Mat-Su Valley Blog

March is a great month in Alaska - the days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer. There's no better place to visit in March than Talkeetna for some of the quirkiest and fun events you'll find on the calendar. The fun begins just south of Talkeetna, in Willow on March 3. That's when...

The Iron Dog, the world's longest and most demanding snowmobile race, begins at Deshka Landing on Sunday, Feb. 17, as Pro Class riders set out in teams of two on a course that is 2,000 miles long. This year, 25 teams (two riders/team) will leave from the starting line at Deshka Landing. From the...

This weekend is the final one for the 2019 Willow Winter Carnival, and it actually gets started later today. The Willow 300 Sled Dog Race begins at 11:30 a.m. on Willow Lake. Hosted by the Willow Dog Mushers Association, it is one of the state's premier middle-distance races and attracts a very...

The U.S. Travel Association has named January 29 as "National Plan for Vacation Day" as a way to remind people to commit to taking their paid time off in 2019 and enjoying a vacation that rejuvenates, relaxes and restores. In 2017, American left 705 million paid vacation days go unused. According to...

The 58th Willow Winter Carnival gets under way this weekend, featuring a full three days of fun. The carnival continues next weekend as well, with most events taking place at the Willow Winter Carnival. The carnival gets started with a bang, quite literally. On Friday, there is a fireworks display...

Just because it's the winter doesn't mean you have to spend your days indoors - there are lots of ways to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months! Here are five of our favorite ways: 1. Take a trip to Talkeetna . Winter is a great time to visit. You can even make it a weekend by taking the Alaska...

Some of Alaska's best Nordic ski trails can be found just minutes away from Wasilla and Palmer, as the Government Peak Recreation Area boasts miles of groomed trails, many of which are lighted. The ski trails are essentially a series of loops, ranging in distance and difficulty, ensuring there is a...

Just because it's winter doesn't mean outdoor recreation comes to an end. There are adventures around every corner in the Valley, and a new program is designed to get people out and exploring the many opportunities to ski, snowshoe and fat tire bike this winter. The Winter Adventure Book is now...

Christmas is still 10 days away, but it seems that all must be under control for Santa. He was recently spotted in the Mat-Su Valley taking a break by fat tire biking and kayaking, two of his favorite activities. The jolly old man got in contact with Dan McDonough of Lifetime Adventures last week -...

Ask any Alaskan where they were at 8:29 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, and they can tell you - that's when the ground started shaking and it seemingly wouldn't end, as a 7.0 earthquake centered near Point MacKenzie in the Mat-Su Borough unleashed fury. I was sitting at my desk in Palmer. I've lived in...