[sponsored post] Learning to ski or snowboard can be one of the most rewarding, independence-granting activities of a lifetime, or, particularly for older kids and adults – one of the most frustrating. I was introduced to skis during early elementary school, but in an era of cost-cutting and parental instruction, didn’t take a lesson until […]
Tonight’s the night, guys and gals! With 12 bell taps, 2014 is officially in the history books, and 2015 slides in to bring your family a whole new year of exciting opportunities. Just think about it; you can go anywhere, do anything, or be anybody you want, starting NOW. I was going to write a […]
Clicking into his skis with a sigh of satisfaction, AK Kid snugged his hat a bit tighter and pushed off down Talkeetna’s Main Street with all the confidence of a backcountry expert. “Where to?” I asked, being careful to avoid the pockmarked street, evidence of a lower-than-normal snow year in Southcentral Alaska. “Out there, anywhere,” […]
Given the choice to walk or ride to a particular destination, AK Kid will almost always choose the ride, especially if it involves his beloved blue bicycle. A Christmas gift last year, AK Kid’s mountain bike from REI has proven its worth over and over during the non-snowy months. This December, with snow depths still […]
Happy Christmas season, AKontheGO families! Truly, I have the best job in the world, finding out the appearance schedule of Mr. Claus himself. Today is the first Thursday in December, and that means an early-morning wake up with KTVA 11 Daybreak. This month, it’s all Santa, all the time for many Alaska families, and I […]
How much do you know about snow? In Alaska, snow usually starts falling in late October or early November, but some years (like 2014) the snow arrives very late, indeed. At our home in Anchorage, snow finally started falling last Saturday, and AK Kid is busy sledding, building forts, and wrestling around in his favorite […]
[sponsored post on behalf of AKontheGO partner, Eaglecrest Ski Area, Juneau] Every autumn I haul the ski gear from our basement “outdoor closet” and call my son to come downstairs. “Here,” I say, handing him a pair of alpine boots with fingers crossed, “Try these on, and with skinny socks, this year.” Growing up the […]
Another winter is upon us, and while Alaska awaits its first significant snowfall of 2014, families around the state are making preparations for Thanksgiving. Turkeys are defrosting, cranberries are simmering, and pies are baking, at least in my house. I love Thanksgiving’s long weekend; a stretch of four days to get outdoors and be grateful […]
Yesterday, the Alaska Marine Highway and Alaska Department of Transportation issued a new policy regarding unaccompanied minors traveling aboard their ferries. As of November 20, 2014, all children under the age of 18 must travel with a parent, legal guardian, or other individual at least 18 years of age who also carries a notarized letter […]
Every year, the discussion surrounding an impending switch from Daylight Savings to Standard time. We know it’s coming; my home in Anchorage, located in Alaska’s Southcentral region, begins losing as much as six minutes per day of precious light in October. Cities located farther north, like Fairbanks or Barrow, lose light, faster, and the residents […]
For those following closely the saga of Alaska On the Go: Exploring the 49th state with children, you will know that barely seven months after its release, the book is still hopping off store shelves around the country. This makes me feel pretty good, so good that in a fit of memory loss not unlike […]