Share Your Itineraries & Tips

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS BLOG

2009-01-10T17:49:00.000-09:00

Postings on this blog are divided into 4 categories: Itineraries, Tips, Special Interests (such as if you are traveling with kids or enjoy hiking or birding), and Specials. Since Blogger.com organizes its posts by date, here's where you can find each relevant post.

January 2008 - SPECIAL INTERESTS
Fish O! How to Find Salmon & Trout
See Our Area On the Cheap
The B&B is just 1/2 Mile from Hospital & Medical
Romance & Making Your Stay Perfect
Pets Love to Stay Here
Stay at our B&B and explore Pre- or Post-Cruise
Pamper Yourself During Your Stay
Guy Stuff To Do In Our Area
Extraordinary Gardens
Outdoor Adventure in the Mat-Su Valley
Kid-Friendly Things to do in our area
Birding in the Mat-Su Valley
On the Go Seniors
Antiquing and Alaskana

December 2007 - TIPS FOR TRAVEL IN ALASKA
See Our Area On the Cheap
How to Dress in Alaska
Tips to Make Your Vacation Easier
Unpack Only Once: Do-Able Day Trips
Pack Smart
Fly Smart
Be Spontaneous--About Some Things

November 2007 - ITINERARIES AROUND THE MAT-SU VALLEY
5-Day Itinerary #1
3-Day Itinerary #1
1-Day/overnight Itinerary #1: What Not to Miss

October 2007 - SPECIALS FOR ALASKA GARDEN GATE B&B
Stay for a Week, Save 25%
3 Nights for the Price of 2

Antiquing and Alaskana

2008-01-22T10:59:00.000-09:00

If you fancy antiquing or are interested in Alaska's early years, local Antique stores are a great place to root around. You can get a taste of what it was like here, from Gold Rush days up through Statehood in 1959 and the discovery of oil and building the oil pipeline.

"Antiquing" isn't nearly the rarified, gentrified experience here that you might be familiar with on the East Coast. Around here, most usually, it involves digging through piles and getting pretty grubby, which can be half the fun. Most Alaskans don't put a lot of value in "old stuff." In a lot of cases, you'll see something you might consider a priceless antique rotting in a pile on the edge of someone's property or in a bin at a second-hand store. Earlier this fall when I took a load of old clothes to a used store in Palmer, the pickup truck in front of me unloaded about 6 pairs of rustic old snowshoes and several sets of wood cross country skis that had to be 50 years old. It took every ounce of my willpower not to grab those from the donations door and dash.

A friend and I spent one hot afternoon last summer antiquing in Anchorage. How is it that every antique shop smells the same in hot weather? That was fun, and I got to know my way around many of the best spots. Most are in the area of the Old Seward Highway, and are full of Alaskana that show how different Alaska was back in the day. Alice's is a staple at 4131 Old Seward Highway, and the Pack Rat Mall is nearby, too. Right around the B&B, there are several good shops to check out: Cis' Unique Antiques in Wasilla, a couple spots along the main street in Palmer, and Ravens Roost, the big barn at the end of Trunk Road, just a mile from the B&B.

Antique stores can be even better than some of the museums to see varied examples of ivory carving, scrimshaw, art and items made from whalebone, hides, furs, walrus tusks, and other items that are now protected and limited to use by natives. Signs, maps, drawings and other printed items such as aprons and tablecloths tell fascinating stories of how Alaskans used to see Alaska, and what it looked like to tourists--sometimes quite different from how we might perceive this place now! I always find it interresting to thumb through old books which make mention of the Matanuska Valley. Even back to the 1930s at the advent of motor vehicles in the territory, city folk from Anchorage used to come out to the Valley in the early summer for fresh Valley peas and produce, grown by Palmer's colony farmers.

Favorite Restaurants & Dining

2008-01-16T21:57:00.000-09:00

2008 has brought the addition of several new restaurants to Palmer and Wasilla. Here are recommendations for our favorite spots to eat, both new and old.

Great:
--Few restaurants in our area are excellent. I have found only Glacier Brew House in Anchorage to meet my expectations every time. Their salmon chowder is to die for, and most entrees are very good.

Very good most of the time:
--Vagabond Blues in Palmer, for soups, salads, wraps, desserts and coffee drinks
--Alpine Garden Grille west of Wasilla, for upscale dinners. Some guests said they had the best meal of their lives, while others found it a bit shaky in terms of service or what they ordered.
--Evangelo's in Wasilla is the easiest to get to from Alaska Garden Gate B&B and has the most consistent quality. The entree portions are huge, and for many people, they can split one entree between the two of them. The prices are commensurate--many entrees are $18-22 for what is not extraordinary dining, but is fairly good quality and lots of it.
--Many of the Talkeetna restaurants, including Mile High Pizza Pie, The Roadhouse, the French restaurant, and the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge.
--Many of the Anchorage restaurants, particularly "fancy" ones like Orso, Simon & Siefert, and The Bridge serve fine meals in our estimation, but are over-priced compared to what you might pay for an outstanding meal in other metropolitan cities. Yes, it migh be a very good appetizer, drink, and entree for $48, but was it excellent? Maybe, maybe not.

In the "Can't Go Wrong" Category:
--Most of the Mexican restaurants in the Mat-Su Valley are good and will feed you a lot of food for prices that are as cheap as they come for restaurant-prices in Alaska. Entrees will average $12-14 or so for dinner.
--Fred Meyer and Carr's grocery stores have good selections at their deli's. This can be a cost-efficient way to have a hot meal for less than what you'd spend eating out.
--Fast food prices in Alaska are comparable to what many families are used to spending at sit-down restaurants in the Lower 48. You might choose to have dinner at Arby's or Dairy Queen or Carl's Junior to have a hearty dinner and save a few dollars

Take Your Chances:
--I love the Hatcher Pass Lodge. It's a quaint, historic place in an unbeatable location. Menu items are interesting, but execution is great some days nad lousy other days. It's also a toss-up whether they'll be open. After sending many guests there for dinner, a scenic 20 minute drive away, and had almost all of them come back saying it was closed, now I call ahead to check. Even then, when the person on the phone has said they'll be serving until 7, there have been times when guests come back and say they were turned away at 6:40 or 6:45, when the Lodge staff said they were closing. To their credit, they do overnight lodging there and are up very early for breakfast, so they're pooped by the end of the day, and sometimes they're short on help if a staff person from Palmer can't get up to Hatcher Pass. Lunch is a safe bet most days, but call before you go for dinner.
--Thai restaurants in Wasilla: a good idea that is occasionally well done. Most days they are out of whatever I felt like ordering.
--Schwabenhof Bar and Restaurant in Wasilla: it's got a neat German menu with sandwiches, sausages, and pickles that go great with their vast beer collection, and their deck can be very nice to sit out on, on a hot day. It's almost always smoky, though, if you are sitting inside.

Yet to be tested:
--These two are not open yet as of "press time" but give them a try this summer: Red Beet is in a historic building in Palmer, and a second new restaurant in Palmer is Turkey Red. They both chose similar names and both look nice, from what we can tell so far.

Pets Love to Stay Here

2008-01-16T21:54:00.000-09:00

Alaska is a pretty easy place to travel with pets. In most places, it is cool enough during the day to leave a pet in a car while you tour a museum or take part in an activity. Of course, there are loads of outdoor recreation areas for hikes! And you don't have to worry about any of these: fleas, ticks, heartworm, or West Nile virus. None of these exist in Alaska!

At our B&B, with 10 acres to explore, there is plenty of room to go walking together on the trails or play ball on the lawn. We have two guest apartments at the B&B which are Pet-Ok, and some of our Vacation Rentals are Pet-Ok. Each of these is convenient for pets with direct access to outside.

You must let us know at the time of your reservation that you'd like to bring your pet(s) so we can accommodate you in a Pet-Ok location. You must pick up your pet waste and dispose of it in the garbage cans. There is a $15/night charge per pet. We have food bowls, toys, and pet waste bags if you need them. Alaska-made Yummy Chummy salmon treats available for our dog and cat visitors, too! Those will be fast favorites with your pet!

Extraordinary gardens in Alaska

2008-01-15T21:16:00.000-09:00

You might not think that our area can grow much, but the Mat-Su Valley is more sheltered and temperate and has several world-famous gardens that are open to visitors. There's nothing like nearly-round-the-clock sunshine to produce lush, huge blossoms. Visitors are amazed by the dinner-plate sized dahlias, abundance of blue and purple flowers which flourish in the cooler summer temperatures, and hanging baskets that achieve prodigious volume in our short seasons.

--If you arrive in Alaska through Anchorage this summer, you can't help but notice the hanging baskets on downtown lamp poles. Traditionally, they are a mix of sapphire lobelia and a yellow annual to create the state flag colors of blue and gold.

--Downtown Palmer is also decked out in gorgeous hanging baskets. The Palmer Post Office boasts some of the biggest, massive mounds of blossoms in their baskets. What's their secret? Other biggies can be found at the Palmer Visitor Information Center, near the center of downtown, in the log cabin. There you'll also find the the historic gardens which are beautifully kept and display the kinds of berries and vegetables traditionally grown on colony farms in Palmer's early days. The flowers are doozies, too. To learn about tree varieties grown in colony days, walk over or drive through the Arboretum. It's in so-so condition; it doesn't get much funding for upkeep, but it'll give you a taste of what kind of trees are native or are brought into this area.

