November 29, 2017

Life with a Toddler


Life with a toddler is flying by. It seems like just yesterday when little miss Morley was a fresh nugget being brought home from the hospital, and we were stumbling our way through the new adventure called parenthood. And now, a short 20 months later, we feel like we’re finally getting a handle on things with our sassy, walking, talking toddler.

Life with a Toddler: New PC Organics Baby Food

It is amazing how much has changed in such a short time. Within the short 20 months, many milestones have been checked off the list.  At first, they started small - first laugh, first tooth, first step, to name a few. But now, they have become larger in scale - learning her colours, shapes, letters and numbers. She can walk, she can run and she can climb. Despite the size, they are all milestones I don’t want to forget. They are all memories I don’t want the "momnesia" to erase.

I’m not talking pregnancy brain. But, yes, that too is definitely a real thing. I’m talking about what occurs when time moves way too fast and in the blink of an eye, your baby has gone from a little bug that is completely dependent on you to one that can move where she wants to go, voice her opinion and even, feed herself.

Life with a Toddler: New PC Organics Baby Food
Life with a Toddler: New PC Organics Baby Food

Yes, feed herself. Girlfriend sure loves her food, so that feat came pretty natural to her. While it started out messy, she has now learned to pick up small items with her fingers, use a fork and spoon and tell you when she doesn’t like something. Or in her words, “No want!” as it is swiftly swiped off her tray and onto the floor. Oh ya, did I mention the sass that comes with being a toddler?

Despite her very few food dislikes, little miss Morley has quite the appetite, and has quickly adapted her mama’s snacking ways. 

Whether we are on a road trip to grandma and poppa's house, a trip to the park, or any adventure in between, Morley's bag is always filled with nutritious, yet flavourful snacks. New PC® Organics™ baby food products are packed with balanced nutrition and flavour for your self-feeding little one. Snacks like mini rice cakes and fruit and vegetable oat bars are 100% certified to Canadian organic standards. It's healthy, it's tasty and it's easy for moms like me.

Life with a Toddler: New PC Organics Baby Food

The new line of PC Organics baby food products is the perfect way to nurture your child’s love of food. They are also mama and dada snacking-approved, but, sshhhh, don’t tell Morley that.

Have you tried PC Organic baby food products for your self-feeders? I'd love to hear your thoughts!





Disclosure: I have partnered with YMC and PC Organics Baby and have received compensation for this post. All opinions in the post are my own.
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November 27, 2017

Best Free Apps for Toddlers


I’ll admit, when it came to baby and the iPad, at first, I was not a fan. It’s not that I was worried about too much “screen time”. If I was, I’d be pretty hypocritical. At such a young age, I just didn’t see the need when she was surrounded by so many enriching books and toys, and the outdoors. I’ve also seen giving a toddler an iPad take a turn for the worse, as in, the world was ending if they did not have it. Ya, that probably played a part in turning me off the idea of screen time as well. 

My time to give in to the iPad came on our recent family vacation to Alaska. Despite creating this very elaborate busy bag for Morley, I knew it had the potential to fail us and that we needed to have a trick in our back pockets, just in case. Enter the iPad.

Best Free Apps for Toddlers

Toddler apps can be a beautiful thing for a parent. Just when you think a situation with your child is about to go south — say, a 14+ hour travel day —you whip out your digital device and poof! 

But, before we could give her the iPad, we needed to fill it with appropriate apps for someone her age and with her interests (mostly choo choos and baa baa sheep at the time).  

The problem was, how do you go about finding toddler apps that appeal to your little one, and are somewhat educational? There are thousands of toddler apps out there, but I wanted quality. Something recommended by someone like me for someone like me, the mother of a toddler.

After scouring the internet for suggestions (and asking a few mama friends), I came across approximately 20 new apps that I thought Morley would like. That may seen like a lot to download, but I knew there was likely to be some hits and misses among the bunch. And, hits and misses there were. Some may have been a hit to Morley, but I didn’t see the value. And, on the other hand, there were some I loved and thought for sure she would too, but they couldn’t keep her attention. You could say it was a bit of trial and error.

Luckily, I finally failed it down and today, I'm sharing the hits with YOU! Check out my tried and true list of the best FREE toddler apps. 

*Please note, we are Apple users, so these are apps intended for iPhones and iPads only. Sorry Android-lovers!

