Ressler from the MatSu Visitor Information Center in the studio. From sledding Hatcher Pass to snow machining the glaciers around Valdez, we covered it all, and you can listen right HERE to the podcast.

But what’s up this weekend? Read on, and get ready, get set, AKontheGO!

Happy dogs are ready to run at the 2012 Iditarod!

FRIDAY: Fur Rondy fun continues all weekend, but why not head to downtown Anchorage tonight and ride the ferris wheel, or munch on a funnel cake? Yep, the carnival is still in full swing, and open until 9 p.m. at its 3rd Avenue location. Perfect.

The BP World Ice Art Championships have opened for business, and they sure would like your family to visit! The Ice Alaska folks have worked doubly hard this year at their new location, and we hear the layout is just outstanding for 2012. Not sure about driving to Fairbanks? Try a Rail/Air package from our friends at the Alaska Railroad, or use up a few Alaska Airlines miles; either way, you’ll save time and stress, and sometimes that’s all that matters.

SATURDAY: Here it is! The 40th running of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race kicks off at 10 a.m. on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage. Want to see the dogs up close? Arrive downtown before 8 a.m., when fences are down and mushers are just getting settled. Most mushers are happy to answer questions, sign programs, and smile for the camera. Read a more detailed description of experiencing the Iditarod with children at a previous blog post, HERE.

If you’ve had enough of sled dogs and downtown, take the kids ice skating at Westchester Lagoon, where a Beach Party awaits from 1-3 p.m. Music, hot cocoa, and warming barrels will bring out the beach blanket boogie in everyone, I’m sure!

Eagle River Nature Center goes a little “batty” on Saturday at 2 p.m. during its weekly Junior Naturalist class. Kids K-6 are welcome to attend this free program and learn a little more about these fascinating creatures. $5 parking for non-members. A reminder: ERNC will no longer be mailing out hard copies of their programs and presentations, so do become a member and receive regular email updates, or stay tuned here for the latest happenings out Eagle River Road….

Homer is the place to be for the Kachemak Jr. Nordic Skifestival on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Lookout Mountain Ski Trails. Skiing is but one kid-friendly activity happening at the event, which is an end-of-season celebration of another successful year. Food, games, and silly hats, too! Suitable for preschool and up.

Islands and Ocean Visitor Center is hosting IdidaNature For Families each Saturday through March 17 in honor of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and as a centennial celebration of the Historic Iditarod Trail. Outside playtime is the theme, and families should come dresssed for all sorts of snowy fun. Call Carmen Field for information at 907-235-4659. FREE. Suitable for all ages.

All ready to cheer on the dogs' departure from Willow Lake during the Iditarod Official Start

SUNDAY: Willow is the place to be for the Official Start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race at 2 p.m. on frozen Willow Lake. We posted a shuttle bus schedule yesterday to help your family navigate this wonderful, but incredibly crowded day. Help race organizers by taking a shuttle; the snow is just too deep out at Willow Community Center to have adequate parking for the 2,000+ people expected. Bring backpacks with food, drinks, extra clothing, hand-warmers, and a book or two for the ride.

Wynn Nature Center in Homer is hosting a Family Bonfire Afternoon on their Skyline Drive property at 2 p.m. Warm up, drink some hot chocolate, and meet other outdoor-minded folks. Suitable for all ages. Bring warm clothing and snowshoes, if you like, but some will be available for you to try. Call 265-6667 for information.

The famous Tour of Anchorage, southcentral Alaska’s final event of the winter trifecta o’ fun begins bright and early on Sunday morning. Skiers from all over the world (no kidding) will ski 25, 40, or 50 kilometers around Anchorage. It’s fun whether one is a Nordic expert or not, and the Nordic Ski Association of Anchorage encourages everyone to make tracks to the race course and cheer on the masses. Find a map HERE for all the good spectator spots.

Happy wintery weekend!

EK