AK on the GO

Let the kids sleep in a bit while you peruse our absolutely incredible lineup of Halloween weekend activities. The combination of learning and fun just sends me to the moon this year; or, at least, to the pantry for a little Milky Way pick-me-up. Especially after looking at this photo (above) of AK Dad making his “I need more coffee” face.

This special Halloween Edition of Fun Friday is sponsored by Alaska Center for Pediatrics, caring for kids (and their candy-filled tummies) since 1982. We’ll be glad we said that later, won’t we?

Fish camp in Nome, Alaska. There's no place like it!

First, however, speaking of drama and costumes; do give a listen to the podcast of this week’s Alaska Travelgram Show. Our friend Richard Beneville of Nome Discovery Tours gave us a great verbal tour of the city, its history, and a few options for visitors, no matter their age. My cohost, Scott McMurren, called Richard “indefatigable,” and he always tells me I use big words! Hit the link HERE and tell me if you agree. And while you’re at it, DO sign up for Scott’s Alaska Travelgram newsletter. With all the airlines at their most crazy this time of year, you’d be crazy not to. Seriously, he has The 4-1-1 on all things travel-deal. Listen to him. I do. Sometimes.

The adorable crew trying to find their way out of the Palmer Reindeer Farm's hay maze.

HALLOWEEN HOOPLA!

FRIDAY: Reindeer Farm, Palmer. BIG KIDS. 6-10 p.m. Fri./Sat. The kinder-gentler Halloween pumpkin patch is done, and in its place is a haunted hay maze waiting to scare the bejeebers out of your middle school/high school kids. $10. 745-4000.

Haunted Trails, Goose Lake Park, Anchorage. Fun for ages 3+ from 4:30-8:30 p.m. Come in costume to impress the ghosts and ghouls who will hand out treats at various stations throughout the park. $15/family on day of event. Call 343-4130 for info. Goose Lake Park is at 2811 UAA Drive.

Girdwood Kids’ Carnival, Alyeska Resort Daylodge, Girdwood. 4:30-8:30. All ages. A fundraiser for the Girdwood School, this carnival is like the ones you rememer attending as a kid. Games, candy bar-walk, mildly scary haunted house, yep, it’s all here. Catch the music and fun this afternoon/evening in costume! $3/pp, $5/family.

SATURDAY:  The Reindeer Farm continues its family-friendly Halloween activities from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in Palmer. Wagon rides, pumpkin patch, and reindeer-kissing. Okay, maybe I made that last thing up. $10. 745-4000.

Night at the Museum, Alaska Museum of Transportation and Industry, Wasilla. All ages, 4-8 p.m. Oh my gosh, this is the COOLEST, ever. The Museum of Trans is our fam favorite, and everyone should dress up and head to Wasilla and find out why. A haunted train? EEEK! Museum characters who come to life in the gallery? NO WAY! Kids must be accompanied by parents. $5/pp. 3800 W. Museum Drive, Wasilla.

Wild Night at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Portage. 5-8 p.m., all ages. What goes “boo” in the barn? Not you, of course, but a ton of family-friendly wild critters who want to welcome you and your family to a great Halloween celebration! Check out skulls, scat, and scary animals at this carnival-like party, at the invitation of Snickers the Porcupine (I made that up, too, but I’m sure he’ll be there in his best prickly frame of mind). $10. 783-2025. Mile 79 Seward Highway.

Halloween at Eagle River Nature Center, Eagle River, 2 p.m., pre-school on Saturday. The Enchanted Forest awaits little ones, with a stroll through a lovely forest just right for small goblins. FREE, $5 parking for non-members. 694-2108.

SUNDAY: Bird TLC’s Owl-O-Ween, Alaska Heritage Museum, Anchorage. 3-5 p.m. All ages. Join a parliament of live owls as they celebrate their favorite time of year! Find out why owls are a witch’s best friend, and how ghost stories really got started. Kids, come in costume, of course! FREE. 301 W. Northern Lights Blvd (Wells Fargo bldg). 562-4852.

Eagle River Nature Center Halloween, Eagle River, 3 p.m. K-6. Meet a good witch and learn a little more about the history of Hallow’s Eve as you walk down to the classroom yurt today. Come in costume! FREE, $5 parking for non-members. 694-2108.

MONDAY: Zoo Boo! Alaska Zoo, Anchorage. All ages.Get your tickets today for this way-popular event where the animals invite you to trick or treat, their way! Take a walk along the spoooooky trails from 5-8 p.m. and see what treats the tiger has this year (remember, he just had a root canal!). Regular admission applies, pass-holders receive discount. Call 346-2133 for complete layout of info.

