Mat-Su Valley Blog

There is a crispness in the air, as summer says good-bye to the Valley. Now is a great time to explore the Valley and take a scenic drive that bursts with color. One of our favorite drives is the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway, from Palmer north all the way to Lake Louise. It truly lives up to...

Summer is winding down in Southcentral Alaska, but there are still plenty of activities and fun things to do. Don't let summer slip away without getting out and enjoying what the Mat-Su Valley has to offer. Here are seven things we'll be doing in late summer. 1. The Alaska State Fair. The fair...

Byers Lake, tucked into Denali State Park, is an outdoor enthusiast's paradise, as it offers amazing hiking, caneoing, kayaking and camping opportunities year-round. The lake, located at Mile 147 Parks Hwy, (Highway 3), is in the heart of Denali State Park, and getting there is half the fun, as the...

Tucked in Denali State Park, the Alaska Veterans Memorial honors Alaska's veterans in a big way. Many Alaskans have driven right past the memorial, located at Mile 147.1 Parks Highway, without ever stopping. They should stop, because the memorial is an interesting peak into the military history of...

The newest campground in Alaska very well may have the best views in the entire state as well, as the K'esugi Ken Campground offers campers sweeping views of the Alaska Range, with Denali front and center. The campground, located at Mile 135.4 of the Parks Highway, opened this spring and has already...

This year's Fourth of July festivities in Wasilla are not only celebrating America's independence, but also the 100-year anniversary of the town's founding. Several events are being held around town on the Fourth of July and the following weekend, including the annual parade through downtown. On...

If your dream day begins by waking up at 3 a.m. on your day off, just so you can hit the river by 6 a.m., you aren't alone - you are a salmon angler and right now, the place to be is on the water, chasing king salmon as they enter Mat-Su Valley streams. King salmon fishing has been fair to average...

This weekend, Colony Days takes over downtown Palmer, and with it, plenty of opportunities to get outside, have fun and celebrate the rich history of the Matanuska Colony. Colony Days kicks off Friday with several events, including the weekly Friday Flings open air market with live music from the...

Every Friday throughout the summer, the Talkeetna Village Park is the place to be for live music, as the Live at 5 Summer Concert Series takes center stage. Co-sponsored by Denali Arts Council and the Talkeetna Chamber of Commerce, Live at 5 runs from May 26 through Sept. 1, with new bands playing...

Mother's Day is always a special occasion, but for the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer, it has become a tradition that many in the community look forward to all year. The Musk Ox Farm officially opens for the summer season on Mother's Day, for good reason - it's also an unveiling of the newest calves, which...