--Two world-renowned gardeners whose places you have to see to believe are Les Brake's Coyote Gardens off of Willow Fishhookand Stan Ashmore's Blue Poppy Farm on Lazy Mountain outside of Palmer. Both, located out in the middle of nowhere, have been featured in national magazines like Better Homes and Gardens and on the Today Show.

--If you're here during the Alaska State Fair in August, take time to explore all the beautiful gardens, created and kept by mastermind Becky Mryvold

--Worth the trip is The Alaska Botanical Garden in Anchorage; you can also see if there is an event being held by the Alaska Master Gardeners

--The local greenhouses and shops are full of information, perhaps the most knowledgeable of all is Jaime Rodriguez at Alpine Garden Nursery

On the Go Seniors

2008-01-15T20:32:00.000-09:00

There are great driving-trips in every direction from our B&B, but if you'd like to get out and see more of Alaska than you can see from the road, here are some ideas. These are moderately challenging and accessible to sure-footed folks who can walk a ways.

1. Hike at Hatcher Pass. The Gold Mint Trail has only a slight uphill grade to it on a mostly even and smooth, wide path for the first several miles. It follows a rushing river and affords gorgeous views as you come into each new valley between the tall mountains. It's also easy to walk around Summit Lake. Archangel Road/Trail tends to be more rutted but is also a beautiful hike if you can pick your way along the trail. A very easy, short walk is on the asphalt-paved trail near Independence Mine, where you can stop and read interpretive displays about life at the mine earlier in the 1900's.
2. Rent a canoe and paddle around Eklutna Lake or Nancy Lake for an afternoon.
3. Go on a jet boat safari with Mahay's Riverboat in Talkeetna.
4. Take the half-day ATV tour with Alaska Backcountry Adventures. My mom and I did this, on the full-day tour. She's 62 and is somewhat fragile in health. She was sore after a full-day, but it was exhilerating and she loved being out in the wilderness, fording rivers and buzzing along on her own ATV, seeing eagles, moose and bears.
5. Definitely go flightseeing from Talkeetna to see the wonders of Denali, if your body will cooperate and get you into the small plane.
6. At Denali, consider taking the Shuttle Bus. You can hop on and off at any stop, then hike for as long or short as you like in between bus rides.
7. Tour the gardens at the Palmer Visitor Center, in the center of town.
8. Take short hikes at the Matanuska Glacier. At the Glacier Overlook, there is a short loop walk (free) and nice photo opportunities. At the glacier itself (entrance fee), you can walk right up onto the glacier. Be very careful, though. I've had many guests come back with bloody hands from falling on the wet slippery ice and skinning up their palms when they went down. With precautions, you can get past the wet, melting "toe" of the glacier and up onto it where the surface is more like packed snow. You can also have Mica Guides show you the way. When you go with them, they give you crampons, helmets and walking sticks, which can make it a whole lot easier. Also, they know the best routes around the hazards.
9. For birding, go to Reflections Lake in the Palmer Hay Flats.
10. To get in a quick walk along developed, wood-chipped paths, you can choose challenging or easy among the trails at Crevasse Moraine or at the Mat-Su College, both centrally located between Palmer and Wasilla.

Iditarod Special and Events

2008-01-14T21:56:00.000-09:00

During the Iditarod, any stay of 3 nights or more at Alaska Garden Gate B&B and Vacation Rentals gets you a VIP starting chute pass and VIP parking pass for both the Anchorage Start and the Restart in Willow. Reserve soon for best room choice. Guests at the B&B are also invited to interact with the Iditarod musher and team staying at the B&B. It's a chance of a lifetime opportunity to get to know one of the mushers, ask questions, and learn about them and the dog team, staying at the B&B.

Outdoor Adventures in the Mat-Su Valley

2008-01-14T19:57:00.000-09:00

Want to try ice climbing at the glaciers, whitewater rafting, backcountry ATV’ing, Jeep Safaris, dog mushing/ tours, and flightseeing? These activities get you into the “real Alaska” not seen from the road system, and for less than you might think. One of the top reasons people come to see Alaska is to experience wilderness and the great vastness of Alaska's natural beauty. You might not know how to get "out there" and into the wild in ways that are safe, fun and easy. Here are resources that will help you see and do the Alaska that few people ever do, even those of us that live just miles from these pristine backcountry wonders.

These are all do-able daytrips from the B&B. Suggestions are ranked from easiest to more intensive requirements of time, skill, or money. (With any of these suggestions, your personal safety is your own responsibility: have appropriate gear and knowledge of how to behave around wildlife, especially if you are not going with a guide. Hypothermia, falls, and encounters with critters can be serious.)

Climb a mountain seen from the B&B
If enjoying the view from the couch isn’t enough, take your pick between Lazy Mountain, the Talkeetna mountains, Matanuska Peak or Pioneer Peak, in level of difficulty. Lazy Mountain is so named because it was a good Sunday picnic spot in the early days of the farm colonists. Pick a peak in the Talkeetnas, accessed by road in Hatcher Pass. Several great trails are marked or chart your own path. Old gold mine shafts dot the upper mountains. Matanuska Peak is used for ultra bike and running races. Pioneer Peak is the Valley’s most challenging, rugged, and tallest at 6,600 ft. It’s 8 hours round trip for those in prime condition.

How
• Trailheads are marked off the roads around these peaks. Use the maps at the B&B or stop at the Palmer Visitor Center for a photocopied map.
• Maps can also be found on the Mat-Su Borough's website

Knik Glacier
In just a few miles, you can go from tidewater salmon spawning to wetlands with tundra swans and migratory fowl to uplands and alpine reaches where grizzlies hunt mountain goats. Such quick transitions between ecosystems allows us to see incredible biodiversity in nearly untouched surroundings. It is an under appreciated area which is not even much-visited by Alaskans except in hunting season.

How
• Take an airboat tour to the glacier
• Go by plane (Grasshopper Adventures 907-746-6923 or Bear Air 907-373-3373) from the Palmer airport
• Go with a guide on ATVs. Half-day or all-day tours are popular. Ask about overnight trips into caribou migration routes.
• Drive to the river and hike the riverbed to the face of the glacier

Matanuska Glacier and River
This broad, braided river stretches 95 miles from its source at the glacier, the largest glacier accessible from the road system.

How
• Drive to the glacier, pay the entry fee, and walk up to the face of the glacier in tennis.
• Go with Mica Guides to trek back onto the glacier for miles and ice-climb frozen falls and walls.
• Whitewater raft the river

Denali area
Experience birch and spruce forests, bogs, and numerous rivers which transition to alpine and tundra ecosystems above treeline. Rich wildlife populations (moose, caribou, wolves, bears, beaver, eagles, and more) inhabit the state and national parks. Ask guides, park rangers, or locals where the best places are to view critters.

How
• Flightsee around The Great One with the option of a glacier landing
• Take a jetboat tour upriver towards Denali
• Rent Jeeps and drive over rugged “roads” into the back country
• Get dropped into Denali to hike remotely

On the water
Kayak or canoe at several nearby lakes.

Dog mushing
Depending on when you come, you may be able to mush with an Iditarod competitor or learn firsthand about operations at their kennels. Contact local favorites Vern Halter or Martin Buser to set up your adventure.

Winter active adventures:
Why more people don’t come to Alaska in the winter is a mystery to us. We prefer the prime, ideal snow conditions and scenic beauty to summer any day. And flights up here are cheaper in winter, too.

How
• Ice skate on groomed Wasilla Lake, ringed by mountains and lit at night
• Cross-country ski at Hatcher Pass on groomed trails through the backcountry. Snowboarding is popular on weekends (no lift: just pickup trucks transporting you and the teenagers up to the top)
• Drive to Alyeska Ski Resort 2 hours south, if you must.
• Rent toys and trailer up to drive to your own destination. Rent from Alaska Toy Rental, 907-775-1880 or Toll Free (888) 640-1880.
• ATV or snowmachine to the Knik Glacier
• Snowmachine in the shadow of The Great One
• Ice climb glaciers and frozen falls
• Take part in a winter marathon or ultra challenge such as the bike/ski/hike race which follows the Iditarod trail

Rainy Day or Hard-Core Exercise Enthusiasts:
Ask us about passes to the Alaska Club gym, located in both Palmer and Wasilla.

You can study up before you come to Alaska, or peruse books and resources at Alaska Garden Gate B&B to plan your adventures. Here are some reading/maps resources, and below this list is where and what you've gotta get out and do!

