Many people don’t think of visiting the Mat-Su Valley in autumn. Peak visitor season for Alaska is June through August, but with less crowds and some beautiful weather still ahead, September feels like a local secret only Alaskans get to enjoy. The change in seasons means the long summer days of outdoor fun shift to a crisp breeze, colorful leaves, termination dust on the Valley’s majestic peaks, and northern lights dancing across the night sky.

Agriculture is one of my favorite parts about living in the Mat-Su Valley. The sweeping hay fields and old-fashioned barns, with a mountain backdrop that is uniquely Alaskan, are an iconic scene in this part of the state. My family recently took an afternoon drive through the farming neighborhoods near the Alaska State Fairgrounds. We found a place called The Apple Patch that lets you pick your own apples and purchase them by the basketful. I remember loving apple picking as a kid growing up in Illinois. It’s a nostalgic family activity that I was excited to share with my own kids!

We chose a beautiful fall day in early September. It was perfect. Partly cloudy, no wind or rain, and a comfortable 60-degrees. It felt magical watching my six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter run through the orchard grabbing apples off trees and tasting the different varieties. They both like apples, but somehow, they just taste better when they’re fresh from the source. We left with a bushel full of tasty local goodness that we will enjoy for weeks to come!

Besides apples, the Valley’s emphasis on agriculture means the fall harvest yields some of the best local produce you can find in Alaska. The carrots, for one, are the sweetest and juiciest I’ve ever tasted! Beets, squash, lettuce, tomatoes, flowers and baked goods are other favorites at the seasonal farmers markets throughout the area. You can sense the love and effort the growers put into everything they offer as they cheerfully tell you about a vegetable you’ve never seen before or explain their labor-intensive farming process.

Agriculture is also a popular attraction at the Alaska State Fair, which is held in Palmer every year, usually mid-August through Labor Day. They have cabbages heavier than a sack of concrete mix and giant pumpkins the size of boulders! Also, who could say no to petting bunnies, goats and baby chicks, right? Another popular fall event held every September by Pyrah’s Pioneer Peak Farm is the Fall Harvest Festival. Locals and visitors alike are invited to celebrate the season with tractor rides, a maze, games for kids, food vendors, face painting, and endless happy memories.

Farm culture in the Valley is something everyone should experience, and it’s even better if you visit during the harvest season in September. It’s a unique taste of the real Alaska you won’t want to miss.