Tourist for an Hour in Anchorage

Jim & Judy of Judy's Touch of Class B&B

If you were not in the Egan Center this last Thursday, you missed a fabulous event hosted by Visit Anchorage, formerly known as the ACVB. Kari Sellars of Visit Anchorage led a team that created an awesome event to brief those who work in tourism about companies, products, and services for the 2012 season.

The AABBA (that's the Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association) had a super location for our booth.  We had an estimated 150 visitors in five hours, people who talked with us, sampled breakfast cakes, entered the drawing, and learned what makes us appealing to tourists (like being inspected and approved, having a Hotline, being online, and in short, PROFESSIONAL.

Know that phrase, willing hands make light work?  That is the truth of this day's event. Lori designed the display and made certain our banners were easy to see from both directions of hallway traffic. Del Ann baked cinnamon breakfast breads and a cream cheese pound cake for bite size sampling. Carol (Ross) made a Cheechako Cranberry Cake that was the coveted door prize.  Jim and Judy brought a beautiful table setting. Lori had a display book featuring the Travel Partners and I had the computer displaying our website. To the team, we all can say a heartfelt thank you. The are inn keepers for Susitna Sunsets, Jarvi Homestay, Big Bear, Judy's Touch of Class.  Additional inns represented by AABBA inn keepers who attended are Alaska Frontier Gardens, Swiss Efficiency, Turnagain View, and Alaska Chalet.

The Cheechako Cranberry Cake goes to...

As people came by, we asked them to answer three questions about our B&Bs - that we offer local lodging, we are inspected and approved (and what that means, and how it differentiates our members from all B&Bs in business), and the name of our website www.anchorage-bnb.com


Winners included Julia of HAP-AK who drove away with the Cheechako Cranberry Cake made by Carol of Big Bear, Julie of Salmon Berry Tours who has a 'gratis stay' at one of our B&Bs, and an anonymous vendor who took the Cinnamon Breakfast Cake.
Missed it?  Want to meet at the Bed & Breakfast Vendor Fair?  It is scheduled for May 22, right around the corner.  If you are an inspected and approved inn or a vendor serving Anchorage travelers,  consider spending the evening in conversation. Want information? Contact PR @ anchorage-bnb.com to request details. 

Reported by Mary of Jarvi Homestay on of the Innkeepers of  Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association

April Closes, May Enters....and Walking Tours Abound

April comes to a close with dry days and much of the snow heaps melted.  Major mountains of snow, and snow in areas hidden from the sun, remind us of the Winter of 2012 and its record-breaking snow fall.  But now we focus on summer fun!

Anchorage Greenery - M M Rydesky

Have you taken the Walking Tour of Anchorage? This weather is perfect for a ramble to the historic spots in town. Anchorage is nearly 100 year old, and the walking tour trail will highlight many key events.  


Did you know you could walk the solar system while in Anchorage?  Try the Lightspeed Planetary Tour to visit all the planets.  Sponsored by Anchorage Rotary, this walking tour is imaginative and fun! You can follow the comments about the tour on Face Book and add your own.


Not enough of clean air, beautiful vistas, and trails to follow? Check the Trails of Anchorage site to find maps and descriptions of more trails.  Anchorage is well known for its 'city' trails, but these are only part of the opportunity: make certain you try the Tony Knowles and other trails that connect scenic visits, local recreational parks, and forests. A mileage chart will help you plan.


After a day on your feet, relaxing at a B&B is the way to go.  Try one of the inns that are inspected and approve by the AABBA - the rigors of peer review will impress you! OVer thirty inns have been through this process (and those in business for many years still go through it annually).  You will be able to walk to some of the inns; others are remote enough to require motorized transportation.  But once you make your reservations, you will have assurance that 'home, sweet home' will await you with accommodations that are to your liking.  Visit with your host, ask for recommendations on local events, restaurants, tours, and more - you will get the 'scoop' for inn keepers who live here and want you to know Anchorage the way they do!


--Mary M Rydesky is one of the Innkeepers in  Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association. She hosts Jarvi Homestay B&B, now in its fifth season. Trails are accessible near this B&B for walks near the water and by auto for mountain hikes at Flat Top. Potter Marsh and its allure for bird watchers are near enough for walkers and cyclists; vehicles reach the viewing area within three minutes!

Spring time in Alaska!!!

Yes, Spring time in Alaska!!!