Best Free Apps for Toddlers

Best FREE Apps for Toddlers


Row 1:

A fun-filled learning app that features baby’s favourite Laugh & Learn™ characters. Children are encouraged to interact with engaging animations, sing-along songs & sound effects. 

Children are encouraged to learn animals and the sounds animals make through interaction with engaging animations and sound effects! Baby can tap, tilt or shake to set a learning world in motion! Designed for babies 6 months & up.

All aboard! Morley is really into “choo choos” right now, so she loves this app. This app takes kids through a variety of tasks that build and steer a LEGO® DUPLO® Train from station to station. Your child will play the role of the train driver, load cargo, build bridges, stop at crossings, help passengers, refuel, and lay new tracks to steer the train safely around obstacles.

Row 2:

We love watching Splash and Bubbles on TV, and now we can take them with us wherever we go! This app allows you to join the main characters - Splash, Bubbles, Dunk, and Ripple - on a journey to the world’s undersea habitats, where you’ll discover the creatures that live there and learn about the many different ways plants and animals thrive in the ocean. Then use the animals, plants, and objects you find to build and decorate your very own ocean!

I was a big fan of Mr. Roger’s Neighbourhood when I was young, so this TV show and app are a hit in our house. The Daniel Tiger’s Storybooks app offers a library of interactive stories narrated by Daniel Tiger, and show him learning little life lessons, like sharing with friends and being a helper.

Coming from this mama, kids are never too young to start learning about their natural world. This app offers daily activities that will get your family outside, exploring your neighbourhood and learning about nature. It's part of PLUM LANDING, a PBS KIDS project that helps kids develop a love for this amazing and beautiful planet we call home. It features 150+ unique missions to explore your local plants, animals, weather and more!

Row 3:

This app is an easy-to-use painting application that is designed specifically for little kids to enjoy doodling freely, and without mess. It has more than 20 “brushes”, such as neon, fireworks, rainbow brush, crayon brush, oil brush, etc. Your child’s Picasso can then be saved onto your phone to share.

Out of the whole list, I would say Kids Doodle has seen the most action. Because it keeps her occupied, and we don’t always carry the iPad when we’re out, I also have downloaded the iPhone version.

This is an app full of games, activities, and videos, which will help teach your child about letters, sounds, and words. (Please note, the free version only contains Letters A, B and C. You must upgrade to unlock letters D through Z.)

Animals are a hit in our house, and this flash card app allows Morley to become an animal expert. Whether it be trains, horses, boats, sheep or cats that interest you child, this learning app allows children to choose from an extensive list of sounds lovingly presented in cartoon images for easy recognition. Each sound has five different versions to listen to. So, for example, if your child selects the dog, listens to the sound of a dog, and then taps it again, a different dog sound plays accompanied by a different dog image to enjoy.

Row 4:

I know you may not associate this app with a toddler, or learning activity, but on a long travel day it is much appreciate. The Netflix app allows you to pre-download your favourite shows to watch when you are offline. No wifi needed to watch. It is a lifesaver in the car! 

When connected to wifi, this app is a great alternative to Netflix. The official YouTube Kids app is designed for curious little minds to dive into a world of discovery, learning and entertainment. YouTube Kids gives your family an easy way to watch their favourite shows, or explore anything that captures their imagination. It’s free, simple to use, and full of family-friendly videos.

Our personal favourite YouTube videos? Shaun the Sheep - with no words, it is entertaining for the whole family. Mama and dada included.

Travel with Harvey, Jinja, Robin and Jack as you explore space, fly through a forest, build a robot, design a monster, drive a firetruck, deep-sea dive, become a superhero, visit your friends and more – all in one whimsical world. This free app gives you unlimited access to the complete collection of 20+ games, all in one kid-friendly app.

Best Free Apps for Toddlers

Recommendation: When giving your toddler the iPad or iPhone, I highly recommended using the Guided Access setting, which temporarily restricts your device to a single app and does not allow them to do some major rearranging of other apps. Learn how to set it up here


Does your toddler enjoy using the iPad? What are their favourite apps? I’d love to hear your thoughts!


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November 23, 2017

A Walk Through the Alaska Zoo


Whenever we travel to a new destination, the animal lover in me always enjoys visiting the local zoo or aquarium.

Our recent visit to Alaska was no exception. Except this time, the local zoo wasn’t a new place to us. We’ve been there many times before.

