Mat-Su Valley Blog

People travel for a variety of reasons - to learn about other cultures, to enjoy new foods, to take adventures and even for medical tourism. A growing trend that is having a positive impact on local communities, however, is "voluntourism," the act of volunteering for a cause while traveling. Often,...

Palmer is the place to be this Saturday, as the Palmer Museum's Garden & Art Faire takes over downtown with a variety of events, workshops and concerts. The event has become a staple on the calendar every mid July, and only continues to grow. Now in its 12th year, the event brings together...

Live music, baseball and an open air market are just a few of the highlights of a busy Summer Solstice weekend. Summer solstice is a tad bittersweet in Alaska, because we know we aren't gaining daylight any more. But, it' s a time for celebration as the longest day of the year is here, complete with...

This weekend, there will be HOGS everywhere in the Mat-Su Valley, as the Harley Owners Group is hosting the 25th anniversary Last Frontier Rally here. More than 150 Harley owners are expected to attend this year's Last Frontier Rally, organizers said. They aren't just local riders, either - several...

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. From 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,...

Want to know more about Palmer's history as part of the Matanuska Colonist project? Or are you interested in Wasilla's gold mining history? Perhaps Alaska's aviation history, or the culture of mountain climbing in Talkeetna? Luckily, all that and more can be found at one of the many museums around...

While today is the start of the Memorial Day weekend, it's also part of an entire summer filled with food, fun, live music and festivities as Friday Flings takes over downtown Palmer. Each Friday, the downtown area turns into a makeshift farmer's market, food court and music venue, as Friday Flings...

Every May, Talkeetna is the center of Alaska's aviation world, as the Talkeetna Fly-In takes place, attracting pilots and unique planes from around the state for a weekend of fun and events that kicks off Friday, May 17 at the airport. The Talkeetna Fly-In's slogan is "Honoring the past, celebrating...

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...

May 5-11 is National Travel & Tourism Week, which highlights the tourism industry and the many benefits it provides to our communities. This year the theme is "Travel Matters." This theme can be interpreted many different ways, and each are relevant. Travel matters to the economies of our local...