Alaskan Grub Equals Happy Campers

It's still raining in Alaska; go out to eat. Here is AKontheGO's first listing of some family-friendly spots to try. Please Anchorage friends, add your favorites...www.AKontheGO.com.

It WAS Summer

Blech, blech, blah.

Anchorage-ites are quaking in their Xtra Tuffs after waking up this morning to another day of rain. Not just any rain, mind you, but the drippy, messy, foggy rain that clouds the brain as much as it does the landscape.

And, this is the worst part; it snowed in the mountains most of the morning. Argh.

I have just returned to my desk after putting another log in the wood stove. Yes, that's right, I built a fire because I needed something to cheer up this dismal day.

Bear was allowed to remain PJ-clad until almost 10 a.m. this morning, playing constructively in his room for quite a while with a Canadian flag, a few plastic coins, and a Happy Meal box he wore on his head. I'm not sure exactly what was going on in the Land of Bear, but it obviously was very important.

Anything that amuses a restless little boy on a rainy day is welcome.

Dinosaurs Equal Cool Factor

Nothing brings out the "Awesome" in kids like a big dinosaur skeleton. Unless it is, of course, the prehistoric scorpion that could kill said dinosaur. Oh my, guess we'll be visiting a lot this summer....

AKontheGO loves the Alaska Museum of Natural History, because, put quite simply, they get it when it comes to kids. And we like that. Check out our visit last week. Bear even got to dig for bones!

A Day, What A Day...

Ever have one of those? A day where from start to finish, everything seems to go as planned, with no one getting lost, or hurt, or cranky? Yep, had one.

Granted, the appearance of our summer intern greatly influenced Bear into behaving at his tour guide best; he showed Miss E., from their shared backseat, everything from the snowplow train at Potter Section House to the myriad waterfalls along the road to Girdwood.

Our surprise for our mechanically-minded child was a trip up the Tram at Alyeska Resort. The best way to reach the top of the mountain any time of year, the Tram ride is a two-minute, 30 second view of the world. At least as it exists from Glacier Valley.

Miss E. was glued to her window, taking photos from every direction. At the top we had about a half-hour to walk around in the snow and see the newly renovated Roundhouse Museum, which features outstanding exhibits of Girdwood history and a very friendly host to answer our questions. E. was particularly intrigued by the ash left on the snowy slopes due to Mt. Redoubt; it ended the summer ski camps because there is no way to get rid of it.

Yukon and I treated our charges to lunch at Chair 5 Restaurant in Girdwood, a funky, deliciously-ambiant place with super halibut tacos. I guess the rest of the menu is outstanding as well, but I have never ordered a single other item, I like my tacos so much.

Miss E. had to be home for a meeting, so we made it home in time for a short nap while E. and Bear watched Bolt together. A nap, whod've thunk I could take a NAP?!

Yukon and Bear are outside at 8:45 enjoying a perfectly tranquil evening game of soccer in the back yard while the dog chases swallows. I am sitting with all the windows wide open, and can smell the cottonwood trees over at the park, their sweet spicy fragrance reminding me of a long, long time ago.

A perfect ending.

Memorial Weekend Packed With Action

You know it is a good weekend when you are too busy to sit down to the computer for more than five minutes.

Fam has been on the go with events and people this weekend. We have an intern staying with us until August, Miss E. She is from Arizona, a senior in college, and will be living and learning the Alaskan life with us (oh poor thing) while working at our church in the youth and young adult programs.

Today we are taking her to Girdwood for a little taste of funky. We'll investigate this little ski town, have some lunch, and take a trip on the tram, a popular tourist site that takes visitors to the top of the ski run.

I love showing people Alaska; the only trouble is finding enough hours in the day.

More later with some pics. For now, the road is calling!

Free-Form Beards On Parade

Gee, I think Yukon has a ways to go before he can claim such status as this competitor in the World Beard and Moustache Championships, going on this weekend in Anchorage.

Fortunate enough to be welcomed by the South Central Beard and Moustache Club as author of the Participant Guide, Yukon, Bear, and I attended the kick off event at Kincaid Park Wednesday evening.

Foreign languages floated around us as we stood in line for free beer and food (a guaranteed success in my book), gazing upon moustaches and beards the likes of which we had never seen before. With competitors coming from as far away as Australia, folks were certainly in an adventurous spirit, willing to chat with everybody. We were no different. I talked with some folks from our hometown of Port Angeles, WA, a nice gentleman from South Carolina, which made me eternally glad I do not live in that scorching state anymore, and a group from Berlin, Germany, who were surprised that I had visited the city in 1986 while part of a bicycle trip in High School.

Small world got even smaller...

Yukon and I are attending the big bruhaha tonight downtown as the Australian band, The Beards (of course) plays for hundreds of competitors and guests. I have a feeling we'll be exhausted tomorrow. Beer and Europeans and music are a recipe for extreme fun.

Hirsute Happenings This Weekend

No plans this Memorial Weekend? Try heading to downtown Anchorage for the World Beard and Moustache Championships. AKontheGO fam will be there; with competitors from Germany, Sweden, Australia, and our own United States, this ought to be quite the sight. And a good party...