The B&B is ringed on three sides with mountains, all of them hike-able and explore-able. Just one book covers many, many of the routes found right in our back yard. You can borrow it from the B&B's library, or get your own copy of 55 Ways into the Wilderness. The other main book you'll use is Hiking Alaska. The books at the B&B are stuffed with tattered Xeroxed copies of other local routes into the mountains and backcountry. These are simple PDF brochures created by the Matanuska Susitna Borough and can be found on their website. There are many fun wildlife books which will help you identify paw prints and scat, etc. For birders, get Guide to the Birds of Alaska. Other inspiring and fun books we recommend are Walking My Dog, Jane,and Midnight Wilderness, given to me by the author when she stayed here. Also look for Arctic Daughter, Walk Softly With Me, and Alaska

The B&B is just 1/2 mile from Hospital & Medical

2008-01-14T10:50:00.000-09:00

Alaska Garden Gate B&B is located on Trunk Road, just a half mile from Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, the medical office buildings, and Providence Imaging Center.

For travelers who are temporary medical staff, the B&B is an ideal location for your stay. Our guest apartments and rooms are designed for longer-term accommodations with amenities like full kitchens, private entrances, and cleaning service. We have hosted physical therapists, nurses, MRI techs and other imaging professionals for as long as 8 months per contract. Though just literally up the hill from the hospital and clinics, we are set back on 10 quiet and secluded acres in the woods, which creates a comfortable place for you to come back to at the end of your workday. Our local expertise about things to see and do, as well as how to find shopping, is handy and more personal than staying in a hotel. With wireless internet, local phone, laundry on-site, and garage spaces available, it has all the conveniences of home. We are happy to work within agency per diem rates. Just give us a call at (907) 746-2333.

If you are a friend or family member of someone in the hospital or coming for medical treatment, Alaska Garden Gate B&B offers a discount for your stay. We will do everything we can to make your time by the hospital less stressful.

Romance & Making Your Stay Perfect

2008-01-14T10:23:00.000-09:00

We aim to make your special occasion a memorable one! If your stay at Alaska Garden Gate B&B is to spend special time with your love, here are some ways to customize your reservation or bring a little extra something to your time together. Click here to add any of these to your reservation, or call (907) 746-2333 for special orders.

Our most popular rooms for romantic getaways are: Forest Haven guest apartment, with fireplace, 2-person jacuzzi, kitchen, and sumptuous pillow-top King size bed, Forget Me Not suite with jacuzzi, pillow-top Queen bed and kitchenette, or the Arctic Rose room with jacuzzi, pillow-top Queen bed and romantic rose theme. For the ultimate, consider the Finger Lake Vacation Home with wood fireplace, soaring views of the lake, and custom comforts.

Additional Services Available:
1. Fresh flowers in your room. In summer, choose between a spray of wildflower & garden blooms, casually arranged in a vase, or from a florist's red roses or composed bouquet. The basic charge is $30, but for more red roses or a larger arrangement, call to enquire.
2. Champagne or sparkling cider. Have a chilled bottle and champagne flutes waiting in your room for $30. To request an upper-end brand of champagne, call to enquire.
3. Chocolate! Treat yourself to a selection of four large, exquisite truffles. Or, for the ultimate decadence, request the Personal Chocolate Fondue Pot, and you'll get creamy cocoa-y fondue for two, with dip-ables such as bananas, strawberries, pound cake, crispy cookies and more. $30 for either the fondue or the truffles platter.
4. Romancing your room: Completely over the top and setting the mood, order the Petals and Candles combination. Red and pink silk rose petals are strewn over the bed and along the path into the room, and flameless, flickering candles give a warm ambiance without needing any attention from you. Add this package for $10.
5. Alaska Garden Gate also does catering. You can enquire about special dinners or customized treats.
6. At the B&B, choose from three varieties of scented bath bubbles specifically deisgned for the jetted whirlpool tubs.
7. Gift baskets upon request, with any theme you choose: Alaska delicacies and treats, coffee and chocolate, or anything else you'd like.
8. For massage or yoga, give us a call.

Please make your selection for special services at the time of your reservation or shortly thereafter. Advance notice is required.

Stay at our B&B to explore Pre- or Post-Cruise

2008-01-13T11:09:00.000-09:00

Are you cruising to or from Alaska this summer? You'll see so many wonderful sites along the way --Alaska's coastal communities, glaciers, whales and marine culture. Since you've come all this way to get here, why not take 2 or more days at the start of your vacation or afterwards to get to know what the rest of Alaska is like?

Alaska Garden Gate B&B is a central "hub" for exploring Southcentral Alaska. If you fly into Anchorage or arrive by cruise in Seward or Whittier, the B&B is an easy drive from there. Our B&B caters to cruisers and they enjoy the amenities and things to see and do in our area. For day-trip ideas, see the following blog posts: Unpack Only Once--Do-Able Day Trips; Top Attractions to See & Do in Our Area; Fun Activities for On the Go Seniors.

Our discounted rates for 2+ nights, at the affordable lodging rates in our area, as well as the stunning natural beauty of the soaring mountains, woods, and farm fields all around us make this a must-see, must-stay place! When you're making your reservation, let us know which cruise line you're traveling with; special discounts for your B&B stay may apply.

Fish On! How to Find Salmon & Trout

2008-01-10T13:07:00.000-09:00

Fishing is the most obvious pasttime around us. Call up Andy at Fishtales for a charter float trip for salmon. You can try to decipher the complex regulations at our numberous rivers and streams yourself. Popular spots include Montana Creek and the Deshka Landing. Numerous sportsgoods stores are within a couple miles of Alaska Garden Gate B&B: Wal-Mart, Sportsmans Warehouse, and Sears, if you want to buy a set up once you get here. A great shop and the local experts for what's running when and where are Three Rivers Fly & Tackle in Wasilla.

Guy Stuff To Do in Our Area

2008-01-08T20:16:00.000-09:00

If you're used to having a tough time finding manly men things to do on vacations, Alaska is just the opposite! This is not a lace-doily-inn-and-afternoon-tea kind of place. Here's a list of things to do in our area that are great for the fellows in the group!

--Fishing is the most obvious pasttime around us. Call up Andy at Fishtales for a charter float trip for salmon. You can try to decipher the complex regulations at our numberous rivers and streams yourself. Numerous sportsgoods stores are within a couple miles of Alaska Garden Gate B&B: Wal-Mart, Sportsmans Warehouse, and Sears, if you want to buy a set up once you get here. A great shop and the local experts for what's running when and where are Three Rivers Fly & Tackle in Wasilla.

--The Museum of Transportation & Industry in Wasilla is a fascinating place to learn about the making of the Alcan or how railroads were laid in Alaska. The Valley's farm history is represented by an original Colony barn which was moved there this past summer. See examples of the early farmers' ingenuity: there are several steam-powered, hand-built and -engineered tractors which they needed in a place where it was prohibitively expensive to freight up farm tractors and implements in the 1930's and 1940's.

--If you're into seeing what crops are grown here, you can take a driving tour to Farm Loop, the Inner and Outer Springer Loops by the Alaska State Fairgrounds, and right around Alaska Garden Gate B&B. The UAF Experimental Farm is just down the hill from the B&B. My next door neighbors have several hundred acres and still farm. The Dearborns sell produce and plants from their potato fields, tomatoes grown in wood-heated greenhouses, and their thumb-sized delicious raspberries are in high demand, too. Dr. Dearborn and Doris moved to Alaska in the 1940's from Maine, and he worked as an tree guy at the UAF Experimental Farm. Several of the tree specimens in my lawn are ones he developed, such as the larch which loses its needles every year. Dr. Dearborn was the first person to pioneer growing apples in Alaska. Most anyone with apple trees in the state have come from the Dearborns. I have two of their trees, which produce branch-sagging amounts of small red apples named for the Dearborn sons. Son Jay lives on the farm with his mom, Doris, who wil be 93 next week. At Christmas she gave me two beautiful amaryllis plants out of the 50 or so in her front windows, so she could clear them out. She has hundreds of tomatoes and vegetable seeds to start germinating soon.

--Hatcher Pass is a great place to get rugged. The Independence Mine historic buildings are interesting to learn about. There are areas open to gold panning which still produce flecks and sometimes nuggets. A couple years ago, a local hiker happened upon a nearly-pure nugget the size of a potato. It was on land which had a claim. He reported the nugget to the claim owners. They said they would let him keep it if he would lead them back to where he found it, so they could search further for a vein. WalMart and Sportsmans Warehouse sell gold pans for a couple bucks each. My cousin Mike had a great time panning for an afternoon when he was up here. There are also many awesome trails for hiking which lead to hidden lakes and glaciers.

--The Anchorage Museum has awesome displays about the role oil has played in the development of the state, and the Native Heritage Center is full of interesting information about native cultures.

--At the B&B, there is a great selection of videos to borrow on the making of the Pipeline, laying the Alaska Highway, about the Iditarod sled dog race, and about Alaska Wildlife.

Kid-Friendly things to do near the B&B

2008-01-06T20:08:00.000-09:00

Got young ones who love learning about animals and active adventures for kids? Here are some ideas if you're traveling with children.

