Fall Road Trip Memories

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I am so happy to live in a place that experiences fall. While it means the weather is getting colder, the changing colour of the leaves makes me happy.

Besides the changing weather and colours, I also love the scents of fall - – the cool autumn breeze, the crunchy leaves and all of the fall food. Thanks to the Glade^® Limited Edition Fall Collection, you can bring these fall scents into your home all season long. I love the Pumpkin Pit Stop™ and Hit the Road™ scents. 

The Glade^® Limited Edition Fall Collection's Hit the Road™ scent takes me back to one of my favourite fall days – a spontaneous road trip to Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. It was a dreary day, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the vibrant fall colours in the Park. 

Fall comes much earlier in Alaska than we're used to down in Canada and the lower 48 United States. However, it doesn't mean it is any less beautiful. While Denali National Park is spectacular no matter what season you visit, I especially love the layers of colour in the fall. The further into the park we got, the more the leaves changed – from green to yellow to orange to a brilliant red. 

"Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." - Elizabeth Lawrence

Looking to bring a little fall into your home? The Glade^® Limited Edition Fall Collection scents are available in jar candles, wax melts, PlugIns^® Scented Oils and premium room sprays, and can be found in the air-freshener aisle at your local Kroger or Kroger banner store. Each fragrance encapsulates a timeless, yet unique, fall experience, and helps you capture a moment you might otherwise miss. 

Happy fall!

What Glade^® Limited Edition Fall Collection products do you have in your home?

Have you taken a memorable fall road trip to see the changing colours?

AK Adventures | Denali National Park

And I've saved the best AK Adventure for last...

Home to Denali, or Mount McKinley, aka North America's tallest peak, Denali National Park is much more than just a mountain. At six million acres of wild land, the park is bisected by just one ribbon of road that allows travelers to enjoy the view as the relatively low-elevation taiga forest gives way to high alpine tundra and snowy mountains. Wild animals large and small roam unfenced lands, living as they have for ages. The park was established in 1917 as a game refuge and after several years, a name change and a boundary enlargement of 4 millions acres, today the park exemplifies interior Alaska's character as one of the world's last great frontiers, its wilderness largely unspoiled and full of diversity.

Solitude, tranquility and wilderness await in Denali National Park. So, without further ado, I'll let the beauty do the talking...

Denali's landscapes are big and wide, and sometimes full of silence. They are rich in pattern and process. Wildlife saunters, sings, spars, seduces, and survives in Denali's landscapes. And no matter the season you visit or how far into the park you step, the beauty and vastness of this Alaskan icon quickly gives you an appreciation for the magic Mother Nature can create.

Past adventures:

Prince William Sound 

Iditarod

Kenai Fjords National Park

Homer
Driving the Glenn Highway
Alaska Marine Highway
26 Glaciers

Denali's Big 5

Know that saying, "Everything's bigger in Texas?" Well, what about when you have a state that is twice the size of Texas? 

Alaska is known for many things - towering mountain ranges, stunning landscapes, vast wilderness, world-class fishing, and also its BIG wildlife. 

Denali National Park was the first national park created to protect wildlife. Scientists have documented 39 species of mammals in the park, ranging in size from the 1.5 gram tiny shrew to the 1200 plus pound moose. A goal for the thousands of visitors that flock to the park is to witness this wildlife in their natural environment, specifically the BIG 5: moose, caribou, Dall sheep, grey wolves and grizzly bear. 

Here are some of my favourite personal photos of Denali's Big 5, including some fun facts...

Moose

Moose are the largest members of the deer family, and are referred to as "elk" in Europe. Male moose have antlers, which are made of bone and shed every year during "rut", or breeding season, in the fall. 

Caribou

Like moose, caribou also have antlers. However, both male and female caribou have antlers. Males shed their antlers first in the fall, followed by pregnant females a few months later. This means that all of Santa's reindeer were female!

Dall sheep

Unlike members of the deer family, Dall sheep have horns, not antlers. Horns are made of keratin, similar to our finger nails, and continuously grow throughout the life of the animal. You can actually tell a Dall sheep's age by the ring pattern on their horns. Both male and female Dall sheep have horns, but the males (rams) are large and spiralling, whereas the females' (ewes) are much smaller.

Photo by John Gomes.

Grey wolf

Wolves are social animals and usually live in packs. The average pack size is six or seven animals, and pack members often includes a breeding pair (alpha male and female), some yearlings and other adults. Most adult male wolves weigh 85 to 115 lbs, and females tend to be about 10 to 15 lbs lighter.

Grizzly bear

Did you know that a grizzly bear and a brown bear are the same species of bear? Their name just depends on where they are found. Grizzlies are found more inland and tend to be smaller because their diet consists of berries and other vegetation, whereas brown bears are coastal and tend to be larger because their diet is packed with protein from the fish they consume.

Please note, while all of the photographs above are my own, only the caribou and brown bear photos were taken in Denali National Park.

What wildlife sightings do you remember? I'd love to hear!

Blast from the Past: Alaska

Tomorrow is Pretend to Be a Time Traveler Day! If you could time travel, where would you go? I would love to go back in time to the days of my past generations to see how they lived. Or, maybe check out past decades like the roaring 20s, the swinging 60s or even the disco era. If I had the ability to time travel, I would love to go back in time not to redo, but to relive. To relive some of the special moments and experiences in my life. 
Today, I'm putting a different spin on time travel and sharing a blast from the past of some of my favourite Alaskan adventures. I hope you'll come along for the ride.

The Moment My Life Took A Turn  //  The day that I found out we were moving to the Land of the Midnight Sun.

A Valdez Adventure  //  Also known as 'what happens when you attempt an adventure without snacks or general preparedness'.

Denali National Park  //  My favourite photos from our 3 separate adventures to see the big one in Denali National Park.