It is finally Spring time after the winter’s record-breaking snowfall of 133.6 inches.  We are having warmer temperatures in the high 40’s and low 50’s and people are out in their shorts,  t-shirts and running shoes.  Daylight hours extend to get the spring clean up duties done.  We are all anticipating a wonderful and warm summer.  There is lots of dirty snow, cars on which you can’t read the license plates, and pot holes on the roads you have to dodge, but the sun and the warmth are the real focus.

Then there are the signs of Spring with flowers peeking out of the snow and thousands of migrating birds returning.  The birds come to breed, or to stop on long journeys to breeding areas elsewhere in the state.  Westchester Lagoon, mudflats on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and Potter Marsh are a few areas to see them.  To name a few,  the birds include Junco, Bohemian waxwing, Arctic Tern that fly as far away as the Amazon River in South America, Gulls, Mallard and Red-necked ducks, Tundra swans, Canada geese, Loons, Sandhill cranes, and beautiful Trumpeter Swans that are so graceful. 

Of course, with Spring come bears ending their hibernation, moose everywhere, and many people out enjoying the longer daylight, gorgeous sunsets, and warmer temperatures.  There are lots of things to see and do this time of the year.

Rita Gittins, Innkeeper for Alaskan Frontier Gardens Bed and Breakfast, is a member  Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association

Pets, Alaska Travel, and Places to Stay

Lucas, resident canine at Jarvi Homestay B&B

A recent blog by member innkeeper Mary at Jarvi Homestay examines the issue of traveling with pets (mainly dogs) while in Alaska. As a dog lover herself, she accepts canines when they are socialized as members of the family and follow accepted rules of good behavior!


Other B&Bs in Anchorage offer shelter for pets and their humans, with pets translating to 'canines' in most cases.  Alternatively, some inns have no resident pets and do not take four-footed visitors, a feature that might be useful if you have allergies.  Take a look at the Anchorage B&B Amenities page (a search page on which you make choices and click 'enter' to get results) for picking your preference.


As Mary comments in her blog, safety for pets visiting Alaska is a concern. Moose are numerous and they are dangerous to man and canine! Know how to enjoy your travels without endangerment -- either in town or on the trail.


The Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association places a high value on safety for guests, and emphasizes this factor in its inspection process.  Be prepared to be briefed on safety within the inn as well as reminders about bears and moose - but since snakes do not care for the climate, you will be spared reminders about avoiding them.  


Come, enjoy Alaska's beauty!

--Mary, is the Innkeeper at JarviHomestay, a member of the Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association

Anchorage Views

used by permission of ZenithAir
view of Sleeping Lade with feet at right

Mount Susitna is known to locals as Sleeping Lady after a well-told Alaska legend. If you look closely you can see a silhouette of a woman stretched out and sleeping on her side. Mount Susitna is just one of six mountain ranges visible from downtown Anchorage.


No matter what angle they are viewed from, mountains make a stunning part of the Anchorage skyline. The Chugach Mountains stretch up to the city from the east, and Mount McKinley, North America's tallest mountain, summons from the Alaska Range to the north. The Kenai Mountains, Talkeetnas, Tordrillos and even the Aleutians can also be spotted from the city. Alaska’s most awe-inspiring peaks are within easy reach of Anchorage and each range holds a vast array of adventures. 

The Chugach Mountains

The wilderness area of Chugach State Park borders Anchorage and is one of the nation’s largest parks. Full of a variety of plant and wildlife, it is a favorite for hikers, backpackers and climbers in the summer and skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts in the winter months. The range is full of spectacular vistas and peaks that rise as high as 13,176 feet.

The Kenai Mountains                                                   

Separated from the Chugach Mountains by the waters of Turnagain Arm, the Kenai Mountains share a common history, dating to 65 million years ago. The Kenai area is famous for its trophy fishing, but it’s also a great place for wildlife viewing. There are plenty of recreational areas for bikers, hikers, skiers, snowshoers and sightseers. While Kenai’s largest salmon is a whopping 97 pounds, its highest peak is 6,000 feet.

The Talkeetna Range

An hour away from Anchorage, the Talkeetna Range borders the Matanuska Valley. Among its many attractions is Hatcher Pass which features Independence Historic Gold Mine and recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, snowboarding and telemark skiing.

