AK on the GO

See all sorts of wild life at the Alaska State Fair! AK Kid likes chickens, particularly this rooster named "Luke Skywalker"

Our state fair is a great state fair, don’t miss it, don’t even be late…..Unless you have to go to school, of course. Darn it. Yes, it’s Alaska State Fair  time up in the glorious Mat-Su Valley, and a wealth of fun family time awaits!

Today is Kid’s Day at the Fair, sponsored by MTA and featuring FREE admission for kids 12 and under. Martin Buser will be there with his latest pack of puppies, Kids’ Day games will be going on in Pioneer Plaza, and since it is slightly drizzly outside, there might not be too much of a crowd to contend with. My vote? Go; the earlier, the better, since concerts kick off tonight and you can be sure a crowd of music lovers will converge upon the parking lots after school and work. If you can’t make it today, try Sunday, when the Renewable Resources Coalition presents Wild Salmon Day, with cooking demonstrations featuring our favorite swimming food source, and samples from the same. Yum. Speaking of food, my kids always enjoyed wanderng the colored trails at the fair more than the actual fair exhibits themselves, but do stop by the 4-H barns and halls to give kids a close-up look at where their food comes from. It’s an education, for sure, and many community youth have spent hours on their 4-H fair projects. Corn, anybody? The Fair folks have promised AK Fam that there are many changes for the better to such things as parking and food vendors this year, and we’re anxious to see how much has come to fruition. 

If you don’t want to attend the actual Fair, feel free to join in the fun watching the Alaska State Fair Parade in downtown Palmer at 11 a.m. Bring a lawnchair, picnic, and perhaps the umbrella. Consider taking the Alaska Railroad’s Fair Train, leaving from Anchorage daily and offering two options for times. Visit their web site HERE for details. Just remember; there are NO services on the train, it is merely a  mode of transportation, so bring the snacks, toys, and/or DVD player. But you won’t have to worry about parking, and sometimes that makes all the difference!

Now that AK Kid is in Kindergarten, we can take advantage of Eagle River Nature Center’s Junior Naturalist program, this week (Sat) featuring the topic of Botany. Kids K-6 will learn how plants produce and distribute seeds in this hands-on program, followed by a walk on the Rodak Trail. 2 p.m., FREE, but $5 parking for non-members. 694-2108.

Saturday morning, join birder Diane Toebe for an easy walk along the Coastal  Trail to view the hundreds of birds now on their way South for winter. Yep, fall is here, and every day new birds show up at Westchester Lagoon. Meet at the Lagoon (U Street and W 15th Ave) at 10 a.m. This might be best for older, school-aged kids, since the walk will end around 1 p.m. Great learning opportunity! FREE.

On Sunday, the Port of Anchorage wraps up their FREE tours of the busy and always interesting Ship Creek area. Leaving every 30 minutes from the Alaska Railroad Corporate Office, motorcoaches will take visitors on a drive through the secure areas of the Port, and serve hot dogs and drinks after. Why not? Meet between 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the AKRR offices, 2000 Anchorage Port Road. 343-6230, www.muni.org.

Like firetrucks? Meet Anchorage firefighters and enjoy a barbecue at this resurrected event on Sunday between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The popular Air Force Band of the Pacific will provide tunes, and AFD will have their entire entourage of apparatus available for inspection, and parents will be able to have car seats fitted properly in their cars (did you know most are not?). It is gonna be fun; maybe I’ll even get to try the firehose this time. Stop by the AFD Training Center at 1140 Airport Heights Dr. 349-1264. This is way fun, folks, and is a great way to introduce kids to firefighters and rescue personnel before an emergency strikes.

AK Fam wishes you and your family a relaxing, early-fall fun weekend filled with family time. Stay tuned for interesting updates from Fairbanks, a post about autumn hiking, and some updates from the Alaska Travelgram Show, heard every Tuesday on KUDO AM 1080.

