Since I was a little girl I’ve enjoyed the sport of dog mushing as both a competitive musher and a spectator.  Every year one of the biggest dog mushing events in the world is held in Anchorage, Alaska. The ceremonial start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race begins on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday each March. The Iditarod Trail stretches over 1149 miles of Alaska’s vast wilderness. The true race begins a day after, on Sunday from Willow, Alaska. This is where you see the mushers dressed in their cold weather gear and their sleds fully packed with food and equipment for themselves, but mostly for the dogs. From my experience as a musher your number one priority on the trail is your dogs. Each dog is treated with great care to assure they are performing at their very best. Imagine what it’s like to care for not just one Olympic athlete but a team of 16. (more…)

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We often get inquiries from folks interested in seeing the Aurora Borealis, locally known in Alaska as the Northern Lights.   During the summer months, it is very unlikely that you would see the Northern Lights due to Alaska’s Midnight Sun.  Alaskans and visitors alike love our Midnight Sun as it provides up to 19 hours of daylight in June (or more depending on your location) and we are often seen enjoying outdoor activities late in the evening.  On rare occasions in fall from Talkeetna to Denali and further North to Fairbanks, we are fortunate enough to have clear skies and atmospheric conditions that result in Aurora sightings.  Lodges such as the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge provide  “Northern Lights” wake up call service upon request.  So, if you are traveling in the fall, be sure to check with the front desk of the lodges that you are staying at to see if they have such service. If they do, the Front Desk will call your room and wake you up, regardless of the time of night, if they observe the northern lights. (more…)

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 From Anchorage to Girdwood, Seward to Talkeetna, my perfect tour of Alaska continues after an overnight at the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge -

Day 6, Get an early start with a guided fishing trip with Talkeetna Fishing Guides on the Talkeetna River. Their pick up is at 7:45am directly from the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. You can purchase your fishing license at the guide service and they’ll set you up with all the equipment you need to go fishing and they will assist you in shipping home any fish you catch as well. After the 5 hour fishing trip it is time for a break, so explore downtown Talkeetna on foot, and stop by Mile High Pizza Pie for a nice warm pizza or calzone.
 
Top off a great day in Talkeetna with a Glacier Landing flightseeing trip of Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range with K2 Aviation. This flight is amazing and the knowledgeable pilot will give you all the information you could want to know coupled with the beautiful aerial views of Denali National Park. The glacier landing is a unique experience and the photo opportunities on this trip are once in a lifetime opportunities. After the flight K2 will return you to the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge where you can relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s Foraker Dining Room where they specialize in fresh Alaskan seafood. (more…)

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Often I’m asked what I think would be the perfect tour if I was visiting Alaska.  Fortunately, I’ve found that each client I work with has different interests and we’re able to customize each trip to meet their unique interests in travel and adventure.  But since I’m asked so often, its easy to imagine the tour I would customize for myself if I was taking an Alaska trip – based on my experience living in Alaska, and working in tourism here. All our packages can be modified to either travel by rail, motorcoach or rental car.  I think the best of option would be to travel in combination of all three modes.

My perfect tour would start out with a visit to Anchorage and then the Kenai Peninsula.

Day 1, Arrival Day! Pick up a rental car in Anchorage and check into the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa.  What better way to adjust to a long day of travel then to take in a spa treatment before enjoying dinner in downtown Anchorage.  My favorite for dinner is the Glacier BrewHouse in downtown Anchorage just up the street from the Sheraton. They have great food and plenty of fresh Alaskan seafood options. (more…)

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Because of its vicinity to Mt. McKinley, Denali State Park provides outstanding views of “the mountain” throughout much of its 325,000 acres.  Most visitors to Denali State Park access the park at Byer’s Lake which has a campground, day parking, and is the base for both lake kayaking and guided hiking operations. Both of which are provided by local guide services. Transportation is available from nearby McKinley Princess Lodge which is also located within the state park, about 16 miles south of Byer’s Lake. (more…)

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Talkeetna, Alaska is the departure location for climbers attempting to ascend Mt. McKinley, and Talkeetna is a great place to visit enroute to Denali as well. On a recent trip to Talkeetna my friends and I took a flightseeing trip of Denali National Park which included a landing on Mt. McKinley’s Ruth Glacier. We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to do some flight seeing. The sun was shining high in the clear blue sky, and Mt. McKinley loomed in the distance. Clear as a bell, the sunlight sparkled off of her snowcapped peaks only magnifying her natural beauty and grandeur. As we walked towards K2’s Talkeetna office, I could feel the anticipation and excitement building inside me. This was going to be my first time ever flying in a small fixed-wing plane. As my friends and I completed the check-in process I began to notice that although I was still really excited, some of that excitement had turned into slight apprehension but as soon as we lifted off the nervousness quickly was forgotten. (more…)

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When the opportunity arises, I spend a lot of time in Talkeetna Alaska and enjoy visiting with friends at the local restaurants and pubs. For the size of Talkeetna they have a lot to offer a hungry appetite.

Whether you are in Talkeetna on a fishing excursion or perhaps visiting overnight at a Talkeetna lodge, a typical morning in Talkeetna should start with a trip down to the Historic Talkeetna Roadhouse on Main Street. The Roadhouse offers a standard breakfast which comes piled high with eggs, potatoes, and bacon or reindeer sausage (traditional Alaskan sausage made from caribou meat). If that’s not quite your fare they also offer biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and of course blueberry pancakes. These options are quite delicious and portions are huge so come hungry. If you don’t have time to wait, they offer a large selection of delicious pastry’s to go. Everything from a selection of homemade pies to my personal favorite the raspberry cinnamon rolls. Tables are all family style so you may find yourself seated next to a fellow tourist, a long time Talkeetna local or one of the many mountain climbers. Climbers come to the small town of Talkeetna in pursuit of the highest point in North America, Mt McKinley. The Roadhouse is sure to offer an eclectic Alaska atmosphere and a hearty meal. This is sure to be a one of a kind Alaska dining experience. (more…)

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What a true delight on a busy scheduled trip to stop at such a small quaint Alaskan town. Talkeetna Alaska is probably one of our family favorites along the Parks Highway. Just turning off the Parks Highway and beginning your journey along the Talkeetna Spur Road you just hope that your one of the lucky whom get to see Mt. McKinley. There are several opportunities to see the Alaska Range from the 12 miles you drive to get to the lodge. The Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is very well kept up and its presentation at the entrance entices you to think of an expensive summer resort destination located in the hearty woods of Alaska. I recommend staying in one of their mountain-view rooms since they are located facing the Alaska Range. Even if the weather is not the best it is still a nice view overlooking the Talkeetna valley. My youngest son (age 12) also liked the mountain-view room since he can watch all of the small bush planes flying around during various flight-seeing tours offered in Talkeetna. The front desk staff is friendly and before we know it the luggage crew is offering to assist with our bags. The rooms are spacious and I like the subtle touch of having the small vanity with fresh cotton balls or q-tips on the counter. It just adds to the somewhat personal touch you can feel among the lodge. (more…)

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