North to Alaska

I have come to believe, now that I am an adult, that my childhood years spent in Anchorage, Alaska were much like a fairy tale.  Don’t misunderstand – I wasn’t a princess locked in a tower guarded by a witch, and I didn’t even meet my future husband there.

But because I was a child – and because I had the advantage of “childlike wonder” – when I think of Alaska, I often get that misty fondness that fills my heart and mind – something like Ralphie’s story at Christmas.

Alaska is an enchanting place.

It often felt like a fairy tale.  The land is just overflowing with the mystery and mystique of our Creator God.   You can see where God’s hands carved out the glaciers and where He still paints a canvas of glorious lights across the winter sky.

You can see the beluga whales swimming in with the tide, or otters lazily rolling around in the seaweed floating off the coast.  You will see salmon fighting their way through the rapids of a dam to fulfill their lifelong mission.  You may see Mama moose and baby moose awkwardly rambling across the road ahead.

You may see bears, mountain lions and wolves as you visit Denali National Park, where Mount McKinley climbs into the cloudy sky.  Denali is the Athabaskan name for Mount McKinley – it means “the High One.”

Mt McKinley credit:champy1013

You may see a sky filled with mountains that are green in summer and blue-white in winter.

You can look out over the inlet from Anchorage, and see Mt Susitna – or “Sleeping Lady” – a mystical reclining figure-like island that the locals believe to be a sleeping giant waiting for her long-lost love to return.

Sleeping Lady credit:MarculescuEugenlancuD60Alaska

You might see the purple fireweed filling up a field at the base of a snowcapped mountain in the middle of summer.  Breathtaking!

You may even see mosquitoes (half-jokingly referred to as the Alaskan state bird) as big as a dragonfly – and if you’re allergic to them like I am – you’ll wish they were just a dream…

In summer, the sun stays bright in the sky long into the night and early into the morning.  (But it’s easily dealt with by using filtering blinds or dark coverings over the windows.)  In winter, you will need to use a flashlight to walk to your mailbox – even in the middle of the day.

The harvest season – yes, there is an abundance of fresh produce grown in the Matanuska Valley – brings forth ginormous heads of cabbage, huge zucchini and squash, and more.  Anybody who thinks “everything is bigger in Texas” hasn’t been to Alaska!

Seward credit:ConanTheLibrarian

Drive along Alaska’s Marine Highway to Seward and take a day cruise where you might see puffins, otters, and eagles along a coastline that is still a vast ruggedness.  Watch Stellar sea lions and Dall porpoise in the water.  See glaciers that are only viewed from the water, and feast on freshly-caught smoked salmon.

Visit Fairbanks and North Pole for a bit of Christmas cheer – but go in the early summer when it’s not too hot.  Seriously.  It can be over 100 degrees in the heat of summer (of course, then it can be 100 degrees below zero in the dead of winter).

It helped that I was exposed to much of the Alaskan culture during my first grade year at Aurora Borealis Elementary school at Elmendorf, AFB.  We had all KINDS of really awesome visitors who told Eskimo, Inuit and Aleutian legends and myths.  We learned about the design of the Alaska state flag.  We sang The Twelve Days of Christmas, but ended with “and a caribou in the deep freeze.”

We watched the games celebrated during Fur Rendezvous – one of my favorite times of year.  In February, when the Iditarod takes place, Anchorage fills up with displays and exhibits for the “Fur Rondy”.  My brothers and I once climbed a huge snow sculpture castle that was at least 20 feet tall, and slid down on slides from the turrets.

We ate salmon 431 ways.  Okay – I’m exaggerating.  My dad was a salmon aficianado and while he thrilled at the catch, I gagged at the amount of salmon we had to eat.  I rarely cared for it – except when it was smoked or when my mom made Salmon Chowder.  THAT was good.

So if you’re the type who enjoys adventure – visit Alaska.  If you’re the type who enjoys a sprawling city – visit Anchorage.  If you’d love to see Alaska’s natural beauty – head for Seward and a day cruise.  If you want to visit North Pole – head on up to Alaska.

In the meantime, I’m just dreaming about going back – with my hubby and girls – to share part of the magic of my childhood with them!

Next time, I’ll tell you about my overnight camping trip to Denali National Park!

About Debbie T

Welcome to my blog. Grab a latte and settle in for a good read! I'm Debbie - aka The Queen Mommy. I'm really just a Right-Brained woman who loves God, her husband, and her three children. I This means I'd rather write than clean... I enjoy writing about family & home, faith & life, marriage & parenting, food & addiction. I do participate in affiliate programs and use affiliate links and graphics throughout my blog. If you follow a link and make a purchase, I may make a small commission to help support my family at home. Click here for my Disclosure Policy.

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