Gaylene's Word Service

One of the state's most popular events is the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival, held every January. This year, the festival marks its 15 year anniversary, and it brings together not only the people who enjoy imbibing but also the people who create the beers, wines, and other assorted beverages. Demonstrations, lectures, exhibits, and of course, samples all make this event an extremely popular tradition.

There's lots of fun and recreation to be had indoors at Center Bowl, also known as Thunder Alley. Join your friends for a few frames in this state-of-the-art-bowling facility that offers a great place to improve your game; the kids will love the game room and you can take a break yourself by shooting pool or enjoying a snack and a beverage at the well-stocked concession counter.

When you visit Alaska, the wildlife will seem like it's everywhere! To familiarize yourself with your new surroundings, a visit to the Alaska Zoo might be in order. You'll marvel at the incredible diversity of creatures as well as how accurately they represent the animals you might encounter as you spend time in the state. The large viewing area features such popular zoo inhabitants as caribou, moose and Dall sheep grazing along together. Also, one of the zoo's most dramatic attractions is the 25-acre bear habitat where you'll see black bears, glacier bears, and brown bears, also known as grizzlies. Some of the zoo's other more notable inhabitants include a few camels, a Siberian tiger and an elephant that has the distinction of being the only one in the entire state!

Sometimes, a bird's eye view is the best way to get a look at an area as picturesque and expansive as Alaska. The Wings Aero Tours allows you to get that perspective on a flying tour of the area. Some of the many highlights include soaring over Mt. McKinley, Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords, glaciers, mountains and valleys. You'll see all of these natural wonders and more from the comfort of an Alaskan Floatplane. Don't forget to look for some of the area's incredible wildlife like Dall sheep, moose, bears, birds, marine wildlife and more among the many rivers, lakes and dense forests.