I recently polled parents on the AKontheGO Facebook page, asking “Have you visited Alaska’s capital city with your kids?” Participants were asked to respond ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ and if they chose, to give a reason for their answer. Juneau, Alaska — capital, popular cruise ship destination, and home to around 32,000 residents. It’s one of […]
Attention Alaskans and would-be Alaska visitors! The Anchorage Museum Thomas Planetarium will officially reopen on Saturday, April 21 after an exended renovation period. International Astronomy Day is a fun way to not only introduce kids to stars and planets, it’s also a great opportunity to embrace the concept that there is far, far more to […]
Fairbanks, Alaska is a city of approximately 33, 000 hardy souls who thrive in this Interior landscape that continues to impress those from Outside (anywhere not Alaska). Fairbanks is also home to the University of Alaska’s Fairbanks, a four-year institution offering everything from Arctic studies to mining for its 9,000 students. UAF is located atop a […]
The verbiage said it all. “Deep time will blow your mind.” The Anchorage Museum proudly unveiled three new exhibitions to media as part of their most recent renovation, and science plays an abiding role in the artful pieces. Well-known artist of Alaska whimsy and quirky prose Ray Troll paired up with paleontologist Kirk Johnson, director […]
When my friend and I arrived at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau, there were people everywhere. It was one of those rare sunny days in Southeast Alaska when the sky is brilliant blue and temperatures warm enough to roll up your sleeves and stretch that lunch break for as long as possible. Thanks to […]
by Erin Kirkland Dateline – The Anchorage Museum Polar Bear Garden. Dear America, our Facebook relationship status with Russia is best defined as”complicated.” Not since Saturday Night Live paraphrased a comment in 2008 by then-governor Sarah Palin as “You can see Russia from my house,” has the Alaska-Russia association, or lack of, been more pertinent. […]
I remember field trips to museums as a kid. We crammed in the back of someone’s mom’s station wagon and drove downtown where we were met by a prim-faced representative of said museum who led us around, one boring exhibit to another, showing us the names of things but nothing about them. Eventually we gave […]
During my school years, studying the works of Vincent Van Gogh was a bit like taking a literature class; necessary, but a bit incomprehensible. He painted ‘Starry Night,’ was perpetually mad, and eventually killed himself rather than face a world that delivered more pain than joy…—–> OK, let’s get real: I learned that Van Gogh […]
This is the second in an occasional series of posts showcasing the “gotta-do” activities in Alaska, divided up by region. The first area I explored was Southeast Alaska and the communities of Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and such. Now, I move north. ~Erin K Alaska visitors almost always make a stop in the state’s most populated […]
Yesterday was the 11th day of the 11th month, Veterans Day, sometimes referred to as “Remembrance Day,” depending upon your country of origin. Commemorating a day like this that falls on a specific date can sometimes be difficult for families, and particulary so on Veterans Day. Some schools are closed, some, open. Some parents have […]
My friend’s mom kept them on a sheet spread out on her living room floor, and just wrapped it all up at the end of a day. Another friend’s dad built him a wooden box painted bright blue, for his. LEGOs. The construction material of my childhood, and more than likely yours, and certainly that […]