You know I'm always down for a good family adventure, but sometimes this "Adventure Mama" needs a little recharge. A trip to pack for that doesn't include worrying that I didn't bring enough diapers or wipes or snacks or toys. An adventure that doesn't include worrying about "potty breaks" and nap times and who's taking the next turn sitting in the car with the kid that's having a meltdown ;) I was lucky enough to be able to take such a trip this last weekend and it was definitely one for the books! About 7 hours south of Fairbanks (or 2 hours north of Anchorage) sits the largest glacier in the U.S. that is accessible by car. Matanuska Glacier (pronounced Mat-tan-ooska) is 27 miles long and 4 miles wide. This glacier is the most popular roadside attraction between Anchorage and Glenallen, especially in the summer season when tourists flock to the site. I definitely have had this glacier on my bucket list for a bit but I was more interested in seeing it during the off season, when things are just a little more frozen and interesting - and easier to access. While there are a few areas to see the glacier, the only way to get up close and personal is through a guided tour. It was for this sole purpose that this trip was planned. I invited my best adventure friend along for the ride and we set out for our mom trip starting with a drive to Palmer, Alaska. We booked my favorite cabin in Palmer - at Hatcher Pass Cabins - to stay in for 2 nights. It was beautiful weather and a wonderful drive. We checked into our cabin with contactless check in and we were set for the night! Hatcher Pass Cabins come with full bathroom and kitchen amenities. We brought our own food for breakfast and lunch with the intention of eating out for dinner. I love these cabins because, even though they are right off the highway, they feel very secluded from being tucked away into the trees. They are clean and homey and make for a perfect, cozy, Alaskan stay. The next morning we slept in - mom trip must, obviously - and left around 10AM to arrive at Matanuska Glacier at 11:30 for our 12:00 tour with Glacier Tours. It was super easy to find with our GPS. The drive was gorgeous with views of the snow covered Chugach Mountain Range. Once we got off the highway to access the glacier, it was definitely maintained but not paved. With Spring right around the corner, it was a little pot-holey in places but not bad and only a short few miles to the tour check-in spot. We parked and went in to sign the waiver and pay the fee and then were directed to drive another 2 miles to the start of the tour. After taking a little bathroom break (because there are no bathrooms past this spot!) we drove to meet our tour guide and get outfitted for the elements. While we were instructed to dress for the weather (snow pants, coat, hat, gloves, scarf, boots, etc...) the tour company provided us with crampons, or ice cleats, for easy ice hiking. From living in the Fairbanks area, we weren't too concerned with being cold (actually we were more concerned with being too warm due to the differences in temperatures just from back home that we used to haha) but the lady who checked us in complimented us on being appropriately dressed and said that we'd be surprised at the number of people they have to turn away for not dressing for the occasion so keep that one in mind! After getting fitted with our crampons, we joined our tour group and started on our way. Being winter, the river was frozen over so it was easy walking across the ice to get to the face of the glacier. It was important to stay on the trail, though. The ice is tested constantly and the trail can even change day-to-day based on the movement of the ice so it is important to listen to the guide for the safest experience. Our tour was 15 people including the guide and the tour lasted close to 2 hours. It was a very mild "hike" and while our group didn't include children, there were a few groups ahead and behind us with multiple children so it is doable! Honestly, I'm not sure my kids would be able to stay on the path haha but I'll leave that to parent discretion. The guide told us about the glacier and how it's formed. He taught about the movement of the ice and mentioned how it looks different in the summer. He took us to some very picturesque views and we even climbed into a narrow ice tunnel, which was definitely a highlight! But the real show stopper was getting to the face of the glacier, which was truly spectacular. The glacier face is about 250 feet thick of ice and was an incredible sight! We took our time enjoying the view and then we followed a tight trail out to the river again where we were met with a few snow machines pulling sleds to bring us back to where we started our tour. It was an awesome adventure and so fun to cross off the bucket list! I'm not sure how the hike goes in the summer when things are...less frozen haha but I can't imagine it offers better views! If you can swing a trip in the winter season, we definitely recommend! Though I'm sure the summer season is okay too ;) The rest of our mom trip included stopping at the Poppy Lane Mercantile in Palmer. It's a cute little store full of Alaska-made products from local vendors to the state and is a great place to stop for some quality souvenirs. The next morning we slept in again and after a quick breakfast, we left for a gorgeous drive back to Fairbanks complete with a few glimpses of the elusive Denali Peaks. A few notes for if you do make this drive in the off-season...rest stops are not open so take advantage of the few gas stations you pass on the way! Want to check out some other glaciers? Check out our posts on Portage Glacier and Knik Glacier, Castner Glacier ice cave, or even Valdez Glacier Lake. If you're interested in a one-on-one chat to help plan a custom trip to Alaska, check out our options here! Make sure to pin for future reference and follow us on Instagram for more of our day to day adventures. Until next time, get out and enjoy where you live!
