It was evident by the sighs and rueful smiles of Iditarod race officials that everything that could have been done to save Ceremonial Start Day, was. It just wasn’t meant to be. This afternoon’s press conference at the Lakefront Anchorage Hotel was more crowded than in past years, mostly due to a not-so-surprising announcement earlier […]
A whopping 86 teams make up the current field of Iditarod 44, putting this year’s contest in the top five for numbers. Who drops out just before the official start remains to be seen, but as of today, this is shaping up to be a contest for the books. Of course, the fact that Anchorage has […]
Good morning AKontheGO readers — Yesterday was a bit of a scramble as many of you read my Kids in the Outdoors column in the Alaska Dispatch News and then saw an update on Facebook from ADN saying the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Sled Dog Races were canceled. Then, if that wasn’t enough, Fur Rondy […]
“The family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” ~George Santayana, philosopher and poet It is well known among family members that the culmination of Kirkland family Alaska outdoor adventures will be followed by the mantra “And we get to live here.” A simple reminder, really, but one that bears repeating, because we are fortunate to be […]
As February chugs along in Anchorage, delivering hardly anything in the way of wintery weather, the thought of another dreary Saturday NOT skiing, sledding, or snowshoeing could fill families with dread. But not this Saturday. Or Sunday, either. It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, a two-day stretch of pink, red, and all the glittery goodness that comes […]
The excitement of skiing or riding a snowy hillside is unforgettable, especially for those new to the sport or new to winter in general. Freeing, flowing exercise that feels more like fun, skiing or snowboarding is a skill many of us want, but don’t always have the opportunity to learn. Be it financial or fear […]
The holiday season in Alaska is always a special time. Snow, reindeer, and Santa Claus are permenant residents, after all, so Alaskans tend to savor every single minute. Last week, I wrote about ideas to celebrate Black Friday in the outdoors, and many of you wrote to say you appreciated the heads up for #OptOutside day. […]
*This article appeared in the 11/20 edition of the Alaska Dispatch News for my Kids in the Outdoors column.* With a week still to go, my email inbox runneth over with announcements like this: “Shop now for pre-Black Friday deals and save, save, save!” Screaming at consumers both literally and virtually, retail outlets are capitalizing […]
It’s time, it’s time! The pumpkins have been purchased, the costume box is now sitting in the middle of our family room floor, and my inbox is fairly bursting with event submissions for the AKontheGO calendar. Halloween’s seasonal push is on, friends, so heed our spooky lineup of family fun, below. Psst: Save some doughnuts […]
This article originally appeared in the Alaska Dispatch News August 28, 2015. Make sure you keep tabs on my weekly column, “Kids in the Outdoors,” normally appearing on Tuesdays in the ADN Sports and Outdoors section. This week we moved in honor of our fair-themed musings. You can find the KIO column easily by hitting […]
President Obama is making his first-ever trip beyond the military bases of Alaska next week. People are agog, either with angst that he’s coming at all or with anticipation that this president will somehow, somewhere, take a firmer stand on climate change and important issues regarding the planet’s Arctic regions. It’s an important visit, no […]