Two buddies looking for marmots at Arctic Valley.

So here we are staring the last weekend of July right in the face.  How did we ever get here? AK Fam is planning a few more trips before Kindergarten begins for our not-so-little AK Kid, and I just bet your family has some travel surprises, too. Feel free to let us know just how your family is spending this last few weeks of kid-freedom, and maybe we’ll just have to post your adventure!

Friday is here, and that means lots of activities and events in and around the Anchorage/Mat-Su area. One of the most important is Arctic Thunder, the air show that wows spectators with aerial acrobatics and demonstrations of our nation’s military aircraft. This year, however, it will do something else. The reverence and respect by which we show our appreciation for the 2010 show is fueled by the loss of four airmen two days ago, and if your family has a chance, attend the ceremonies and demonstrations on Elmendorf AFB Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. Make sure you bring government-issued ID and proof of auto insurance to the base gates for admission. For more information call 522-SHOW or click HERE  for the Elmendorf web site.

Also going on today is the usual Friday Fling in Palmer, but with a little twist. In addition to the already-fun farmer’s market format at the Depot in downtown Palmer, from 4-6 p.m. today the Palmer Pride picnic will offer music, hot dogs, and Matanuska Creamery cheese (yum, curds!). This FREE event is sure to be tons of fun for the whole family. For more information call 907-761-3500.

The Alaska Zoo  has another concert in their Summer Series tonight beginning at 7 p.m. One of AK Fam’s most treasured young adults will be the drummer as the Alaska Quintet takes the stage. I think the weather will hold out, too, so grab a blanket, some dinner, and lounge on the grass while listening to some great music. For info call the Zoo at 346-3242 or click the link above for the Zoo web site.

Tomorrow, don’t miss another Spenard Farmer’s Market  in the Chilkoot’s parking lot in Midtown. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Food, music, and garden items, and maybe the Spenard Roadhouse will have more of that yummy popcorn for sale.

Don’t forget that Potter Marsh is the place to be for morning bird walks between 8-10 a.m. each Saturday. Have kids who are early risers? Stop by and borrow a pair of binoculars to see if the gull eggs have hatched or the beaver is out and about at the end of the boardwalk. And, the salmon are coming up the stream from Cook Inlet, how cool! Visit AK Fish and Wildlife HERE  for more info.  Take Seward Highway south and turn left at the sign just past the Rabbit Creek exit.

The berries are beginning to ripen up at Arctic Valley, as a recon mission by AK Kid and friend found out yesterday. The Valley is lush, green, and speckled with purple wild geraniums all over the hill, and we had a lovely time hiking without fear of bears all over the place. Plus, the views are to die for parents, so grab the camera and the kids, and perhaps a bucket or two, and see who can find the most crowberries! Go home and turn them into jelly, syrup, or juice to add color to the daily OJ. Yum. Access Arctic Valley through the Glenn Highway, taking the Arctic Valley exit from Anchorage or the Ft. Richardson exit from Eagle River, and head south, following the signs all the way up the hill. Parking is $5 unless you park lower down and utilize your State Parks Pass, which you already have, right?

On Sunday, the Palmer Musk Ox farm hosts its famous (well, it should be famous anyway) Running With the Bulls series of races. 1k, 5k, and 10k runs begin at 4 p.m. and kids are encouraged to attend. Hmmm, we just might do that! I love the Musk Ox farm; calves are beginning to grow up, and the red barn offers a great explanation of just how valuable the oxen are to Alaska. Kids are $10, Adults $20, spectators $3. This is a fundraiser, so the more the merrier! Visit the Farm’s web site HERE for more info, or call 907-745-4151.

Don’t miss our latest post for KTUU’s GoToAK.com, another great resource for finding great trips and interesting activities in Alaska. You can link to the post HERE and see a darling photo of my main men.

Have a wonderful weekend, hug your family, and we’ll see you on Monday.  Peace.