10 Discoveries You Will Love in the High Desert of the Colorado Rockies

Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde NP

The Rocky Mountains is a significant feature of the North American landscape. The The Canadian Rockies and the four Canadian national parks are some of its most popular attractions. But the discoveries we made around the high desert plateau of the Colorado Rockies should really be as popular, especially since a significant part of Native American culture complement its outstanding rock formations.

Mesa Verde National Park

We spent a week in this largely undiscovered area en route to the Denver High School graduation of Bill’s granddaughter Cassie. About an hour west from where we stayed is beautiful Durango, Colorado, a city of about 17,000 people at 6,500 feet in elevation.  Another fifty minutes west is the Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It sits very near the Four Corners, the intersection of the states of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado, and Arizona at elevations of 7,000-8,500 feet.

an Ancestral Pueblo in Mesa Verde NP

One day we took the self-guided tour of Mesa Verde, the largest archeological preserve of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for over 700 years, from 600 to 1300 CE. There are over 5,000 known archeological sites and well-preserved 600 cliff dwellings, including Cliff Palace, the largest in North America. The Park is easy to go through with over fifty miles of roads and many more trails. It is to me, the best national park of this type in the country. And it is just ninety miles from and “aligned” to the earlier ancestral Puebloan settlement of fifteen large buildings that comprise the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site which we visited in 2012.

aerial view of Durango, Colorado

The next day we asked the Durango Visitor Center to map out a plan for our city day trip. A few blocks around E 3^rd Avenue are historic Victorian Homes, original hospital, churches, and residences of the city’s storied past of gold.  We then drove up a winding climbing road to Fort Lewis College to enjoy the beautiful aerial views of the mountains and the city valley below. Back to the city floor, we had a good tour of the Durango Art Museum and the busy Durango Theater that is currently featuring Mamma Mia. Then we had my Mother’s Day lunch at Ken and Sue’s before we took a walk along the banks of the Animas River some sections of which are famous for river rafting. On the way back, we drove through the Ute Indian Reservation, southeast of the city, with its world-class visitor center and museum. There is a bigger UTE reservation in Utah and that is how Utah got its name.  

Wyndham Pagosa

We stayed at Wyndham Pagosa in Pagosa Springs, higher in elevation than Durango at 7,150+ feet and five hours southwest of Denver. Wyndham Pagosa had a week’s availability of a one bedroom unit for us and we decided it would be good to break our trip there. We were already amazed at what we discovered in Durango but there were two more great sites right where we were based.

Mother Spring in Pagosa Springs

The town of about 1,700 is named for its sulfur springs, including the world's deepest geothermal hot spring. At approximately 144°F, this is the Mother Spring that feeds the other pools hosted by three local hot spring soaking locations right at the outskirts of the downtown area, the largest of which is at The Springs Resort & Spa. They and the pretty Visitor Center close by are right at the banks of the San Juan River that cuts through town (and is excellent for fishing).

Chimney Rock National Monument from the highway

at the  ridge top of Chimney Rock NM

But the highlight of our week was our visit to the Chimney Rock National Monument, another important discovery just nineteen minutes south of our resort and at more than 7,000 feet in elevation. The rangers told us they were initially trying to incorporate it as part of the Mesa Verde National Park but in 2012 it was decided to be named as a separate national monument. The Great House Pueblo of thirty-six rooms and two kivas at the top of the ridge, close to Chimney Rock and its close neighbor Companion Rock, had a largely ceremonial role in the Chacoan culture that was centered in the Chaco Canyon, ninety miles away. As the moon makes its lunar cycle across the sky over a period of 18.6 years, it appears in a Major Lunar Standstill (MLS) between the two rocks for approximately 16 months. The latest began in 2004 and the next one will be in 2021. As a matter of fact the construction of the Great House was started during the MLS in 1076 and ended at the ensuing MLS in 1093.

Pagosa Springs, Colorado

Beginning with Mesa Verde National Park and ending with the Chimney Rock National Monument, the area should really be more popular than it is. I guess the reason it is not is that it is more remote, high up in the Rockies. The national parks of Canada in the Canadian Rockies are just an hour away from the city of Calgary. This Colorado high desert plateau is 5-6 hours away from the nearest big city, