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

The official countdown has begun for another holiday season of good cheer in the 49th state, and AKontheGO is ready! We’re so ready, in fact, I guarantee you’ll be a’clicking away at our links below to see what sorts of travel-related goodies are in store for you.

"Swing-shoeing!" Only in Alaska

First, though, I must share a bonus photo from a moonlight snowshoe adventure with AK Fam last night. An epic snowfall appeared on Sunday night after a weekend (a week, really) of hurricane-force winds, melting snow, and icy surfaces. SNOW DAY! AK Kid and I spent Monday rebuilding his sledding hill, throwing snowballs, and pestering AK Dad to please, please, go snowshoeing with us after dinner. Much obliged to do so, we strapped on our “big feet” and clomped down to our local trail system for an hour of moon-infused exploring. Finally silent after days of snapping branches and whipping twigs, our birch and spruce friends stood with welcoming, if not a bit bruised, arms. AK Kid played on the playground, made funny tracks in the snow, and chased AK Dog, his tinny voice the only sound for miles. Heaven.

So, let’s talk holidays and travel goodness, shall we?

Join the Travelgram Duo of Kirkland and McMurren for some holiday highjinks!

1. Do you have the Alaska Travelgram Show on your speed dial? Oh-ho, you’ll want to, beginning today because we have a little teaser to get ready for our BIG Holiday Show on December 20. Can you say – K2 Aviation McKinley Explorer Flighseeing? How about two FREE passes for the lucky listener who can answer our trivia question on the air TODAY between 2-3 p.m. AST! Stream us live at 1020koan.com, or listen to KOAN 95.5 FM, 1020 AM. It’s a party.

2. AKontheGO 12 Days of Christmas! Did you happen to see our fun “12 Days of Christmas” posts on Facebook? That’s right, for the past few weeks we’ve posting a family-friendly destination or experience to suit a variety of ages and interests. Check it out and begin your planning for 2012.

3. Speaking of planning, the December issue of Coast Magazine had a nifty article by yours truly about New Year’s Eve in Talkeetna at the Roadhouse of our Dreams. AK Fam is taking the train this year, courtesy of our friends at the Alaska Railroad, and we’ll be chug-chugging our way north to ring in 2012 with a little down-home celebrating with Trisha Costello of the Talkeetna Roadhouse. Totally kid-friendly, totally Alaskan, THIS is how to celebrate a holiday. There might be a few spots left for New Year’s weekend merry-making, so check out the Talkeetna Chamber’s website for lodging and celebrations.

4. A huge holiday shout out to our friends at the Anchorage Museum who put on a fantastic Holiday Concert last Sunday during their Wells Fargo Family Free Day. We heard the Anchorage Concert Chorus, the Alaska Children’s Choir, and the Alaska Native Charter School’s choir and drumming club, which, I will say, was a highlight for us. Way to go, everybody! Stop by the Museum and see the Wonderland of Toys exhibit around the Atrium space; it’s full of toys from days gone by, and AK Kid loved the “I Spy” feature. Excellent family fun.

Remember, Alaska Travelgram Show, today; 2-3 p.m. Call in and win a flightseeing adventure with K2 Aviation, and warm up your dialing fingers for next week’s Alaska Travelgram Holiday Show December 20! Follow the dynamic Travelgram duo of Scott McMurren and Erin Kirkland on their respective Twitter feeds, too, for the latest updates on the Holiday Travel Highjinks!

Cheers!!