The bull moose are out strutting their stuff and looking for a potential Mama Moose. The geese are resting after rather full meals on the University of Alaska’s grassy commons area. They occasionally practice their in-flight “V’s.”
Many Anchorage Alaska Bed and Breakfast Associations B&B owners are catching their breath: they have put their gardens to bed for the winter, have made plans for making their B&B even better in 2012, and are just waiting for their flights to far away places. Some take their annual trip with Tom and Bobbie Lucido of Alaska Leopard Tours. Last year, the group flew even farther south than the geese. These B&B owners on the tour went to South American and then Antarctica. For 2012 they will be going on a Grand Mediterranean Adventure visiting Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and Jordan.
Some of us choose to learn more about the beautiful state of Alaska and plan our travels within Alaska. There is a Ghost Tour planned for Seward the end of October with accommodations in the Historic Van Gilder Hotel with the hope of seeing Fanny.
Fannie Guthry-Baehm was actually murdered in the hotel in 1950 and her ghost has been well documented.
Others like to visit Talkeetna for a weekend. Winter is wonderful in Talkeetna. It is a place to go to relax and slow down. Read a book in front of a fire. We have stayed at Fireweed Station on one trip. Another time we spent at Susitna River Lodge in a room with private bath in the main building. We walked a short distance (less than a mile) into downtown Talkeetna and had a meal at the Talkeetna Roadhouse. Talkeetna is THE place to view Denali. Take Talkeetna Air Taxi for a flight-seeing trip or better yet do a landing on Ruth Glacier.
This fall we traveled less than an hour away to Knik River Lodge. What a relaxing place to visit. It is the perfect place to get away from the hurry of Anchorage and yet it is so close.
When spring comes association members will be refreshed, relaxed and ready to greet guests staying with them. Have you made your plans yet? Take a look at the inns and rooms and claim your spot!
Caroline Valentine owns Camai Bed & Breakfast and is president of the Anchorage Alaska Bed & Breakfast Association