1. Go to the Iditarod Headquarters, just south of Wasilla on the Knik-Goosebay Road. There, you can watch a short video, pet the sled dog puppies, and take a $5 short cart ride, pulled by the dogs in harness.
2. Musk Ox Farm, located just north of Palmer on the Glenn Highway. Take the tour and watch musk ox lounge or play in their pastures.
3. Reindeer Farm: Go into the pens and pet and feed the domesticated caribou. Great photo opp!
4. If you're out on a day-trip towards Seward or south of Anchorage, go to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Portage. This refuge park offers either a short drive or walking loop where kids can see grizzly bears, caribou, moose, eagles, and other large game up close as these animals rehabilitate in fenced pastures or habitats.
5. Older kids, perhaps over 7 or closer to 10 and up may enjoy the bus rides through Denali National Park. These 4-14 hour bus rides may be too much for younger kids or those who can't sit still that long. You could have a great day and see tons of the Big Four (grizzlies, caribou, moose and wolves) up close, or it could be a cold, drizzly day when the bus windows are constantly fogged up. You be the judge about whether this is a good match for your child's interests.
6. ATV tours are really fun for ages 6 or 7 and up. Your kids can either drive their own ATV or ride with you, at your discretion. It's as adventurous as you want it to be, at the pace you choose, while being out in the great wide natural backcountry of Alaska.
7. Pan for gold at Hatcher Pass. You can buy inexpensive gold pans at Wal-Mart or sporting stores, and it's quite possible to recover specks or small particles that could amount to a couple hundred dollars of gold, depending on your child's patience or enjoyment of the activity. Take the short walk around Independence Mine where interpretive boards tell the story of the miners who lived there at the turn of the century. Hatcher Pass is also a fantastic place to "turn them loose" to just run and explore the gentle lower mountain slopes. Boulders and little streams make it a place of imagination and adventure.
8. Hike on the Matanuska Glacier. This is an unusual and fun thing for families to do, as long as your kids will pay attention to walking where you tell them to. It may not be the best for kids under 6 or so who may run off in a different direction because of hazards from crevasses.
9. Rainy day ideas: The Transportation Museum, just outside Wasilla, or the Native Heritage Museum north of Anchorage, or watch an Alaska-themed kids' DVD at the B&B like Snow Dogs or Alaska's Coolest Animals.
10. On Fridays, the Tsunami Warning Center is open for tours in Palmer. This NOAA office monitors the Pacific over to Russia and Japan and down to Hawaii, then along all of the US West Coast. During the tour, you can watch screens monitoring seizmometors, and there's usually an earthquake or movement happening somewhere.
11. If you're here between Aug. 20-Sept. 2, be sure to go to the Alaska State Fair. Learn about Alaska agriculture and pet the farm animals. There's lots for kids to do all day.

Birding in the Mat-Su Valley

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The rich Knik Glacier uplands, and Knik River drainage which exits to the Knik Arm tidal ecosystem is the easiest viewing grounds for migrating birds in the Mat-Su Valley. Access to the Palmer Hay Flats is close to Alaska Garden Gate B&B and provides viewing of many species.

The Mat-Su Birders club meets at the Palmer Library and is open to visitors. You can reach them at msbirder@mtaonline.net.

Here's another resource for birding activities in Alaska.

You can order Guide To The Birds of Alaska by Robert H. Armstrong. It includes all 443 species of birds found in Alaska, with full-color photos for all bird species that occur regularly in Alaska. It has a birder’s checklist for all birds.

Pamper Yourself During Your Stay

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It's easy to lose track of time during the long summer days in Alaska. If you overdo, let us help you unwind. Ask about yoga, massage, gym passes, fresh flowers in your room, special treats--you name it! Don't forget a relaxing soak in a jetted whirlpool tub, available in three of our rooms/suites, and our aromatherapy bath products. Inquire about special meals if you’d like something extraordinary. Whether you're staying for romance or not, you might find appealing ideas under the Romance post.

And remember, if you stay 2-5 nights, you qualify to save 15%, or for 6+ nights, you save 25% off. That savings can make it worth your while to "upgrade" to the next-nicest room and have amenities like a jacuzzi, fireplace, full kitchen, or more space at your disposal during your stay.

Free Wireless Internet Available

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now available
There is Wi-Fi with DSL-speed in each B&B room and in the common areas. It will work with your laptop if you have a wireless card in your computer. Your computer will ask if you want to join the Garden Gate network, and there is no need for a password and no charge. There is also a PC for guest use in the Great Room which can be used 7 a.m.-10 p.m.

The WiFi speed is 128, which means several guests can be doing e-mail on their laptops or the B&B PC at one time at regular speed with no interruptions. It is not sufficient for heavy downloading or interactive gaming. We can help you find an Internet Cafe if you need to do this so other guests are not affected by slow-load time. We do experience outtages from time to time as our phone company experiences problems. Just let us know if you have any trouble getting onto the Internet.

Call for more information (907) 746-2333 if you have questions.

Tips to Make Your Vacation Easier

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Let's face it: it's a long journey to get to Alaska and it's expensive. For your precious few days up here, whether a few days or a few weeks, your time is precious. Here are several tips that can help you spend more time getting to see and experience Alaska and less time in the airport, at WalMart, or doing mundane things that keep you from seeing what you came to see!

1. Be well rested before you get to Alaska. You may go to the beach or to a cabin a couple hours from your house for getaway weekends to catch up on good sleep. But do you really want to come all this way to be rundown and fatigued? Naturally, this is your vacation from the stresses of life, but you set yourself up to not enjoy your time here if you do things like take red-eye overnight flights to Alaska or set up nearly-impossible flight routes with too-short layovers. If I had a dollar for everyone who inadvertently spent the first night of their grand voyage at the Salt Lake airport or at O'Hare because something happened with their connecting flight(s)...I'm a big proponent of going as direct as possible at a decent time of day. It really is worth the extra dollars. See the Fly Smart post in this blog for more info.

Use the clock to tell you when to sleep. It's sunny all summer, night and day. At some point you will fall over from exhaustion if you think you can keep going til "dark." Jet lag can be terrible and really mess up your body. This is not a good place to try to stay on your home time zone. First off, there's nothing to do at 3 a.m. if you're from the East Coast or Midwest and wide-awake at that hour, and secondly, you'll be missing the most beautiful time of day if you're headed to bed at 7 p.m.

To get onto Alaska Time, make yourself go to bed at the time you turn in at home, and make yourself stay in bed until at least 6 in the morning to help your body reset, since the triggers from light outside will not be a good indicator. Between the light and the excitement of being in such an extraordinary place, it can be hard, but it'll really catch up with you after a few days. Trust me, you'll hate to have to miss ATV'ing or flightseeing because you were too fatigued. I see that mostly in my teen guests. Mom and Dad may turn in at a decent hour, but it feels fun to stay up til 2 a.m. for Missy Teenager who is not as disciplined, and she pays for it later by missing out on a fun adventure.

2. Don't bring clothes for every possible contingency. This may fly in the face of your instincts or common sense. Yes, it does rain here. Yes, it can snow even in the summer. Yes, it's probably cooler than what you're used to at home. But (this is for you, Gusinskys!), a whole suitcase of shoes?? What's the worst that's going to happen if you get chilly on a hike? We have heat here. Do you really want to MANAGE all that STUFF, dragging it around behind you all the way through Alaska? Then you need the extra big Suburban which costs an arm and a leg at the rental desk and at the pump. And you've gotta haul those bags in and out of every place you stay. And you've gotta repack and sort and organize...One trend I've seen over my 6 seasons owning my B&B is that people are bringing more and more with them. Now, many people eschew the 50 pound weight limit on their suitcases and pay the extra charge for these MONSTER huge bags that are basically red or black nylon rolling steamer trunks with a pull-up handle. How many couples do I hear bickering about who's going to bring in the bags or haul them back out and did they get everything? See the How to Dress in Alaska and the Pack Smart posts in this blog for more info.

In terms of getting in and out of the airport efficiently, not everyone can do this, but consider bringing a handbag or tote and one suitcase which fits in the overhead compartment. Shaving off 45 minutes standing at Baggage Claim at 1 a.m. or any time makes a persuasive argument for keeping your baggage with you. See other goods reasons like Lost Luggage in the Pack Smart post in this blog.

3. Stay longer in one place and avoid the time wasted re-packing, hauling bags, searching out your next lodging, and trying to hit certain check-in times. Using one spot as a base-camp can shave hours off of a day. See the Unpack Once post in this blog for more info.

4. Food: In my humble opinion, food is not the main attraction in Alaska. The big "wow" is the glorious splendor of nature with soaring mountains, gorgeous rivers and forests, and don't forget the wildlife. While there are restaurants that are gastronomical marvels using the freshest Alaska seafood and local specialties, it's likely that during a lot of your vacation days, it'll get towards lunch time and the only choice nearby may be a greasy spoon. I'm a fan of hitting the grocery store. Our food prices are higher here, and frankly I feel a lot of our restaurant prices are just not worth the cost. At many of our local cafes, diners, and restaurants, a plate lunch of a hamburger with cheese and a big mound of fries typically runs $8.95 or more. Dinner entrees for something like pasta or a chicken dish can easily be $14, with dinners like salmon or nice beef ranging from $18-22 for the basics. That adds up fast. One thing in your favor is that portion sizes are generally large, so it's often possible to split an entree. For sure, take a couple evenings to go out and have a satisfying, special dinner. But on the days you're running around sightseeing and just want to feed your hunger at the end of the day, you might consider getting a rotisserie chicken and bagged salads or something along that order at the grocery store. Our vacation rentals each have kitchens, and three of the 6 rooms at the B&B have refrigerators and eat-in areas, and guests are welcome to use the dining room, too. Most guests comment that the hearty breakfasts I make each morning carried them either to or through lunch and that it was economical for them to just grab something quick while they were out on the go, sightseeing or adventuring. One caveat: don't forget to eat dinner during "dinner-time." Our long summer days can fool you: the sun is still up, shining, at 7-8-9-10 p.m. and many visitors loose track of time. Most restaurants here pretty much are packing up for the night by 8-9 p.m. or so. It can be harder to find a real meal at 10 p.m., besides that long days can tire you out (See #1 above). Gotta pace yourself and fuel yourself well for your Alaska adventure!

