Mat-Su Valley Blog

When a community hosts tractor pulls, farmers markets, and a Colony Days celebration commemorating its agricultural beginnings, you'd be right to assume that farming is a pretty big deal there. Just in case you still have any doubt, however, the town of Palmer has found a way to put its agricultural...

Independence Mine State Historical Park is nestled in the Talkeetna Mountains, in a breathtakingly beautiful place called Hatcher Pass. Today, visitors and residents can travel the paved road to the historic site and immerse themselves in the bygone gold mining era of the Mat-Su region. Here's a...

Despite having a lot of snow on the ground still, the first sign of spring is this weekend - the annual Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show at the Menard Center. You know that summer can't be too far away once the outdoor show season starts, and the Mat-Su show is the first one up on the calendar this year....

In your conversations about epic Alaska road trips, the Mat-Su is bound to come up. Navigated by three of the state's major highways, this region calls to every road trip adventurer out there. And it doesn't get much better than a trip along the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway. Getting there is...

Every spring, thousands of migrating raptors are funneled through a passage between the Mat-Su Valley's great mountain ranges in the Glacier View area. Fields of lingering snow reflect that brilliant northern sunlight upward, casting a glow on the passing birds of prey that fill the skies from March...

When people tell us about the adventures they'd like to have in Alaska, it's amazing how often they assume the activity is not for them because they've never done it before. That shouldn't make an activity feel unapproachable, though! Remember that ice climbers, white water rafters, backpackers,...

Whether you're riding the Alaska Railroad to the bustling little town of Talkeetna, catching the local community events around Palmer and Wasilla, or on your way to Glacier View to visit Matanuska Glacier, there is a wealth of unique and flavorful dining options everywhere you go in Alaska's Mat-Su...

The sun is returning and the temperatures may be easing, but there is still time to get some sweet runs in at the Valley's favorite recreational ski areas! Skeetawk, the first triple-chair lift ski area in the Mat-Su Valley, is open through April 20 for the season, giving skiers and snowboarders two...

Whether you're venturing out into the snow for the first time or you're looking for a new activity to add to your quiver of winter adventures, this event is for you. Winter Discovery Day is designed to connect you to a plethora of winter recreation opportunities and resources in the Valley. There...

The Oosik is hosted by the Denali Nordic Ski Club and is one of the most fun and funky races in Alaska. The course changes every year, but there are three divisions - 10- 25- and 50-kilometers. While competitive skiers definitely participate every year, it's the recreational skiers that have given...