The Alaska Range

Standing tall in the Alaska Range – not to mention the minds of adventurers – Mount McKinley is the tallest mountain on the continent climbing to 20,320 feet.  Also referred to as Denali, the summit summons climbers during Alaska's summer climbing season. But almost anyone can climb to the highest mountain altitudes; flightseeing charters can take guests over rocky valleys and glacial icefields around the towering spires of the Alaska Range. Flights are available year round from Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Merrill Field or Talkeetna, Alaska. Even if you don’t leave terra firma, Denali – as well as nearby Mount Foraker (17,400 feet) and Mount Hunter (14,573 feet) – can be seen from downtown Anchorage on a clear day.

Reposted from Visit Anchorage by the Innkeepers of Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association. The Association is a member of this organization, which promotes visitors and conventions in Anchorage. Anchorage.net is the official source for Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska travel information on everything from outdoor adventures to metropolitan amenities. The photo is used by permission.

Short Trips - Alaska Adventures

Anchorage is Near the Edge of Nature!  Short trips can be great adventures!

One week vacations in Anchorage are sufficient when filled with new experiences. Aawesome Retreat B&B, on the hillside overlooking Anchorage, is 20 minutes from the Airport ... and becomes your ‘‘Instant Home’’. Guests get right to their full schedules of easy to more challenging Alaskan fun, enjoying the out of doors as well as museums, restaurants, and related cultural activities. Everything is easily accessible!

Aawesome Retreat often hosts guests for full, one week adventures.  Host Debi tells guests to see Alaska by air, sea, and land. Above all, she promotes Anchorage area’s abundant hiking trails as beautiful and free!  

Prefer to cover more miles than you could reach by foot? A beautiful scenic drive in many directions can easily fill a couple days en route to scenic destinations. Enjoying added savings and convenience, guests prepare road snacks in our guest kitchen, then head down the water’s edge via the Seward Highway to see a Nature Reserve, glaciers, rivers, mountains galore, and gorgeous panoramic views.  A day's boat cruise is a favorite from Whittier or Seward... reaching either spot depends on an amazing postcard drive. Get the audio guide produced by one of our Travel Partners to note wonderful spots along the way to Seward for activities such as wildlife viewing, glacier hikes, commemoration of history, Alaska facts, and more. 

Or consider a special treat: a scenic flight where a plane or helicopter can land on a glacier! There are even dog sled rides offered on one mountain top. “We always give our guests a clean jar for clean mountain top snow,’’ says host Debi.

At this B&B, even a day at home can be an adventure with a stroll to the pond where moose often swim. Ending the day with a view of the Midnite Sunset over the water will cap your experience and enthuse you for your next day’s adventures.

Happiest Alaskan Trails in Your Future!

Debi, host of Aawesome Retreat B&B, is a member of the Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association

A Record Within Reach: Snowfall 2011-2012

Want statistics on snowfall in Anchorage? Just check the National Weather Service. Among their data is this report:

Top 5 Highest Winter Snowfall (Normal = 74.5 inches)
132.8 inches...........1954-1955
128.8 inches...........1955-1956
113.8 inches...........2003-2004
121.5 inches...........1994-1995
111.0 inches...........1948-1949

Soon, we may see 2011-2012 in this list! We are in the lead compared to other US cities with 100,000+ populations according to All Snowiest US Cities. Even the Master Gardeners are wondering about the growing season for this year, fearing the snowfall will delay it.


But travel and enjoyment of outdoor sports do not seem to mind the quest to set a new record. The Iditarod reports cause everyone to look up when the sports casters run the latest panels, cheering for their favorite mushers. Better yet, the Internet-oriented tune into the Iditarod site for continuous updating!

Courtesy of Visit Anchorage/Wayne Johnson

And the night skies are magnificent with the many planets and full moon serving as background for magnificent aurora this week. Tonight features a 'moderate' forecast, and the temperatures are above freezing - a late night walk might be perfect.


Coming home to the B&B is a great way to switch from snow and sky shows to comfort. After the evening's events, a restful night in a clean, quiet environment greets our visitors.  First though, we love to see their photos of the day's events!


Now is the time to take a couple of days away - try an Anchorage B&B that bears the 'inspected and approved' designation - this assures you of a quality, home-based stay with innkeepers who uphold the shared criteria of the AABBA. Call the Hotline at 907-272-5909 or visit online to envision yourself in a warm, personable inn. The inns are already accepting bookings for the summer season, so your best bet is a trip before the snow melts.  Can you pick the date we exceed the previous records?  There might be some celebrations in town!

Mary Rydesky of JarviHomestay is an Innkeeper and member of  the Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association