Regarding types of food available here, we are not a tropical paradise, and most fruits and vegetables were freighted up here. While salads don't universally consist of iceburg lettuce any more, green stuff may be more scarce than you're used to. Finding good peaches or things you may be used to can be dicey. Alaskans eat diets heavy on potatoes (which we grow here) and meat (much of which grows here, commonly moose, caribou and salmon) because it's what there is a lot of here. You don't have to worry about the provenance of the red meat on your plate, since we can't serve wild game to guests (since it's not USDA-slaughtered). If you're wondering how most families up here can afford the price of food, it's because many live subsistence lifestyles to some degree, hunting and fishing or gathering berries and growing gardens.

If you're vegetarian or vegan, you are going to have slim pickings at restaurants outside of Anchorage and other larger towns. These places will offer some degree of "ethnic food" which can be helpful. Many vegetarian guests exclaim with delight when they find something for dinner that is not a baked potato or plain pasta. At a lot of restaurants, they want to make sure a vegetable is good and dead before they serve it, so don't be alarmed to see boiled-to-death broccoli or green beans. In our area, Vagabond Blues cafe in Palmer does a nice job of offering grains and protein alternatives, and several new restaurants may have options you'll like.

5. Choice of rental car: Rental cars are spendy here and the taxes added on at the airport are killer, 28%. You can save a bundle by not renting at the airport, by taking a taxi to pick up your car at a different location. This may seem out of character with my lectures about spending your time efficiently in Alaska, but I'm talking as much as $100+ saved on a weekly or longer rental.

I'm a cheapskate. I usually get the beep-beep economy car when I go Outside, but I pack light and don't usually spend a lot of time in that car. It's almost a given that you will spend a lot of time in your car up here because the distances in Alaska are far. I actually recommend that you think about how many 5-6 hour drives you'll have in your trip when you think about how big of a car to get. NOT bringing huge amounts of luggage can make your time in that car more comfortable, too. Yes, you all can do it, to have the back of the vehicle filled, then each have a carry-on bag on your laps while you motor to the next destination, but, really? Several days of multiple-hour drives like that?

6: Gas: buy it when you're leaving a metropolitan area. Don't buy it on the far end of a loop-drive if yo can help it. The further you get from the core area of Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley, the more expensive it gets. Sometimes by as much as $1/gallon when you're "out there," so it adds up. If you can, schedule your fill-ups to hit while you're still in a bigger town. I doubly emphasize that if part of your trip takes you through Canada. Ouch! Even if you're not handy with the math converting gallons to liters, just know, it costs more in Canada.

7. Souvenirs: I can't tell you how many of my guests ask where to buy "cheap gifts." WalMart actually has the widest array, and the Fred Meyer and Carrs grocery stores are good, too. Be clear though that these are "cheap." They are almost all mass-made in China. They're a good source for printed mugs, sweatshirts, and postcards. Visitors can sometimes have sticker shock after looking at carvings or locally made artisan pieces. My grandmother was on the hunt for a couple of years for an "inexpensive totem pole." That doesn't exist, if you don't want the plastic nine inch tall one that WalMart carries. Anything made by human hands here in Alaska doesn't come cheap because the cost of living here is much higher, particularly if it is something created by a villager living way-out.

8. Activities/tours/tickets: Plan ahead as much as possible. Even if that means arriving at our B&B and sitting down for part of a morning to sketch out what you'd like to do here, that time is well-spent. It's not advisable to just show up at a place and expect to get a tour right at that moment, with a few exceptions (day-cruises in Seward being one of the easy ones to walk onto because there are many going each day). Very few things in Alaska are 24-hour, so please be courteous about not calling for reservations or to schedule an activity outside of 8 a.m.-8 p.m., generally. We are happy to help you lay out attractions, activities, and routes that match your interests, so just ask! We can also help you reach the tour and activity operators to make your plans. In general, plan your activities as early in your stay as possible so in case of weather, you can still reschedule it for a later day or time.

Pack Smart

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• It is a challenge to pack for Alaska weather, but consider bringing 3 days of outfits. If a cruise is involved, that gets more complicated, but if you’re mostly bringing shorts, pants, shirts, and a few jackets and shoes, cut it down as much as you can and do laundry during your vacation. We’ll do laundry for you while you’re out for $8 load, washed and dried. Managing two 50-pound monstrous suitcases in the airport and then everywhere during vacation can sure take the life out of you.

And don’t get us started on lost luggage…those numbers are way up…If possible, bring one overhead-compartment-sized rolling suitcase. You can thank us later. Carry it on, keep it with you, and skip Baggage Claim at 11 p.m. when so many of our flights come in (which could feel like 2 or 3 a.m., depending on which time zone you’re from). This will prevent you needing to find the nearest Wal-Mart to buy new clothes on Day Three when your luggage has still not arrived and you’re tired of being in the same clothes for yet another day. Lost luggage becomes a rolling joke on Day 1, then becomes worrisome on Day 2, and becomes a trip to Wal-Mart on Day 3 when you’re really tired of that same shirt you’ve had on since you left your house. Thankfully, very little luggage is permanently lost. Most shows up within three days. But will it put a serious crimp in your travel plans to have to worry about where your suitcases are?

My own grandmother and uncle wouldn’t take my advice: they both packed and checked two big suitcases. Their cheap-o flights for this quick 4-day vacation to visit bounced them around the Lower 48 and finally up here on a second day, thus shortening our time together by a day and meaning they didn’t have time to go see Seward. One of their four bags had arrived at the same time as them. The other bags put on quite a few miles around the Lower 48. Their carrier was not Alaska Airlines so it took many calls, going through automated messages and sitting on hold, to try to get the bags. My uncle went to Kodiak for charter fishing for one quick day. Guess what? The bags followed him there and got there the day after he was there. Then to get them from Kodiak took a while. By now, my Gramma insisted she needed new clothes—pants, a sweater, slippers, undergarments, a robe. She’s kind of a picky shopper, so much deliberating on the few choices at our few choices of stores was required. A trip to Wal-Mart, then Sears, then a local shop, then back to Wal-Mart. There went several more hours out of the time that we could have been enjoying the wonders of Alaska instead of looking for a parking space. Thanks for coming, Gramma! See you in two more years hopefully! Is that how you want to spend your precious vacation time?

Fly Smart

2007-12-15T15:39:00.000-09:00

Air travel is getting worse. This year’s statistics tell us that nearly 30% of all flights were delayed or late. More bags were delayed or lost this past year. Behind the scenes, the politics and conditions which contribute to how airports, airlines, and airline staffs function are creating a “perfect storm.” That is to say, it’ll likely get less convenient for travelers before it gets better.

This year, Alaska Airlines delivered more bags to my B&B two or three days after my guests’ arrivals than ever before. And that’s the good news: Alaska Airlines brings it right to my front door for you, whereas with most other carriers, it means repeated trips back to the Anchorage airport to try to find it.

For so many of you, flying is the only option to get to Alaska,. A large number of you take a flight before or after a cruise to Alaska, or because you don’t have the time to drive from the U.S. Our friends from other countries don’t have much choice in the matter if they want to experience Alaska.

It used to be that flying was fun. At this point, you have to think “defensively” and do everything within your control to make it a comfortable and expedient journey to The Great Land. Here are some tips to get you here and home as smoothly as possible.

• Please avoid the urge to save $50 on a lower airfare by taking two or three legs on the way to Alaska. With the number of delayed flights so high, chances are you’ll pay for it in the end by missing a connection and losing out on one of your precious vacation days in Alaska because you’re stuck overnight in Salt Lake or Seattle or Detroit.

The flights are getting more packed, which means more jostling, more crawling over one another for bathroom trips and additional time for everything. What might look like a decent night’s sleep on an overnight flight really comes down to about 4 hours or less when taking into account the safety presentation and settling the cabin down, then beverage services and landing announcements on the other end, well before landing time. Don’t forget to take into account the time changes and possible additional announcements due to weather as you fly. Get direct flights when possible. Many of our flights arrive late at night. They are priced more favorably. Again, shaving off a few dollars can mean you’re strung out from 24+ hours of little sleep on the first day of your vacation. Give yourself the gift of a daytime flight.