The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska

The Alaska Zoo is a pretty special place - not only is it the only zoo in the entire state of Alaska, it has a proud, and extremely interesting, history dating all the way back to 1969. 

What started as a home for an elephant won in a contest (crazy, I know), has evolved into a home for orphaned and injured wildlife from across the state.

Situated on 25 acres on the Anchorage hillside, today The Alaska Zoo is a non-profit dedicated to promoting the conservation of arctic, sub-arctic and like-climate species through education, research and community enrichment. 

It also holds a special place in our hearts. When we lived in Anchorage, the Alaska Zoo gave me an opportunity to do something I love, experience some incredible adventures, meet some amazing people I still consider good friends and ultimately, hockey aside, was a large part of the reason we were able to stay in Alaska for three years.

And this visit around, I was very excited to be able to share it with Morley.

The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska

Allow me introduce you to some of my furry and feathery friends… 

Wandering down the trails, you’ll pass the two resident polar bears, wolverine, moose, red fox, Canadian lynx, musk ox, owls, eagles, and wolves just to name a few. Venturing further you’ll meet the resident porcupine, black bear, bald eagles, coyote, dall sheep, mountain goat and three brown bears. Jake, the Kodiak, is the oldest resident at the zoo and arrived in the 80s. Amur tigers and snow leopards, not found in Alaska but in similar climates elsewhere, also call the Zoo home. 

The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska

All of the animals come with a special story, and all play a big part in why the zoo is so popular amongst Anchorage residents and visitors.

For example, my pal Peabody the great horned owl (pictured above on the right) is missing a wing. As a result, he can't fly. And an owl that couldn't fly wouldn't be able to hunt for food or avoid predators in the wild, and therefore would not survive. Having been rescue and rehabilitated, he now has a permanent home at the Zoo and is a favourite amongst the school children he visits. 

The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska
The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska

That's Lauren the dall sheep and Maya the musk ox above. They both came to the Zoo at just a few days old. Lauren was separated from her herd in Nelchina, AK and Maya rejected by her mom shortly after birth.  I had the fortunate opportunity of working hands-on with both of them, harness training them and eventually being able to take them for walks on the Zoo trails and even off grounds for outreach. Now Maya is well over 200 lbs (with some pretty sharp horns), and a mama herself. 

You can say I have a pretty strong connection with the place. 

When the fact that I worked at the Zoo came up in conversation, Anchorage locals were never shy to tell me their own connections to the magical place. And I was always happy to listen. Whether it was remembering visiting the elephant as a child, having Peabody the great horned owl visit their classroom or just enjoying a Christmas-light lit stroll down the snow-covered trails, every person’s connection with the Alaska Zoo is unique, and just as special. Much like the animals that call this place home. 

The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, Alaska

If you are visiting the Anchorage area, I highly recommend scheduling time to visit the Alaska Zoo. Two hours is all you need to take the quick drive up the hillside, say hello to my furry and feathery friends and help support a place that does amazing things for conservation and the animals of Alaska. 

The Alaska Zoo
4731 O'Malley Road
Anchorage, AK 99507
Ph: 907-346-2133


Do you enjoy visiting zoos and aquariums in your travels? What one is you favourite? I’d love to hear! 


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November 21, 2017

50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane



I'll be honest here, going into our recent trip to Alaska, I was nervous. Not nervous for the visit itself, but nervous for the plane ride there and back.

It wasn't the fear of flying itself that made me nervous. Nah, it was the fear of the 14 hour travel day with a toddler that sparked the nerves. 

I knew the flight would be different than her last two at 3 months and 10 months. Toddlers are fully mobile, opinionated and most times, it’s their way or the highway.

So ya, I was nervous.

50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane

I know you're dying to know... how did it go?!

I would love to tell you that the flights (that's plural, for three flights each way) were all rainbows and butterflies, but they weren't. There were a few times when we became "those people” - the people that everyone rolls their eyes at when they see a small child in tow. The people with the screaming, inconsolable toddler. The people whose anxiety immediately shoots through the roof because we knew things could go downhill real fast if we didn't act quick.

But, at the end of the flight, we were also the people who received comments about how well their child traveled. Even from a few of those initial eye rollers.

It really wasn't so bad.

I had worked myself up for it to be so awful, that when in reality, it was not all that bad.

