April 23rd, 2009 by Hilarye
Summer is on it’s way which means it will be tourist season in Alaska. People flock to Alaska each year to look for 
whales, go hiking, camping, fishing and much more. I now know from experience it is a gorgeous place and can’t wait to get back there and experience so much more!
You all know by now how much I enjoy a good deal, and you don’t have to break the bank to discover and enjoy all that this great city has to offer. When traveling on a budget, there are unlimited opportunities to discover and explore. Here are 20 opportunities that are just $10 or less.
1. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
This spectacular, paved, multi-use trail hugs the Anchorage coastline of Cook Inlet from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage all the way to south Anchorage’s Kincaid Park, located 11 sprawling miles away. Whether walking, running, biking, or blading, keep an eye out for dramatic views of Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, six mountain ranges surrounding Anchorage and the beauty of Sleeping Lady mountain across the water, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof. Wildlife viewing is abundant with many birds, small mammals, beluga whales, moose and even an occasional bear sighting.
Cost – FREE
2. Anchorage Market and Festival
Held in downtown Anchorage every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, this open air market mixes one-of-a-kind arts, crafts and giant Alaska grown vegetables with live music, street performers and a selection of local and international food.
Admission – FREE
3. Wild Salmon on Parade
Wild salmon take to the streets each summer from June through late August, when 20 wacky salmon sculptures “swim” through downtown during Wild Salmon on Parade. These aren’t your ordinary chum – the four-foot statues are original, whimsical designs by Alaska artists. Established in 2003 and modeled after Cows on Parade in Chicago, Wild Salmon on Parade is a fun way to raise awareness and appreciation for salmon habitat, history and its physical properties. As the summer ends and the salmon run slows, the sculptures are auctioned off for charity at the annual Fish Fry & Buy.
Cost – FREE
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Tags: Alaska, Anchorage, budget
Posted in Travel Tips | 2 Comments »
January 8th, 2009 by Hilarye
I went on some pretty amazing trips last year that gave me quite a few amazing memories. The purpose of this blog post is to share those with you and let you look at some eye candy. These photographs were all done by my talented photographer husband. Enjoy!
Jefferson Memorial in Washington
Capitol Building
Rotunda in the Capitol Building
Rotunda in the Capitol
National Cathedral
Washington DC LDS Temple
Seward Alaska
Alaskan Fisherman
Alaskan Puffins
Waterfall, Anchorage Alaska
Bridge, Minneapolis Minnesota
Spoonbridge and Cherry, Minneapolis Minnesota
Hotel del Coronado, San Diego
Painted Ladies, San Francisco California
Tags: Alaska, Minneapolis, pictures, San Diego, San Francisco, travel, Washington DC
Posted in My Life, My Trips, Travel Tips | 8 Comments »
October 5th, 2008 by Hilarye
I was reading through travel news and I came across this slide show and article of 15 places every kid should see. I absolutely loved it! Even though most of these places I still have not seen and according to the government I am no longer a kid (although I still feel like one), it got me thinking about some of my favorite vacations when I was younger.
First off, you can look through the slide show (which is actually really cute) or I will just recap some of the places for you. 10 of the 15 places every kid should see are the Grand Canyon, the Statue of Liberty, Colonial Williamsburg, Lincoln Memorial, Niagra Falls, Gettysburg, Alamo, Pearl Harbor, Monitcello, and Disneyworld.
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Tags: Alaska, Cannon Beach, Disneyland, Grand Canyon, kid vacation
Posted in My Life, My Trips, Travel News, Travel Tips | 7 Comments »
July 2nd, 2008 by Hilarye
I didn’t really know what to expect when we landed in Anchorage, AK at 12:03 am on Saturday morning. I guess I half expected to be greeted by a moose or an Eskimo. It took me about two minutes to get over my disappointment when I stepped outside of the airport and could already see the beautiful mountains. To my surprise it wasn’t even dark outside. You could still see light on the horizon and a local informed us that this was the darkest it gets in the summertime and that the sun will rise about 4 am and set about 11 pm.
After a short night’s sleep (we were awaken by the sun-rise) we were both just itching to get outside and enjoy Alaska’s landscape. Honestly we came to Anchorage on a whim because we both had never been and always wanted to go. After doing some quick research via visitors guides we had picked up at the rental car place- we decided to take a 2.5 hour drive to Seward Alaska. Seward is one of Alaska’s oldest and most scenic communities. Known as the ‘Gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park’ Seward is a picturesque town located 126 miles south of Anchorage. – Honestly the drive itself is worth it. For the first part you drive along the coast and then you drive through the mountains- there are ample spots to pull off enjoy the views, take a quick hike, look for Alaskan wildlife and take plenty of gorgeous pictures.
The 2.5 hour drive turned into about a four hour drive because we could just not stop exploring everything the highway had to offer. We finally made it to Seward and grabbed a quick bite to eat from one of the local bakeries, took a walk along the pier and then headed to the Alaska Sea Life Center. I was dying to see a puffin and they had plentiful. It’s a little pricey about $20 dollars a person, but it puts you at ease to know that the money goes to research and rescue efforts of these marine animals. It’s a neat place and we definitely felt we got our money’s worth. They have fish, sea lions, seals, and of course puffins. If you have kids they will love it. On the drive back we made a quick stop to exit glacier, which the lookout is just about ten miles north of Seward. It was fun to see and on the way back down we saw a moose cross the street right in front of us! It took us just about as much time to get back to Anchorage as it did to get there. Places to look for Beluga whales, Dall Sheep, Black Bears and enjoy the views of the ocean. And this was just the first day!
Tags: Alaska, Beluga, Sea Life Center, Seward
Posted in My Trips, Popular Posts, Travel Tips | 3 Comments »