You’ll want to be fresh and invigorated when you see the breathtaking scenery all around you here in Alaska. Also, it is a real danger to drive when sleep-deprived with long miles to cover between destinations. Many travelers are killed each summer due to overtired drivers swerving on the road. Please don’t add to the statistics.

• Take empty water bottles through security then fill them with water before you board so you can stay properly hydrated. You won’t drink enough if only relying on busy flight attendants to give you 6 ounces of beverage every few hours if you’re in the air 4-8 hours.

• Renting or bringing a portable DVD player or video iPod/batteries with movies can help pass the long hours. Don’t count on sleeping long; this is another good reason to fly during daytime hours and not take a Red Eye overnight flight. Noise-canceling headphones can be helpful, too..

See Our Area On the Cheap

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If your vacation's budget got you to Alaska but doesn't have a lot of padding, there are sooooo many things you can do and see in our area that costs hardly anything. There are a couple of recommendations, too, if you can "splurge" on one or two exciting adventures.

1. Stay at Alaska Garden Gate B&B in the economy room with a shared bathroom. What you get: a comfortable room with nice views in a beautiful setting, with a yummy big breakfast that will last you to or through lunch. The cost can be as low as $79/night including the breakfast for two people--there just aren't many places around this part of the state that can beat that. If several of you are traveling together, it could make sense for you to get one of the B&B's rooms with a kitchen so you can cook-in for some of your meals; the vacation rentals offer that option, too.

2. Plan to spend a lot of time driving just because everywhere you go is so beautiful and interesting. Or, if you prefer to be out on your own two feet, you can hike in new areas each day and never run out of trails and places to explore. Take drives out the Glenn Highway Scenic Byway and stop for all the road-side plaques which tell about the natural features or cultural information. Hatcher Pass is a great area to explore. The drive to Talkeetna and Denali is very nice.

3. Places to go for little or no money: hang out in Talkeetna and people-watch or window shop. Wander around downtown Palmer, between the Visitor Center, shops, and Vagabond Blues, the coffee spot. See the farms around Palmer. Go to the Iditarod Headquarters and take the $5 cart ride with the sled dogs. You might like the Transportation Museum by Wasilla. Fred Meyer is the epicenter of peoples' lives here and a good cultural translation of what it's like to live here in the Mat-Su Valley. You can tell a lot by that store. At Denali, consider just taking the shuttle bus. You can get on and off whenever you want and stand a good chance of seeing wildlife that way, too.

4. Eat: hit the grocery stores for deli items. Vagabond Blues has excellent soups served with a huge hunk of delicious breads. In most restaurants, consider splitting an entree because portions tend to be large. Be sure to get in some halibut or salmon at some point.

Things you really, really should consider doing, even on a tight budget:
1. Go flightseeing around Denali with Talkeetna Air Taxi. Their least-expensive options area about $180, but there are $20-Off discount cards at the B&B. This is something you can experience nowhere else. You'll be awed.
2. An easier chunk to bite off is to hike on the Matanuska Glacier. The entrance price is $15. Don't pay and go in if you just want to see it for 5 minutes then leave. But if you'd like to take a self-guided hike up onto the glacier and back towards the hidden lakes and features few people ever get to see, $15 can be a bargain.
3. If you can squeeze in one more adventure, you should go ATV'ing through the backcountry to the Knik Glacier. You'll really be "out there in it" and know that you're seeing the real Alaska.

How to Dress in Alaska

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This is based on what my guests have worn that seems most popular or most needed during their time here. I'm very warm-blooded and will be toddling around bare-footed and in light summerwear until the snow flies. Most of you will likely be chilly at some point during your summer vacation to Alaska.

Our summer daytime highs average about 72 with nighttime temps falling to between 55-62 approximately. In my location, in the Matanuska Valley, I'm ringed on 3 sides by mountains, with temperate ocean influences from the water near Anchorage. At the B&B, typically it is about 4-6 degrees warmer than Anchorage in the summer and 4-6 degrees colder in the winter, but nothing like the high-highs and low-lows felt in the Interior near Fairbanks. Check the current weather here.

It's very typical for a day to go like this: At breakfast, it could be cloudy or overcast or even drizzling. Guests will bemoan that this might be a rainy day. I heavily encourage guests to hit the museums or shopping right after breakfast, to have something to do indoors while it's still somewhat chilly or wet. The cold or wet may linger towards lunchtime, but be warming slightly. This is a good time to be driving towards your main activity of the day and/or getting a bite to eat. All of a sudden between 1-3 p.m., gloriousness bursts out and it becomes a stunningly gorgeous day with blue skies, a few high, wispy clouds, and warm or hot sun. You'll want to go and go and go and do as much as you can in such beautiful weather. This is not the time of day to ponder what to pack for a hike or be in a store--be ready and GO. The late afternoons turn to achingly splendid examples of what summer in Alaska can be like. Warm breezes, brilliant colors, sun glinting off of water...It'll feel like you never want the moment to stop. This type of weather will continue until about 7:30 or 8 pm and you'll lose track that it's no longer 4:30 in the afternoon because the sun will have hardly moved from its zenith. You may realize that you're starving and go to dinner. It could be 15 degrees cooler an hour later at 9-10 p.m. as the day wanes. For this day, you'll likely want a warmer jacket but be able to shed it down to "summer clothes" during the warmest part of the day.

For the prime summer months, you'll likely enjoy having short-sleeved shirts with a longer-sleeved shirt or light jacket for times when you're in warm sun. In case a breeze comes up, a cozier fleece for rainy or cool days is good. It's up to you whether to bring shorts. If you wouldn't wear shorts at 72 degrees, you probably can do without them here. Most folks are comfortable in a light twill type of pant, or those outdoors pants that have legs that zip off are handy, too. Jeans are not very practical. They tend to be too hot during the warmest part of the day, and too heavy of a material to dry easily if you get wet accidentally such as when crossing a small stream.

For shoes, good ol' tennies will probably get you around most places. Anything dainty is a bad idea. Walking here involves dirt and dust and possibly brushy plants like grasses. Strappy sandles beg for a turned ankle or sand in your shoe or chilly toes. Don't feel like you need to lug a pair of heavy hiking boots up here if you don't intend to hike more than an hour several days of your trip. Most of the trails are not extremely rugged unless they're ones where you're committing to summit a mountain over a period of a full day or days. I can't tell you how many guests pull out a box of brand new fancy hiking boots, wear them on a walk where they weren't needed, and come home with painful blisters. A simple tie shoe such as an athletic shoe or a leather pair with socks will be the most comfortable and practical so you can go where you want to go in towns and on light adventures such as glacier treks.

Be sure to layer and take a warmer layer with you when you go out for the day. Bulky, heavy-duty raingear won't be needed unless you plan to stay outside in the rain regardless, such as for day-long hikes. For most tourists, a windbreaker or fleece jacket will keep the rain off long enough to get you from the car to your next activity or destination. Most of our rain tends to be drizzly, spotty mists, not penetrating, soaking downpours. Here's a chart of what to bring for which seasons.

You may think of Alaska as a land of extreme cold and danger, whether summer or winter. It's true that hypothermia can happen in summer, but usually that has to do with falling into frigid water, getting lost in the rain, when someone panics or otherwise fails to use common sense. Additional clothing precautions are needed if you are going unsupported into the backcountry or will be undergoing a long recreational hike or other adventures which will last more than a few hours.

I am a big proponent of under-packing for a vacation to Southcentral Alaska. You don't need every single possible thing. You need a couple of comfortable blouses or t-shirts, pants and possibly a pair of shorts, a light jacket and warmer fleece, and practical shoes. Nothing you'd go to in my area or in Anchorage will require "dressy" clothes. You can go to the best restaurants in Anchorage in Docker pants and a shirt--this is all quite normal in a place where tourists outnumber locals 3:1 and where Alaska Formal means you should wear shoes.

Packing light can free you up to have time to see as much of our great state as possible and not worry about managing suitcases full of stuff. There are laundromats everywhere, so it's easy to give everything a wash every few days. We can do your laundry for you, too, at Alaska Garden Gate B&B, while you're out for the day.

Be Spontaneous--About Some Things

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You can still be spontaneous during your vacation to Alaska, but reserving in advance on things like train tickets, Denali tours, flightseeing and day-cruise tours means you can fit in all the things you want to see and do in Alaska. Just ask if you need assistance finding ATV tours, glacier hiking guides, fishing, or any of the great adventures you can have in the Mat-Su Valley.

If your travels take you to other parts of Alaska, we also recommend having lodging lined up before you get there. Unless you're ok with the possibility of sleeping in your car, traveling where the winds take you or the spirit moves may lead to more adventure than you bargained for. In most towns in Alaska, tourists fill most of the lodging rooms during the busy summer months. And unfortunately, what is left late in the afternoon or evening may be undesirable to you in terms of price, quality or cleanliness.

While you're at Alaska Garden Gate B&B, we can recommend quality B&Bs or other lodging for each of your other destinations if you haven't already chosen places you'd like to stay. We've stayed at B&Bs and hotels all over Alaska and have first-hand knowledge of their places, as well as knowing the hosts. We're happy to help call around to find the best place for your interests and to suggest things to do along the way.