Despite a few short moments of anxiety, it was all worth the memories we made with Morley, and we would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane

Are you planning a trip on an airplane with a toddler? There are many ways to keep them occupied that don't take a lot of prep work. Here are 40+ tried and true options to consider for your next airplane ride with a toddler.

PRE-FLIGHT


My first piece of advice comes before you even get on the plane, and involves booking your flights. If possible, schedule your flights around your child’s nap time or overnight, in hopes that they sleep. Avoid times when they are cranky. Don’t pick a flight that sets you up for failure before you even leave.

If your child will be sitting on your lap, book your seat in the aisle. When time comes, this will allow your child to wander up and down the aisle, and you easier access to chase them/the washroom.

When packing, add extra clothes, pjs, stuffy and blankie to your carry on for some added comfort. 

Remember there is often 2-3 hours of waiting time in the airport, between check in and boarding. For us, this was possibly the hardest part. (Especially when one of our flights home was delayed and that initial 2.5 hours turned into 4.) Bring a small umbrella stroller to push your child through the airport. While you’re waiting to board, this could also become a toy for them, allowing them to push it around. Most airlines will also allow you to gate check this free of charge.

50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane

COMFORT


Once you get on the plane, work with what is available to you. If your child will be sitting on your lap and you see an empty row, immediately ask the flight attendant if you can take advantage. Giving your lap infant a seat of their own will give you more room as well. 

Comfort is key, especially on long flights when you're trying to get your child to sleep. Ask the flight attendant for an extra blanket.

If the flight is during their normal sleeping time, change them into their pyjamas and give them a bottle (if they take one) to signal its time to sleep. If your child drinks milk, don’t worry about bringing your own. Ask your flight attendant. On our recent Delta flight, they had small cartons available. 

If your child still takes a pacifiernow is not the time to leave it at home. Not only will this help with comfort, it may also help alleviate some discomfort during takeoff and landing. Bring a pacifier clip and attach it to your child's clothing so it doesn't fall on the floor. 
 

TOYS & ENTERTAINMENT


Ask the flight attendant if they have any activities for younger children - often times this may be as simple as a colouring book and crayons

Next, there's always the inflight entertainment system - pop on a movie or tv show your child enjoys. Depending on the carrier, nowadays the selection is pretty impressive. Read through the magazine and safety card in the seat back pocket.

As much as we try to avoid the use of the iPad, we knew it was not going to happen on a long travel day. In fact, we encouraged it. Prior to the trip, we downloaded lots of new and exciting toddler-friendly apps. Elmo ABC, KidsDoodle (pictured below) and Toddler Flash Cards (pictured below) topped Morley’s favourites list.  Don't forget about a solid case to product the iPad incase your toddler drops it. 

Since we did not want her using headphones, we opted for apps that did not need sound. This also helped to minimize the disruption to our neighbours. If you have a Netflix subscription, download a few of their favourite shows a head of time. 


50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane

Real books are heavy, and with carryon space at a premium, I recommend that you leave them at home. If your toddler enjoys reading, try downloading some picture books on your iPad or tablet. 

The busy bag I created was a hit. I filled it with some of Morley’s favourite things (crayons, colouring book, stickers) and some things she had never seen before (play-dohanimal dominoesgel window clings, etc.). I packed items that were small and could be sorted, stacked, or otherwise moved from place to place - foam blockscoloured popsicle stickssmall animal figurines, to name a few. 

The bag itself (her school backpack) was also a hit - she loved playing with the zipper

50+ Ways to Occupy a Toddler on an Airplane

FOOD & DRINK


When the snack and drink service comes around, take advantage of what they have to offer. Grab extra snacks, some for now and some for later. Toddlers love to sort and move things from place to place. Ask for a few extra creamers for your coffee and an extra cup. Put down the tray table and let them use their imagination.

Snacks are a must. Our go-tos are squeezable apple sauce pouches and small finger foods, such as goldfish, cheerios and veggie sticks. Small, individual pieces will take your toddler time to eat. (Be sure to check FAA regulations before you pack your snacks.) 

To save on space, only pack enough for one leg of your journey. If you have a layover, plan to restock your snacks at an airport store. Fruit snacks, granola bars, yogurt and fruit cups can easily be found. Don’t forget to grab utensils, or bring your own from home.

