AK on the GO

Interior cabin of Kachemak Voyager, the new fast ferry owned by Seldovia Village Tribe

We spent our day today across Kachemak Bay, in the little community of Seldovia, home to 265 hardy souls and probably double that in watercraft. Like many towns in Alaska, Seldovia is accessible only by boat or small plane; we decided to take the new Seldovia Bay Ferry, owned by Seldovia Village Tribe, to make our day trip.

Sarah Richardson, Public Relations expert for SVT, accompanied our Extended AK Fam of nine with her own little darling daughter, and so our big old group made quite a show boarding the beautiful and sleek Kachemak Voyager, a twin hull wonder that slices through the water at 25 knots. New to the Homer area, the Voyager is not without controversy, as many in Homer believe the boat is promoting tourism rather than transportation, and many arguments are breaking forth amongst residents of both towns. But none of that mattered today; on this rainy but mild day we were a family looking for a fast and efficient way to get kids across the bay, and we found it.

It isn’t cheap, this ride; at $59 round trip, a family of four can rack up a bill pretty fast, but kids are half-price at $29.50 and really, sometimes you just gotta pay to play. Given the clean, bright, and accessible nature of the Voyager, I’d gladly shell out the dough to ensure a greater chance of success on the other side. The ferry sails all day, with two crossings adding 20 minutes or so to pass by Gull Island and some of the nooks and crannies of Kachemak Bay, a nice bonus for AK Extended Fam, who knew nothing about the area. A pleasant naturalist narrated our way across, explaining better some of the rumblings coming from Homer-area tour operators. That issue aside, however, we had a great time; when kids got restless we were pulling into the Seldovia Harbor and boom, we got off and began our fun.

Seldovia ain’t much, as towns go, but what it lacks in volume it makes up for in charm, with an active Chamber of Commerce and pleasant residents who live their lives around the tides. We ate lunch at the Tide Pool, a shoreside restaurant serving up super service and pretty fine fish and chips. The kids enjoyed watching the boats cruise by, and when the Alaska State Ferry Tustamena arrived, you’d have thought the QEII was docking, there was so much excitement.

After lunch we split up and AK Dad, Kid and I embarked on a little trail known as the “Otterbahn“, a 1.5 mile forest amble that took us through old growth spruce, some wicked devil’s club, and a plethora of salmonberry. Slippery in the rain, the trail nonetheless was delightful and our hike deposited us at the mouth of a lovely little cove riddled with rocks decorated by Mother Nature. To complete the picture, a  humpback whale was showing off  just beyond the cove, spouting and waving as if just for us. Richardson picked us up in a SVT van as time was short, but most hikers return via the same trail, or take the dirt road back to town to make a 3 + mile trip.

Our return trip to Homer was faster without the sightseeing portion; in 35 minutes we were docking in the Small Boat Harbor. It was a great way to visit Seldovia for the first time, and yes, I’d do it again.

A few notes: Bring a few quiet toys for kids; we had coloring books and crayons which worked pretty well. The ferry was not at all crowded so reservations at this time are probably not a requirement, but check anyway. There is a snack bar on board but we brought our own goodies for kiddos, however Grandma found coffee to be a welcome treat after all the rain.

To make reservations for the Seldovia Bay Ferry, visit their web site or the Ticket Office on Homer Spit Road, in the Kachemak Shellfish Gower’s CoOp building.

Conflict or no, this ferry is a winner for families.

Check out the view while exploring Alyeska Resort's trail systems

Ski season is over and there is no good reason to go to Alyeska anymore, right? Oh no, no, no, my AKontheGOers, there’s still plenty of mountain fun at the Girdwood resort’s miles and miles of open terrain, and most of it is perfect for the fam.

While attending a trade show a month or so ago, Marketing guru Amy Q. of Alyeska Resort was quick to hand me their new and improved Summer Trails map. In it is a lovely drawing of the mountain (similar to what you grab before heading out to a day on the slopes), and a description of the new trails and trail extensions the resort has been working on for some time. I was hooked.

Whether your own fam is like mine in that we hike, we pick berries, we bribe AK Kid, we eventually reach our destination, or like my friend’s in that her kids are powering up the hill in record time and are on their way down before the grownups can catch their breath, Alyeska’s got a trail for you. From the Winner Creek Trail (one of the most popular) to the new Blueberry Hill to Race Trail, they’ve got your family covered.  The map thoughtfully breaks up hikes into family-friendly and intermediate-advanced sections to avoid any miscommunication whatsoever, a nice touch, and one appreciated for out-of-town visitors who are not so familiar with the terrain or resort’s layout.

Where to start? If you have small kids, perhaps the Girdwood Paved Path is a good place to start. Paved, with level ground and a plethora of blueberries in late summer months (yes, we too resort to bribery), kids and parents with strollers can amble or even jog their way from the Resort Hotel to the town of Girdwood, or in reverse. We sometimes take the bikes and ride into town and Chair 5 Restaurant and the famous Girdwood Playground. For Fathers’ Day, we’re thinking of doing things in reverse and parking at the playground’s lot and riding to the resort and their special brunch. Any way you do it, it’s a good first step.

Another fun hike, and now a longer one, is the Winner Creek Trail and Extension, taking hikers from the actual ski area all the way to Crow Creek Mine via a cool hand tram that will thrill even the most passive teenager. From the Alyeska Hotel the tram is 2.5 miles, Crow Creek is 3.5 miles. The tread is packed gravel and boardwalk and is really quite lovely, with only a small elevation gain, making it suitable for most hikers. The Extension section is at the other end, near the ski area, via Taos Road or Arlberg Road, where it will connect to the Verbier Bike Path. Fuel up the kids at the Bake Shop near Olympic Mountain Loop and explore this new area.

Pretty nice, Alyeska. Kudos to your directions and descriptions. There are still other trails and paths to explore at the resort, so visit their website to view the map!