Riley Creek Bridge

I am "one of THOSE people"! The kind that had been given great opportunities to travel and visit places all over the place and do some really cool things but I totally take for granted the areas that I live. My friend A.L. got so mad at me when I lived in Utah for over 5 years and had never been to Moab (finally went with her), Zion's or Bryce Canyon (still never been).

Alaska was kind of the same way I see a BIG part of it - but it's usually the same part all the time and I can get in the habit of not making an extra time to get out and explore just for myself. But the fall colors were too perfect and with some great company we had a great hike down by the Riley Creek.

Helicopter Flight in Fall

I was on tour in Denali on a hold over day just after the height of the fall colors and a tour director was able to get on a helicopter flight in the morning while I helped some of her guests with their excursions so she offered to return the favor and I put in a request - luckily after the weather cleared they were flying and had one spot left so I literally jumped at the chance and I'm so glad that I did, seriously one of my highlights of the summer. (The pictures don't even do it close to justice)!

Alaska State Fair

Of course we had to go out an afternoon to Palmer, Alaska for the State Fair - my ulitmate favorite are the giant vegetables they grow with all the sunlight that they get during the summer. (unfortunately the family musical group that I LOVED last summer didn't make it back - tear!)

We then had to get some fair food and take some pics in the cut-outs provided (oh we went to the lumberjack show - Yo HO - it was the same as last year I didn't take any pictures).

Finally we went into one building after looking at the art displays and animals too and I leave for a few minutes to go to the bathroom and when I come back all the boys have been enticed to try this muscle stimulator machine. Later they got talked into this meditation booth as well (I think I watched the vit-a-mix demo while I was waiting - and the guy was creepy), I was afraid if I left them again they might join a cult - But you know the usual fair experience.

All by myself - SURPRISE!

So I picked up a tour where it was only going to be a one bus move so I was going to be the only tour director on our pattern - not really a big deal except that one night I would be all by myself at the Alyeska Resort (no other tours were there and my bus driver left too). Luckily my roommate and friend Hana had the night off so she drove down to stay with me and we got ourselves tram tickets up to where the ski lodge is! Nice to kind of be a tourist while your on tour and thanks Hana for coming to hang out!

We took the tram up to go for a little hike - who knew it'd be dangerous!

Thanks for driving down Hana - view of glaciers and hotel below!

To Share is Sweet

My friends Levi, Mandee, and Joe came up to visit me in Alaska (Levi once lived here). It was so fun and we had some great friends that let us stay at their house while they were out of town. We spent the little time that we had doing as much as we could, and we took way to many pictures so I'll try to sum it up!

We started with the Trolley tour of Anchorage then drove to Potter's Marsh

Then we went to the Wildlife Conservation Center to check out some animals!

We headed to hike up to Bryon Glacier


The next day we went to the Alaska Native Center to get our "totem on"


And tried on some native sunglasses

Then we stopped where Levi could've stayed the whole trip - The Aviation Museum!


Levi is in Heaven and told us about EVERY plane and small detail - but it was really cool!



We went down to Girdwood to hike the Winner Creek Trail and went across the tram over the glacial runoff


We stopped by the Anchorage Museum (no pics) and then rented bikes from Paublo to ride along the coast and watch planes take off overhead!
(By the way Uncle Paul happened to be in town and so he game with us)

Thank you so much for coming it was a great couple days and I'm glad I was able to share some of my favorite things with you!

Finally A Boat Tour

So we have a few tour patterns that include a boat tour into Kenai Fjords National Park, and I finally got one of those tours! I was soooooo excited and of course it was pouring rain the Friday that I got to go, but that couldn't bring me down. We saw some great birds, Stellar Sea Lions, sea otters, and made a fun stop at Fox Island. Unfortunately it was too late in the season for whales (but maybe next year)!

Luckily too I got to be on the boat with some of my fellow tour directors and we had a great time!

Denali & Visitors

Hana's dad came into town and they were passing through Denali while I was on tour so we were able to take him to the local hot spots - The Salmon Bake, Prospector's Pizza, Cabin Night - we even got him to participate as the Moose, and then Hana and him were able to go into the Park and enjoy a tour. It's fun to have personal visitors to share Alaska with!