AK on the GO

Don't miss the Garden Fair starting on Saturday, June 26

Alaskans love their gardens. Why? Because we only have perhaps eight weeks total of good gardening weather, and we like to blast our colors and textures as far and fast as we can before the termination dust appears on the mountains. I almost weep just thinking about it.

This weekend is Gardener Mecca with the 2010 Alaska Botanical Garden’s big old Garden Fair kicking off with the theme of “Biodiversity in the Back Yard“. Love it. You should, too. One of the biggest events in town, with an weekend attendance topping thousands, ABG’s Garden Fair is a great way to introduce kids to the concept of “Alaska Grown” and raised, right in their own back yard.

Open on Saturday, June 26 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday, June 27  from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Garden Fair promises to be child-friendly, thanks to a lovely lineup of Children’s Village vendors like REI, Aurora Waldorf School, Home Depot, Alaska Museum of Natural History, the Alaska Club, and a ton of crafty-whimsical things that will keep both kids and parents happy. There will also be music by such artists as Fireweed Flutes, the Carhartt Brothers, Back Alley Banned, and the Alaska Highlanders Bagpipes (after they play at the Highland Games, of course). Don’t miss the Button Box Gang and AK Trombone Quartet, either. Whew, so much fun in one place! Throw in some food and artisan booths, and we’ve got ourselves a real nice weekend ahead.

Admission to the Fair is $5, with kids two and under FREE. It’s worth the money, moms and dads. Learn a little, grow a little, love a little bit more about green gardening in Alaska.

Parking is a challenge, but the Alaska Club just up the road on Tudor will be providing shuttle service, or folks can park at Chugach Square at the Tudor/Muldoon curve and take a short walk after grabbing a coffee or hot chocolate at Kaladi Bros. Good stuff.

Hey, AK Fam will even be there! Find us at the entrance to the Fair. Come say hi and grab one of our Kids’ Coloring books or one of our NEW FANCY Rack Cards to share with friends, family, and coworkers. Wow, we’re so uptown these days.

Gardens and kids just go together. Come share a little dirt with each other this weekend. For more info, visit the AK Botanical Garden’s web site here, or call them at 907-770-3692. If you for some reason can’t catch the fair, do stop by this summer and see the Perennial Garden or the giant cabbage at the entrance. Donate to the Garden, grab a map, and enjoy the summer foliage!

Explore Alaska this summer. Festivals, Railroad specials, so much to do!

Hmmm, where did our brilliant sunshine and 70+ temperatures go? No mind, AK Fam’s lawn and flower bed is appreciating the shower and so are our allergies. We’ll take it.

We are indeed full-steam ahead this weekend with a bunch of festivals and events to report, as well as a special deal from the Alaska Railroad.  When one adult buys an Adventure Class (regular seating) round-trip ticket, up to two kids age 2-11 can ride FREE on any Alaska RR train. Yep, any one of them. That means you can take the fam out on the fabulous Spencer Whistle Stop train, or down to Seward. Heck, you could even go up to Talkeetna and play on their new Dream Playground. Limitless, that’s what it is. Book by June 30 and travel by September 12, 2010. So cool.

Back to the weekend. Here are our picks for top fam fun:

National Trails Day: Get out and give back to your local trails at Campbell Creek Science Center. Everyone is invited to help out tomorrow morning, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the facility off Elmore Road. Bring hiking/work boots, gloves, and a good attitude and help brush, plant, and dig around on the Center’s huge swath of property. Enjoy a pizza lunch and a visit by Bird TLC, when they release a rehabilitated bird. FREE. 

Potter Marsh Discovery Day: A family-friendly event for sure, with nature-themed games, birding stations along the boardwalk, Bird TLC (boy, they sure get around), and many, many vendors to share their info and expertise with your kids. We love this place, and you will, too after a day spent amongst the marsh. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Info can be found here, or by calling 267-2168. FREE.

Kids Fishing Day: Since many rivers are indeed closed to fishing down towards the Kenai (bummer), why not take the kiddos out for their own day of angling in Portage valley. Kids 13 and younger are invited to the Moose Flats Rec Area tomorrow from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. for a day of barbecue, fishing, and fun. FREE. Calll 242-8538 for info.

Festival of Flowers: Going to be downtown? Stop by Town Square Park tomorrow from Noon-6 p.m. and see just how much work goes in to making our flower baskets beautiful. Music, art, flower auctions, and educational info will all be there. We are fortunate to have such lovely displays all summer, and the Master Gardeners deserve our thanks!

Other activities this weekend include visiting Eagle River Nature Center and visiting with a Naturalist on Sunday, who will be posted at the viewing deck closest to the Center. He/She will answer questions and provide history and information about the area. Parking at ERNC is $5 for non-members, but all activities are FREE.

Enjoy the weekend, and don’t forget the bug spray! They’re out and not quite as slow as they were last week.