Remember, most of the tours and activity companies in Alaska are mom-and-pop operations. Only in rare instances can you expect to get good results being a "walk-up." We've seen it a lot where guests are out enjoying their day, it's great weather and spectacular scenery, and they're having loads of fun. They arrive back at the B&B at 9:30 p.m. and realize they would like to line up a fishing charter or flightseeing trip or ATV tour for the next day...Sometimes guests want to call a place at 9-10-11 pm and must think that there's a "24-hour desk" or concierge waiting for their call or something like that...No....Mom and Pop have retired for the evening and don't usually take kindly to calls at that hour! Also keep in mind that for smaller operations, they may be "full" for a particular day if you're calling just the day before.

Because the numbers of visitors who come to Alaska each summer is three times the population of the state, the tours, cruises and such do sell out. Don't leave your planning until last minute if there's an attraction that's important to you. We strongly recommend taking an hour or two on your first or second day here to map out a strategy, ask us questions about which things you'd like to do, and place calls to these tours or companies. It may take them a couple hours to get back to you, so giving yourself a day or so to coordinate a trip or activity with them is a safer bet. This way, hopefully you get the tour you want, at the time and day you want, at a price that fits your budget.

Top Attractions to See & Do in Our Area

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Even if you only have a few days, you can do it all in the Mat-Su Valley. Explore Denali (Mt. McKinley), glaciers, and wildlife... Your adventures can include canoeing, rafting, climbing, birding, fishing, flightseeing, nearby or back-country hiking, horseback riding, ATV'ing or snowmachining. Call us for more information about activities or see the Activities page of our website.

To view a short video, showcasing the Mat-Su Valley’s gorgeous scenery and ideas of what you can do here, click here.

Top Attractions to Do & See in Our Area

1. Hatcher Pass Guests consistently say this is one of the most beautiful places they've ever seen, worldwide. The spectacular scenery with lush, green 3000-8000 foot mountains are a compact mountain ecosystem that give you that away-from-it-all feeling during your 10-mile drive through the pass. It is located just 15 minutes from Alaska Garden Gate B&B.

Driving into the pass area, you leave the farms and woods of the Valley and start to drive along a surging river, full of boulders the size of small cars, right next to the road. Great photo opps! Be alert for wildlife.

You'll climb gently to Independence Mine area, a historic gold mine with interesting interpretive signs along a walking path and original buildings. Drive up a mile further to the actual pass where you'll find Summit Lake, a small, blue-green glacier-fed lake. There'll probably still be ice on it if you visit before mid-July. The snow stays year-round. On the short walk around the lake, you'll see up close the delicate alpine plants that flower by the millions. Most travelers will want to turn around and return the way they came: the road over the pass to Willow is very rugged. The Willow river grows from several trickles coming down from the mountain snowcaps to a rolling stream where flecks of gold shine in the sun. Here's where mining claims, sometimes hand painted on any spare wood and nailed to trees, are taken seriously (spelling errors included at no charge) Don't encourage a miner to shoot at you by panning on his claim.

2. Talkeetna a small town up towards Denali (Mt. McKinley). Well-known as the hippy, funky, eccentric town that the TV show "Northern Exposure" was based on, it really is like that. Honest. You'll want to spend more time there than you allotted yourself. Excellent souvenir hunting, too. Slow down, stop in at the West Rib Pub for a caribou or musk ox burger, and observe and/or get to know some locals whose talents and professions allow them to live back in the bush part of the year and flap their jaws with tourists like you part of the year, and tourists from every country on this earth.

If you hadn't already planned to do this, go Flightseeing with Talkeetna Air Taxi at the Talkeetna airport. Go! I'm serious! Where else on earth can you fly over the summit of a 20,000+ mountain and take in that kind of scenery for a scant $200 or so, flown by highly experienced bush pilots?

3. While you're at the Palmer Visitors' Center , the log cabin in downtown Palmer, take a stroll through their bountiful summer garden, including huge vegetables and ornamentals. In the Visitors' Center is a hidden gem: a small museum recounting the history of the Palmer farm Colony, started by President Roosevelt in the Depression, to give a new start to starving families from the Upper Midwest and provide food for the military.

4. The Matanuska Glacier is east of Palmer 45 minutes. The drive is full of panoramic vistas as you wind along the Matanuska River. You can see and touch the blue ice, as well as walk onto it for miles. Watch out for crevasses! Contact Mica Guides for guide service onto the glacier.

5. Take an ATV tour or boat tour of the Knik Glacier or go flightseeing over it. When you’re up the river at the foot of the glacier, you are REMOTE. It’s exquisite.

6. Located just north of Palmer is the Musk Ox Farm. The Musk Ox Farm is the only place in the world where these exotic animals are raised on a farm, and one of only a handful of places where humans and musk ox are in the same place (skip this attraction if you'd rather view them on the northern coast of Greenland or on the rocky steppes of Siberia).

7. The headquarters of the Iditarod sled dog race are located a few miles south of the Alaska Railroad train depot in Wasilla. You can take a cart ride pulled by the dogs for $5. It's a nice place to stop by if you're mildly interested, and fascinating and full of rich information, if you're into mushing. Free cute puppy cuddling and neat musherabilia to take home as unique souvenirs.

8. Eklutna Historical Park/Russian Orthodox church and cemetary. This native Athabaskan village has been continually inhabited since 1650. If this is of interest to you, you won't want to miss the Alaska Native Heritage Center, on the edge of Anchorage. You can easily spend a day there.

9. Take a hike: Short hikes include Bodenburg Butte, Thunderbird Falls, or any of the trails in Hatcher Pass. More vigorous climbs include Pioneer Peak (6600 feet; 8 hours up and back), Lazy Mountain, or Matanuska Peak, all right around Palmer. It's also fun to ride horses or ATVs into these same areas.

10. The tiny town museum in Knik, south of Wasilla, is packed with quaint Alaskana; call ahead for times they're open. Want a dose of "real Alaskans?" Wind your way out to the Knik Bar for a beer or prime rib dinner.

11. Alaska State Fair: if you're here during the last two weeks of August, you must go. You'll be amazed for any number of reasons. Giant vegetables, small-town appeal and good eatin', too.

12. Tsunami Warning Center In little ol' Palmer, NOAA tracks the seismic activity for the whole north
Pacific including sensors in Russia and Japan (the Hawaii NOAA bureau tracks the southern Pacific to Australia). Did you know a tsunami wave originating
in Japan could reach Alaska in less than 6 hours? The NOAA folks in Palmer give a fascinating tour, every Friday at 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

13. Don't forget fishing! No Alaska trip is complete
without fishing the great rivers of the Mat-Su, rich in salmon, trout, and all kinds of big fish. We recommend the knowledgeable and fun folks at Fishtale Charters.

Unpack only once: Do-able Day Trips

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Most folks visit Alaska for 5-10 days and want to see Anchorage, Denali and Seward. One good reason to stay at Alaska Garden Gate B&B longer is that our central location is in an area with lower lodging costs and lower bed tax. This means you can not only save hundreds of dollars in room rates but also on taxes which are much more. This also allows you to use your prime vacation time efficiently by coming back to our B&B each night.

Does this suit your travel style? By driving an hour or two more, you can save up to $100/night and not have to hunt for your new place to stay each night or worry about check-in times. Once you check in here the first day, you'll know where you're sleeping the next few nights and will be able to set your schedule however you like. While it's not unusual to pay $200+ per night in Anchorage or around Denali, you'll find reasonable rates in the Mat-Su Valley and at our B&B, ranging from $89 and up. Also, our Mat-Su bed tax is just 5%, compared to other Alaska destinations where bed taxes are as much as 12%. On a several-night stay, that difference can add up to the price of a night's stay! One other economic benefit to staying longer at Alaska Garden Gate B&B is that we offer discounts for multi-night stays. You'll see that the rates decrease 15% for a 2-5 night stay, and a 6+ night stay takes 25% off the price. Many guests who don't mind driving a bit more have found this to be their best value for several nights during their vacation.

Also see ideas for what to do for 3-Day Itineraries, 5-Day Itineraries, etc. on our Itineraries page of our website. There you'll also find ideas for active seniors, outdoor adventurers, parents traveling with kids, those interested in birding, viewing wildlife, flowers and plants, the Iditarod and sled dogs, berry picking, hiking, and many other interests.

With that in mind, here are places that are do-able day trips from Alaska Garden Gate B&B:

Anchorage: It's only 40 minutes into town from our B&B, so you can save with our lower rates, staying at our B&B if you want to go to Anchorage for shopping, museums, or it's the day you arrive in Alaska or the night before your departure for home.

Denali: This is a longer day-trip since it is 3 1/2 hours from our B&B to the mouth of DNP (Denali National Park). But it can make sense, particularly as part of a longer stay at our B&B where your per-night rate is so low versus the "gotcha" higher rates for hotels and lodging near Denali.

Talkeetna: The town of Talkeetna makes a fun day trip from our B&B, to walk the two-block long main street or do an activity on the rivers or flightseeing. It's a 90-minute drive each way. We recommend going flightseeing with Talkeetna Air Taxi (see our Activities page; also see our Itinieraries page for more ideas of things to see and do around Talkeetna). It's also a good place for dinner, preferably a place with a view of Denali.