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No one can argue that Alaska is a mecca for anyone looking for adventure. Whether you're looking to spend time in the rugged outdoors, spot some incredible wildlife, or experience life off-the-grid in any way, shape, or form, Alaska is the perfect place. As the second-largest city in the state, Fairbanks has it's own unique version of adventures that you won't find anywhere else and is the perfect home base for those looking for a one-of-a-kind adventure. If you've been around here for awhile, you know that we're all about those off-the-beaten-path kind of adventures. But we can always recognize when a more "touristy" activity is worth the hype and that's why we're highlighting the Fairbanks Riverboat Discovery river cruise in this post. Every summer the sternwheeler known as the Riverboat Discovery takes passengers on an all-encompassing river cruise immersing passengers in the history and culture of Alaska. In the 3-hour narrated tour, passengers learn about recent history and changes to transportation around interior Alaska - including presentations by a floatplane and at a sled dog kennel - in addition to being transported back thousands of years in a walking tour of an authentic native village and summer fishing camp. Some of the guides at the village as well as on the boat are natives themselves who grew up in villages around Alaska and offer a truly unique insight. The tour starts and ends at "Steamboat Springs", modeled after a trading post but essentially a gift shop complete with Alaskan souvenirs and concessions. Even if we don't talk you into going on the cruise, this gift shop is worth a visit. Not only is it the best souvenir shop in Fairbanks because of their selection and prices, but here you can also enter the 40 below chamber and get a little taste of what Fairbanks is like during the winter. Entering the cooler set to -40 degrees is free but you can pay to get your picture taken next to the thermometer. As the boat leaves the dock, the narrator starts to talk about the history of the company and the history of sternwheelers in interior Alaska. The tour company is a family owned business going back 5 generations. Over 100 years ago, when most people were brought to Alaska by gold fever, Charles M Binkley saw opportunity in a building a freighting business along the tributaries in interior Alaska and the rest is history! Not too far down the river, the tour meets up with a float plane pilot who takes off and lands right on the river next to the boat while explaining the importance of small planes in interior Alaska and what they do for the remote villages. It's not everyday you see a float plane up close in action, unless you live in Alaska ;) It's the perfect intro to life in the interior. Further down the river you pass a sled dog kennel. Officially called the Trail Breaker Kennel, it's home to the late Susan Butcher, a four-time winner of the Iditarod. Her husband now runs the kennel and does a presentation of kennel life and what goes into the summer training of a dogsled team. While this demonstration is very interesting, the best part is watching the sweet little sled dog pups tumbling over each other along the shore. As you continue down the river, you pass a native summer fishing camp with a guide on the shore that explains the importance of these fishing camps during the salmon runs each year and how they still use the historic ways of processing and storing fish for the tribe to last until the next year. Complete with an old school salmon trap as well as a smoke house, this demonstration is the perfect segue into the next part of the tour. The boat takes you all the way down the Chena River until you meet the Tanana River. It then turns around and stops back at the native village and lets everyone off to walk around and explore. There are presentations given that teach about the history and culture of native villages and how tribes have survived here for the last 10,000 years. My favorite part was learning about the different traditional fur clothing but learning about ancient home building and family life is very interesting as well. Although our kids favorite part was finding wild raspberry bushes and picking until their hearts' content ;) After an hour of exploring the living museum, you board the boat and make your way back to Steamboat Springs. We received complimentary donuts and coffee while on the boat and they did offer other food choices for purchase. They also gave samples of smoked salmon on the way back, just to give the full Alaskan experience. In addition to all that is offered on this tour, you get to enjoy the stunning views along the river and have the opportunity to spot some wildlife. We saw a few bald eagles along the way and it was just the cherry on top of a fun and educational experience for the entire family. There's a reason this tour was voted the best boat tour in North America and we definitely recommend putting it on your bucket list for your summer trip to Fairbanks, Alaska.
Comment or questions? We'd love to hear them! If you're interested in a one-on-one chat to help plan a custom trip to Alaska, check out our options here! Make sure to pin so you can come back to this post! Follow us on Instagram for some of our day-to-day adventures and until next time, get out and explore where you live! |
AuthorWe're just a military family enjoying where we live, one PCS at a time. Follow us as we explore our current home, South Carolina, and beyond. The world is our backyard. Archives
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