Today’s guest post is part of the “Favorite Places to Explore Nature” series and comes from amazing outdoor mama Erin of AKontheGO.com. She’s doing more than her part to get families outside all year long in one of my favorite places, Alaska. Her posts leave me dreaming of a visit north and I’m thrilled she’s sharing more about her home state with us today.
Last year I failed miserably to convince my sister to visit Alaska during the famous Iditarod Sled Dog race. Held in March when daylight finally stretches beyond noon and temperatures thankfully are above zero, the Iditarod is, to be perfectly blunt, damn fine family entertainment in a most Alaskan sort of way. What’s not to like about that?
“Why in the world would we visit Alaska when it’s still cold?” screeched my sibling, “When we could be meeting up in Hawaii and teaching the kids to body board?”
Why, indeed? What would possess any mother or father to saddle children with mountains of outdoor gear and board an airplane to visit a state that by March is only beginning to consider the idea of springtime? I’m crazy like a loon, my sister maintains. Alaska is for summertime travel, and she ain’t coming. End of story.
In fairness to her, and the Last Frontier, some blame rests upon those within Alaska’s travel and tourism industry, who know the bulk of visitors arrive during the brief summer months of June, July and August. Capitalizing upon a snow-free, emerald-colored landscape positively teeming with wildlife, summertime visitors account for a significant percentage of Alaska’s bank balance.
Somehow, though, over six years of residence and the growth of two children, our family has discovered a veritable gold mine of recreational opportunities September through March, during what some consider the most beautiful time of all.
Winter in Alaska means a hard-learned lesson in survival for many animals, we humans included. To bring children into Mother Nature’s embrace during such a fierce, yet gentle season means educating and immersing in a series of teachable moments not often experienced in the Lower 48.
What does it mean to hibernate, and why do only some animals choose to do so while others tough it out, exposing they and their young to harsh conditions and sub-zero temperatures? Why do seemingly crazy men and women harness dogs to sleds and run, sometimes for weeks, into Alaska’s frozen interior with hopes of being first to Nome? We’re so all over it, and you might be, too, after a few days of Alaska Done Right. It’s raw, real, and truly unforgettable.
Planning Your Trip
Fortunately, a few travel-related businesses are taking note of Alaska as a year-round destination for families willing and able to sacrifice warmer climates in favor of an unforgettable trip to the Far North.
Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, is the most prudent starting point, with guaranteed hotel rooms (many Alaskan lodges and hotels operate during the summer season only), easily accessed activities, and drop-dead views.
Start by securing a trip with Salmonberry Tours, a locally-owned, decidedly personal company that tailors trips to everyone’s interest and ability level. Offering tours for a few hours or all day, the “Salmonberry Girls” know their state and their clients, selecting sights that appeal to little and big tastes.
Want to meet a Balto look-alike and feel the thrill of an Iditarod-sort of experience? Sled dog tours and a peek at the famous Northern Lights are part of a package to rustic Talkeetna two hours north of Anchorage. Ask about an overnight at the campy Talkeetna Roadhouse with a homemade cinnamon roll breakfast the next morning.
The company even offers special Iditarod tours allowing guests to schmooze with teams before they start that 1,100-mile trek to Nome, putting a family right at the starting line to hear yips and yowls of 800+ sled dogs winding up for their favorite sport. An added bonus is Salmonberry’s fleet of vans that take away the stress of driving upon Alaska’s tricky and icy road systems. For a snapshot of wintertime in Alaska without hassle, these gals are the best.
If an unstructured vacation is more your style, try another time and money-saving tactic benefiting Alaskan visitors. The Great Alaska Tour Saver is a nifty little book full of 2-for-one deals all over the 49th state, featuring everything from car rental deals to admission discounts at popular family destinations, hotel stays included. For around $100, this book can save, save, save your wallet from Alaska sticker shock, especially in the winter months. Put together each year by a local travel guru, the Tour Saver is a well-known and oft-relied upon book of savings for visitors, and can be purchased online at www.toursaver.com before a trip, or picked up at any Alaska Carrs/Safeway store upon arrival.
Parents, don’t miss the impressions of family’s adventures through the 49th state, either, with a comprehensive and occasionally witty collection of stories and resources at www.AKontheGO.com. Here you’ll catch up with AK Fam as we travel around Alaska looking for the best in kid-friendly experiences all year long.
When snow falls in Alaska, the scope of entertainment changes. Residents pride themselves on self-reliance and creativity to manage another long, long winter, bringing visitors in with enthusiasm. This trip of a lifetime may mean a little extra planning, but the rewards pay back for years.
Best Bets for Wintertime in Alaska
November/December: Holidays kick off Thanksgiving weekend in downtown Anchorage and further north in Fairbanks. Look for special hotel packages featuring tree-lighting, ice-skating, and other holiday favorites.
February: Anchorage hosts the popular and long-running Fur Rendezvous festival, with a month of outdoor events, including a full-fledged carnival with Ferris wheel. Parade, native crafts, sprint mushing races and a ton of family-friendly fun await.
March: First weekend of the month (and the end of Fur Rendezvous) means the start of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, where teams mush north from Anchorage to Nome. Catch either the Ceremonial Start or Restart with your family and collect your own pack of memories.
Erin Kirkland is a freelance Alaskan family travel writer, publisher of AKontheGO.com, and co-host of the Alaska Travelgram Show, a weekly radio program and podcast promoting travel within the 49th state. Erin is married to James, has two sons, 16 and six, a crazy dog and a neighborhood of moose.
Sold! I've always wanted to go to Alaska and it looks amazing in the winter. Thanks for sharing an informative post.
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