For drinks, make sure you have a sippy cup with a straw and/or closable lid. Last thing you want is the water spilling all over, or falling on the gross floor.


Have you taken an airplane with a toddler? What are some of your favourite ways to occupy a tiny traveler? I’d love to hear!






Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing through these links helps to support To & Fro, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!
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November 16, 2017

Road Trip: From Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska


*This post was sponsored by Cars.com, however, all opinions are 100% that of To & Fro.

Road trips are our thing. We love a good road trip. 

When we lived in Alaska, our favourite thing to do during our summer weekends was to pack up the car with our outdoor gear and just drive. Drive to explore new places and spaces, down roads we had never been. 

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

When planning our Alaskan adventure this time around, we knew the three(ish) hour trip down to the Kenai Peninsula to visit friends was a must. We had done the drive a handful of times before, but this time was a bit different. Not only did we have a little one in tow this trip, Anchorage had been blanketed by dense fog the days leading up to our road trip. We knew that there was the potential the drive could get a bit dicey going through the mountains pass. But, as they say in Alaska, you can't plan around the weather. 

Despite the weather, the drive down to what is affectionately known as "Alaska's Playground" is always an adventure, and one serious visual buffet. 

Hop in the car. Let me take you on a scenic road trip from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska.

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

It’s 9:30am on an early November day. We hit the Seward Highway and head south out of Anchorage just as the sun is rising. The dense blanket of fog and cotton candy skies make the first leg of the journey along the Turnagain Arm especially stunning, and easily the most dramatic. 

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

As we leave the “big city” behind, the highway narrows to two lanes, and is sandwiched between Potter Marsh on our left and the Turnagain Arm of the Cook Inlet on our right. 

Potter Marsh is a favourite for nature lovers, often welcoming snow goose on their migratory stopover, spawning salmon, bald eagles and the occasional moose. Maybe we’ll stop there on the way back, hoping the fog has lifted.

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

Past the marsh, the road begins to wind - this time, we have the ebbing and flowing tide of the Cook Inlet on our right and the steep rocky cliffs of the Chugach State Park on our left. A bit of a change of scenery. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the white specks in the mountains - they may just be dall sheep.

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

We’re in a bit of a time crunch. But, if we could, we would stop at one, or more, of the many scenic lookouts or tiny towns along the way - Beluga Point, Bird Point, Girdwood and Portage Valley, just to name a few.

As we pass the Portage Valley turnoff, where you would catch the access tunnel to Whittier and Prince William Sound, we begin to wind ourselves around the tip of the Turnagain Arm. Again, the scenery changes. Now with mountains as far as the eyes can see. We have officially reached Turnagain Pass. 

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip
Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

Continuing on the highway, we make a short pit stop to get our photo taken at the Kenai Peninsula welcome sign. A must do.

Back on the highway, a sign for Hope suddenly appears. Seeing as we’re on an adventure, let’s go down a road we’ve never traveled and check out the small town. Population 192. 

And, just as quick as we arrive, we turn back around to the highway. I'm sure its a beautiful, bustling little town in the summer, but in early November, there's not a soul in sight. 

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip
Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

At Tern Lake, we take a slight right at the fork and meet up with the Sterling Highway, one of Alaska's Scenic Byways. This highway is a popular place in the summer months as it leads to some of the best fishing spots along the Kenai River. 

During a road trip in the summer, its not rare to see shoulder to shoulder “combat” salmon fishing along the banks of the turquoise-coloured Kenai and Russian Rivers, or the odd bear wandering the banks in search of its next meal. 

This area truly is Alaska’s Playground, and is also a haven for rafting, flight seeing, horseback riding, hiking, camping and more. This time of year the bears are sleeping, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles and moose!

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

Continuing on, we pass the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge and drive through the small towns of Sterling and Soldotna. Not far from Sterling is Funny River. You may have heard about the terrible forest fire that happened there a few years back. 

If you hook a right through Soldotna, you’ll be taken to the Peninsula’s namesake, the town of Kenai itself. 

Seeing as we've been in the car for a few hours now, lets make a pit stop for a snack at one of our favourite places in Soldotna - The Moose is Loose. Morley will tell you, they have the best apple fritter donuts. 

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

We're almost there, I promise.

