Mat-Su Valley Blog

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...

Talkeetna Winterfest gets started this weekend with several events that are uniquely Alaskan. Winterfest officially gets started at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 with the tree lighting ceremony in the Village Park. Santa Claus will be on hand as well. Then, at 7 p.m., the motorized parade of lights...

Ditch Black Friday and opt for Shop Small Saturday this Thanksgiving weekend - you'll help support local businesses in Palmer and you may find yourself a treat or two. Instead of fighting crowds at a big box store, spend your Saturday strolling through downtown Palmer, supporting members of your...

Now that winter has finally settled into the Mat-Su Valley, it's time to look at your calendars and plan to visit some of the amazing community events that are held throughout the season. There are numerous community events that take place, but four stand out to us as "must sees." Up first is the...

Thanks to the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, a wide range of Mat-Su area trail maps are available in a convenient smartphone app. OuterSpatial is available for both iOS and Android platforms. It is a national app, but delivers localized content based on user's location. For the Mat-Su Valley,...

At this time of year, we often get asked, "Is Hatcher Pass open?" The answer is YES! And to be honest, it's a great time to visit one of Alaska's most scenic places. Hatcher Pass remains open year-round, although with a few caveats. The road over the pass closed on Oct. 1, so you can't drive from...

With the end of summer comes a new season - aurora watching. And the season got off to a great start, as amazing displays of the northern lights have been seen in the skies over the Mat-Su Valley for more than a week. The northern lights are a natural phenomenon that have to be seen to truly be...

Alaskans love summer, for good reason. But don't sleep on fall - there's a ton of great activities going on in the Mat-Su Valley in late September and early October. Here are five of our favorite things to do once summer is over, but winter is still a month or two down the road: 1. Take a hike....

The Knik River Valley is one of the Mat-Su Valley's hidden gems, and the recreation opportunities are endless. The Knik River Valley is accessible by Knik River Road, off the Old Glenn Highway. At the end of the road is Knik River Lodge , which has amazing views of the Chugach Mountains and Knik...

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...