Hatcher Pass: Just 13 miles north of the B&B, this extraordinarily beautiful natural mountain pass is a good place to get away for hiking, touring the defunct gold mine, or a leisurely drive.

The Glenn Highway Scenic Byway: Leaving Palmer and traveling east, you can have a spectacular day full of views of pristine glaciers, mountains and rivers.

Girdwood and Whittier: Very do-able to see these small towns on the way to Seward.

Seward: Located two and a half hours south of our B&B, the drive down is gorgeous and in Seward, the day-cruises to see sea animals and birds and a trip to the Sea Life Center are both worth it.

Too far: It is not recommended to do a day-trip to Homer, Valdez, or Fairbanks from our B&B. These drives are just too long to make in one day there and back.

1-Day/overnight Itinerary #1: What Not to Miss

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Your schedule is tight--you want to see Denali and drive to several parts of Alaska, and have only one overnight here in the Palmer area. What should you definitely see? Here's a list, assuming you're already going to Denali, Talkeenta, and Anchorage other days of your vacation.

Check in at the B&B and get your bearings. If you haven't had dinner yet, the place that's easy to get to is Evangelo's, just a couple miles from the B&B. If you're still fresh for a bit of adventure, go to Hatcher Pass. The drive is gorgeous--a definite "wow!" Near the summit is Hatcher Pass Lodge, which is a good place for dinner (be sure to arrive before 7 since they don't serve very late). Independence Mine State Park gold mine is next to that lodge, so it is a good place to stroll after dinner if the weather is still nice. Come back to the B&B and enjoy other guests or relax in your room.

In the morning after a hearty breakfast, you can fit in a half-day adventure before heading for your next destination. Choose from:
--taking a scenic drive to the Matanuska Glacier and trekking out onto the blue ice
--going to the Iditarod Headquarters and the Transporation Museum in Wasilla
--exploring Palmer's shops, the Visitor Center and gardens, and the Musk Ox Farm
--getting in a good 1-hour or 2-hour hike in the mountains nearby
--take a half-day ATV tour into the backcountry

See other posts in this blog for things to do if your interests include birding, antiquing, guy-stuff, or if you're traveling with kids.

5-Day Itinerary #1

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While most visitors to the Mat-Su Valley stay 2 nights, many of the guests at Alaska Garden Gate choose a 5+ night stay because they want to see and do so many of the things which can be reached from this B&B, and the lodging cost with the 5+ night discount of 25% is so reasonable that it makes sense to stay here longer.

This itinerary is a mix of exciting adventures and some down time to relax during your vacation. Get to know "the real Alaska," from wildlife to glaciers to Denali, with activity ideas from cultural museums to exhilerating flights or rafting or ATV'ing. Great for those who want to relax at a slower pace, or as a "base camp" for day-trippers. You can follow this suggestion for a driving tour with activities, or customize any part yourself as you make the arrangements.

If you say, yes! this is for us! but don't want to make all the phone calls or schedule it all, you can purchase an Excursion Package which matches this itinerary, and Alaska Garden Gate B&B will take care of all the necessary arrangements for you. To build your own trip, go to the Activities page of our website.

Day One: After breakfast, head out to the Matanuska Glacier for a guided trek on the blue ice. The drive on the Glenn Highway Scenic Byway is breathtaking. Return towards Palmer and head over to your ATV tour. Choose a 4-hour or longer guided tour into the backcountry to see parts of Alaska hardly anyone gets to experience. If the day is still young, go to Hatcher Pass. Sight-see at your own pace, and take in Independence Mine and Summit Lake.

Day Two: Have a leisurely breakfast at the B&B then drive to Dream a Dream Dog Farm for the Noon presentation and sled dog ride. Go to Talkeetna for a late lunch at one of their fabulous restaurants (downtown or at the Talkeetna Alaska Lodge). After walking along the main street for a while and snagging a few souvenirs, head over to Talkeetna Air Taxi for a flightseeing trip around Denali. Either hang around Talkeetna for dinner (the town gets more colorful as the day gets longer) or turn back towards Wasilla.

Day Three: Get an early start on the day and arrive at Denali National Park for a mid-day tour through the park. After the six-hour or longer bus tour, explore the shops and restaurants nearby. It'll make for a long day, but hopefully one in which you've seen outstanding scenery and wildlife in the pristine wilderness of Denali National Park.

Day Four: After some big adventures and resting up, make this day an easy one of sight-seeing locally. Learn about the unique and perserving musk oxen at the Musk Ox Farm near Palmer. Take a nice drive to Eklutna Lake for a paddle or for an easy hike. In the village of Eklutna, learn about spirit houses and the Russian Orthodox church, which has been in continuous use since the late 1700's. You might also enjoy the Iditarod Headquarters or local museums.

Day Five: Take a day-trip to Seward. The drive is gorgeous and interesting. There, get on a half-day marine cruise to see glaciers and wildlife. Back in town, go to the Sea Life Center. For dinner, don't miss the chance to have the freshest, best tasting halibut in Alaska.

Customize your Add-Ins as your time permits and depending on your interests:

--You really shouldn't miss the Native Heritage Center on the outskirts of Anchorage, or the Anchorage Museum, downtown.

--Mahay's Jet Boat tour out of Talkeetna, back to Steve Mahay's homestead

--If the fish are running, you might want to check out the action on the many rivers. Go it on your own or have a charter guide take you out.

--See other posts in this blog for ideas of things to do if you're into birding, antiquing, gardening, hiking, traveling with kids or guy-stuff to do.

See also the 3-Day Itinerary if your schedule doesn't quite afford this many days.

Once you have had your vacation here, we encourage you to submit your itinerary and favorite spots, so we can post them for future guests to read!

3-Day Itinerary #1

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The most popular length of stay in our area is 2 nights, 3 days, during a vacation to Alaska. Here is a suggested itinerary based on years of hearing B&B guests talk about their favorite places and what they chose to do when limited to just a couple of days in our area.

If you're staying between two to four nights in our area, this itinerary will give you a taste of the wildlife, the natural beauty, people and features of the Mat-Su Valley. This amount of time allows a good mix of driving and seeing it all with local experts, guides, and activities. You can follow this suggestion for a driving tour with activities, or customize any part yourself as you make the arrangements.

If you say, yes! this is for us! but don't want to make all the phone calls or schedule it all, you can purchase an Excursion Package which matches this itinerary, and Alaska Garden Gate B&B will take care of all the necessary arrangements for you. If you'd like to build your own schedule, you can find these adventures on the Activities page of our website.

Day One: After breakfast, head out to the Matanuska Glacier for a light trek on the blue ice. The drive on the Glenn Highway Scenic Byway is breathtaking. Return towards Palmer and head over to your ATV tour. Choose a 4-hour or longer guided tour into the backcountry to see parts of Alaska hardly anyone gets to experience. If the day is still young, go to Hatcher Pass. Sight-see at your own pace, and take in Independence Mine and Summit Lake.

Day Three: If you're checking out from Alaska Garden Gate B&B or if it makes sense in your overall vacation, this might be the day to go to Denali National Park. Get an early start on the day and arrive at the park for a mid-day tour through the park. After the six-hour or longer bus tour, explore the shops and restaurants nearby. It'll make for a long day if you're coming back to the B&B, but hopefully one in which you've seen outstanding scenery and wildlife in the pristine wilderness of Denali National Park.

Customize your Add-Ins as your time permits and depending on your interests:
--a tour at the Musk Ox Farm near Palmer
--a quick trip to the Iditarod Headquarters to get an overview of the race and meet the dogs
--the Russian Orthodox church and the spirit houses over the graves at Eklutna, in continuous use since the late 1700's, is very unusual
--Mahay's Jet Boat tour out of Talkeetna, back to Steve Mahay's homestead
--See the other posts in this blog for suggestions having to do with special interest such as birding, antiquing, hiking, traveling with kids, or guy-stuff to do.

See also the 5-Day Itinerary if you'd like to explore more, either to cover more territory or to go more in-depth!

Once you have had your vacation here, we encourage you to submit your itinerary and favorite spots, so we can post them for future guests to read!

Stay for a Week, Save 25%

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From here, you can see...Seward! Whittier! Denali! Talkeetna! Anchorage! These are all destinations that are do-able day trips while you enjoy the best values in excellent accommodations. Chop 25% off your lodging costs by reserving now. Subject to availability. No additional discounts. Take advantage of the Mat-Su Valley's reasonable lodging rates and our low taxes to use this as "base camp" during your stay. From this central hub, you can take day trips in every direction and only have to unpack once.

Check on the online availability chart for best room choice, and make your reservations on our secure site. See Reserve a Room at the B&B or Reserve a Vacation Rental for choices and amenities.

3 nights for the price of 2, Winter/Spring

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All winter and spring (through April 30th), enjoy special savings that allow you the long getaway you've been needing, or simply a more affordable way to stay longer on your business or family trip to the Mat-Su Valley. Mention this post, and stay with us 3 nights for the price of 2 nights. Subject to availability. No additional discounts.