Driving just a few miles past Soldotna, we’ve arrived at our destination of KasilofIf time allowed, we would keep on driving to the end of the Sterling Highway and reach Homer, the halibut fishing capital of Alaska. I highly recommend planning a trip to come back during the summer months for some halibut fishing on the Kachemak Bay, a must on anyone's Alaskan bucket list. 

Now that we're here, it's time to kick back and relax for a night while we catch up with some good friends.

Thanks for coming along, we hope you enjoyed the ride!

Anchorage to Kenai Peninsula, Alaska Road Trip

Are you planning an upcoming road trip vacation, and in search of the perfect rental car? For peace of mind before you rent, check out cars.com for the latest expert reviews, multi-car comparisons and more! 

Have you taken any good road trips lately? I'd love to hear!


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November 14, 2017

Alaskan Adventure Recap


The time between we said, "Let's go!" and, "It's go time!" seemed to crawl by at a snail's pace. And when it finally came, it flew by in the blink of an eye. Vacation is never long enough.

We are officially back from our 10 day long whirl-wind Alaskan adventure. And what a whirl-wind it was. We fit so much into our time in the Last Frontier. I'm already ready to go back.


We flew into Anchorage in the middle of the night. It instantly brought flashbacks of when we first moved up there, almost exactly seven years ago to the very date and time. We had no idea what to expect at the time. This time was different though, we knew exactly what to expect as soon as the sun came up. And we couldn't wait to experience it all over again with little miss Morley in tow.

The week was spent catching up with friends, exploring our old hangouts and favourite spaces and eating and drinking at our favourite restaurants. Some good memories indeed.

We took a trip up the winding hillside road to Flattop Mountain. Safe to say, the wind and fog made our visit pretty short. Down on flat ground, we explored Kincaid Park in the city's west end. The Park holds a special place in our hearts because it is where we got engaged back in 2012. It is also a pretty surefire place to spot one of the many moose that call the city home. Except this time, the dense fog that blanketed the city prevented us from making it back to the beach and from seeing the moose Morley had her eyes open for.


Turns out, the two moose we did actually see (that weren't at the zoo) were eating the pumpkins off a friends' neighbours' front porch. As soon as Morley saw them, she instantly knew what they were. A mama and baby moose eating pumpkins. Almost two weeks later, she still talks about it. 


While visiting, a few people asked why we were crazy enough to visit when we did. It was cold, it was dark and the threat of snow was real. But, we knew what we were getting ourselves into. It also happened to work out with our vacation time. And, if we were visiting Alaska in October, it made sense to do so at Halloween because, well, Zoo Boo. 

We knew we'd be spending some time at the Alaska Zoo, so why not do so at Halloween with old friends (both people, furry and feathery). The Alaska Zoo's Zoo Boo was also voted the top trick or treating destination in the entire state. (I can't wait to share more about this place in a later post.)


Our trip also involved lots of food and drink.

Two years ago, friends opened a brewery located about 25 minutes outside of Anchorage, in Eagle River. A trip, or two, to Odd Man Rush topped our list of "must drink places". If you're in the Anchorage area, I highly recommend a visit. Their Enforcer IPA is one of my favourites. 

One of our favourite places to eat in the city is Moose's Tooth, a local brewery and pizza joint. We were no stranger during the week. Our favourites? The Spicy Thai Chicken (roasted chicken, red onions, bean sprouts, carrot threads, cilantro, mozzarella, provolone and peanut sauce) and the Backpacker (spinach, roasted garlic, sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, artichoke hearts, feta, mozzarella, provolone and garlic oil) pizzas and Fairweather IPA. My mouth waters just thinking about it.


After an amazing few days in Anchorage, we decided to take a drive south to visit friends on the Kenai Peninsula. With the weather in town being super foggy, we really didn't know what we were in for on the drive. But, as they say in AK, you can't plan around the weather.

The 3(ish) hour drive out of the city was stunning. The fog blanketed the Turnagain Arm making it a very scenic drive as the sun came up.


This is just a small taste of our family's recent Alaskan adventure. It's really hard to sum up the amount of fun we had and memories we made in a short 600 words. Morley had a permanent smile on her face the entire week, and we can't wait to start planning the next trip back.

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!

Upcoming Alaska posts:
A Road Trip from Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula
Favourite Anchorage Outdoor Spaces
The Alaska Zoo

Have you been to Alaska? I'd love to hear your favourite things to do and see!





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