Mat-Su Valley Blog

The unofficial "Last Blast of Summer," the Alaska State Fair, begins this Thursday in Palmer, kicking off 12 days of fun and excitement. The Alaska State Fair is Alaska's largest event and has exhibits and demonstrations, a great lineup of concerts, and of course, the "fair food." For information on...

For most visitors to Alaska, getting a glimpse of Denali is an amazing experience. For the most adventurous, climbing the 20,310-foot mountain is the reason they visit. But no matter if you are just stopping in Talkeetna for the afternoon or gearing up for an expedition into the Alaska Range, a stop...

Getting there is half the fun when it comes to any destination along the Glenn Highway, which leads north out of Palmer. The Glenn Highway has been designated a National Scenic Byway for good reason - the views along the way are absolutely breathtaking, including mountains, glaciers and rivers. It's...

The Mat-Su Valley has always been known as the agricultural hub of Alaska, with giant cabbages, potatoes and carrots being some of the best known products. In the last few years, however, peony farming has become a major part of the growing scene, with their giant, blooming flowers appearing on...

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...