Kenai Fjords National Park  //  A birthday celebration spent camping, climbing glaciers and cruising the Fjords.

Fishing in Prince William Sound  //  After catching rockfish, salmon, shrimp and halibut, seeing wildlife galore, and spending a solid weekend with friends on the water, we were 'hooked' on Alaska!

26 Glaciers  //  Cruising Prince William Sound amongst 26 towering glaciers, beautiful scenery and big wildlife.  

This Isn't Goodbye  //  The hardest post I've ever had to write.

The Ultimate Road Trip: Day 1  //  Also known as that time I threw a temper tantrum that could rival any 2 year old. 

The Story of Our Engagement  //  Like something from 'The Notebook', rain and ugly cry included. 

Down by Kachemak Bay  //  Allow me to introduce you to one of my good friends, midnight sun. 

Funny River Pups  //  A trip back to AK included time spent with these cuties at one of my favourite places on Earth.

I can't wait to get back this summer as a family of 3 and continue the adventures!
If you are planning a trip to Alaska in the near future, I recommend checking out these great resources to make the most of your trip. Also, be sure to pack appropriately! 
For more days celebrated this month, and throughout the year, as well as some fun blog post prompts, check out my Days of the Month series. 
If you could time travel, where would you go?

Wildlife Viewing in Alaska

One of my favourite things about Alaska was the abundance of wildlife. From moose to eagles, to sea otters and bear, in spring, summer, winter or fall, there’s always wildlife to see. But with an area that encompasses almost one-fifth the area of the lower 48 (contiguous US), sometimes deciding where to go to view the wildlife wasn’t always easy. 

Even though it is the largest city in the state, one of the great things about living in Anchorage was that we didn't have to travel very far to see the wildlife. In fact, a lot could be seen in and around the city, or just a short drive/day trip away. 
Here are my favourite spots for viewing Alaskan wildlife, all within a 4 hours radius of Anchorage.

Where to View Wildlife in Alaska

Bear Viewing

Alaska is home to all three species of North American bears - black, brown and polar. Unless you are waaayyy up north, or at the Zoo, the chances of you seeing a polar bear in Alaska are slim to none. On the other hand, your chances of seeing a black or brown bear are pretty good if visiting in spring or summer. While black bears, and the occasional brown bear, roam free in and around the city of Anchorage, to get a good view of them, you either want to head north to Denali National Park or south along the Kenai River. 
On any bus tour into Denali National Park, you have the chance of being graced by many of the animals that call the park home - brown bear, moose, caribou, dall sheep, fox and wolves. If it's a good weather day, you may even get a peak at Denali herself, North America's tallest mountain.

The Kenai River is a famous fishing destination because of its salmon runs, which the bears are also no stranger too. It is not uncommon to see a brown or black bear patrolling the shores near the fisherfolk, looking for their next meal. 

Moose Viewing

Considering moose roam the city of Anchorage like they own it, you may not have to go very far to see the largest member of the Deer family. In fact, its not uncommon to see them strutting their stuff down one of the roads, munching on some willow trees along a trail or even taking a nap on your front lawn. Trust me, it's happened and in Alaska, is a believable excuse for being late for work.

Marine Mammal Viewing

If visiting Alaska, a wildlife cruise out onto Prince William Sound (from Whittier) or Kenai Fjords National Marine Park (from Seward) is definitely a must. If you're lucky your eyes will feast on the sights of many different marine mammals, from sea otters to stellar sea lions, harbour seals, orcas, grey whales, humpback whales and dall's porpoises. Mountain goats, puffins and bald eagles are an added bonus.

Bald Eagle Viewing

For years, Homer was the place to view bald eagles. A few hundred would congregate on the spit every year to be fed left over fish by one of the locals. Even though feeding the eagles in Homer is now banned, you will still see quite a few hanging around the Homer harbour. But, you don't also have to venture that far south from Anchorage to see this iconic bird. With its location right on the water, chances are you will see one flying over head or even sitting in a tall tree scanning for lunch.

While most people come for the beauty, experiencing the big Alaskan wildlife in their natural habitat  is definitely an added bonus. But if you can't make it to Alaska to see the wildlife for yourself, there are always ways to view from afar. When viewing wildlife, always remember to maintain a safe distance by following these important tips.
If you are planning a trip to Alaska in the near future, I recommend checking out these great resources to make the most of your trip. Also, be sure to pack appropriately! 

Have you been to Alaska? What animals have you see in the wild?

'Wildlife Viewing in Alaska' first appeared as a guest post on Route Bliss.

Best of 2011

2011 was a good year, possibly one of the best! Some highlights of the year included getting my first big girl job and everything I've learned/experienced from it, Steve's team winning the Kelly Cup, experiencing our first summer in AK (the entire summer was a memorable one), a new apartment, the start of our Sunday dinner challenge/tradition with friends (which deserves a post by itself... coming soon) and the fortunate opportunity to continue Our Alaskan Staycation.  In the middle of all of these exciting experiences,  I got a new camera and was able to document most of the memories.  Here are SOME of the documented most memorable moments of 2011.  ENJOY :)

P.S.  Have I told you lately how much we are still in love with this place?

Mt McKinely, or Denali, in Denali National Park

Cross fox in Denali National Park during the Griswald Family Vacation (aka Wales Family AK Vacay)

First polar bear sighting during Polar Bears International's Leadership Camp in Churchill, MB, Canada

My little girl, Maya the musk ox.  Friends since she was a day old, 9 months later she is double my weight and still my baby

Our favorite spot in Kincaid Park

Eagle River in the fall

My little buddy Mac, the red fox

The Kelly Cup

Steve fishing in Taku Lake

Our first wild brown bear - A female fishing in the Kenai River