Live outside the greater Anchorage area? Check out AKontheGO’s post from a week ago, talking about other fabulous Halloween events, including some wonderful opportunities in Fairbanks! Hit the AKontheGO calendar, too, and don’t forget to list your event with us; remember, the holiday season is coming up and we’d love to give your business or organization a shout-out! Send us an email at togoak@gmail.com, or hit the “Calendar of Events” tab at the top of this page.

Save me some chocolate, somebody, please? Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Now THIS is one cute pumpkin!

Happy Father's Day to one cool AK Dad!

I’m blinded by the light……can’t. see. After a week of gloom, things look pretty darned cheerful outside southcentral Alaska this morning. This is more like it, and just in time for Summer Solstice, too.

Fun Friday has arrived again, courtesy of Alaska Center for Pediatrics, caring for kids like yours and mine since 1982. It’s another full weekend in the 49th state, so let’s get to it. Remember, you can always let us know about events and activities via our calendar, found at the tippy top of this page, or by emailing us at togoak@gmail.com!

FRIDAY: Thank goodness the sun is out today, because the Muni Parks and Rec folks are hosting their annual Beach Party today from 1-3 p.m. at groovy Goose Lake park. One of our few actual swimming holes with lifeguards, Goose Lake is the ‘hood hangout during the warm summer days (stop laughing, we do have warm summer days in Alaska), and today the Parks and Rec staffers are making it great with truckload of sand, Frisbees, Super Soakers, and real beach volleyball. This is a FREE event, so bring your best beach blanket, the sunscreen, and prepare for summertime fun.

SATURDAY: It’s here again, the famous Mayor’s Marathon, Half Marathon, 5-Miler, and Youth Cup! AK Mom, Dad, and Kid will all be stationed at a Water Stop on Mile 10 of the Half Marathon, so why not join us near Point Woronzof to cheer on the 2,000+ 13.1-mile runners? Or, hang out at the Campbell Airstrip road/Tudor Road intersection to catch Marathon runners emerging from their hardy stomp through the Tank Trail section (well-known among entrants as a killer). It’s an awesome spectator event, and everything finishes at West High, where a party will be open to the public. All runs begin b/8-9 a.m. Check the website for details and such.

Summer Solstice events abound on Saturday. Try the Solstice Bike Ride departing from Kincaid Park at 11 p.m. Saturday. Yes, this is normally past AK Kid’s bedtime, but it’s Solstice weekend, for gosh sakes. If you’re visiting Alaska, you probably can’t get your kids to sleep anyway, so come on out and join the party. Registration begins at 10:30 at the Kincaid Bunker. ALL participants must have helmets. Cost is $25. Call 677-0610. Ride to town from Kincaid and enjoy the late-evening atmosphere.

Speaking of Solstice, you won’t want to miss the Downtown Summer Solstice Festival happening on Fourth Avenue from C-L Streets from Noon-6 p.m. Saturday. A giant puppet theatre, sandbox, and cool kayak pond for kids will keep the whole fam engaged in serious fun.

Kids can splash and play in the water at Eagle River Nature Center Saturday at 2 p.m. during the Junior Naturalist Creekside Exploration class. Bring rubber boots to learn about what lives beneath the rocks and gravel of Eagle River’s creeks and streams. FREE, $5 parking for non-members.

SUNDAY: Take dad someplace unique today, like through the Whittier Tunnel. Yes, this popular event has been revitalized and refurbished just for you! A March of Dimes event now, the Walk will be held from Noon-7 p.m. in Whittier, where folks can don a hard hat and stroll through the spooky, dark, and sometimes drippy tunnel. Dads get a commemorative March of Dimes T-Shirt. Call 276-4111 for info.

The Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry is hosting a family-friendly Alaska Extreme 4 X 4 event both Saturday and Sunday at their Wasilla property. All day you can visit with the monster trucks and machines, and wander the 6 + acres of Alaska-themed motorized madness that is the museum.

If a hike sounds more relaxing for Father’s Day, head up to Independence Mine at Hatcher Pass and enjoy one of the daily guided trips around the mine and town site. Tours leave at 1 and 3 p.m. and give visitors a great look into the early days of the mine, and help hikers become familiar with the myriad trails available for exploring. $6 per person. We love this place, and you will, too.

AK Kid needs to get up now and prepare for his last day of camp with the incredible staff of Trailside Discovery, a part of the Alaska Center for the Environment. He’s learning all about Wilderness Survival and by golly, he’s actually retaining useful information! Today is the finale’ and he’ll be building a shelter out of fallen forest debris, then learning what to do should he become lost in the woods. Just AK Kid and the skeeters; which reminds me to load him up with my new fav bug spray from Alaskan Earth Mamas. Smells good and actually works well, too. Imagine that.

Have a wonderful weekend. Go hug a dad.

EK