Leisure and Travel Blog

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...

There is a takeover of Palmer coming this weekend, and women around the Southcentral Alaska region have been looking forward to it for months. The seventh-annual Who Let The Girls Out event in downtown Palmer includes two days of events, sales and special opportunities for women at numerous local...

The Mat-Su Valley's newest "residents" may just be the cutest yet - so far, 14 new calves have been born at the Williams Reindeer Farm in Palmer, which is gearing up to open to the public in a few weeks. The Williams Reindeer Farm has welcomed 14 calves to the farm so far this spring, with more...

This weekend, the Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show takes place, the first sign that summer is right around the corner. The show, which features booths and demonstrations about all things outdoors, is a highlight for me, because I know it's almost time to dust off my fishing rods, dig out my camping gear and...

This weekend, the 17th annual Oosik Classic Ski Race brings together 750 Nordic skiers in Talkeetna for one of Alaska's best winter events. The race, always held the third Saturday in March, is hosted by the Denali Nordic Ski Club, and every year, it's a popular event for not only participants, but...

We were disheartened to hear that the Iditarod restart moved from Willow to Fairbanks for 2017, but understand the need for the switch due to unsafe conditions along the route. And while the race won't be starting in the Mat-Su Valley, there is a long history between the Mat-Su and the race. Many...

One of Alaska's top cross-country ski trail systems is celebrating this winter's accumulation of snow, and skiers are flocking to the Government Peak Recreation Area at the base of Hatcher Pass for world-class conditions. Those looking for pristine conditions, spectacular views and gorgeous scenery...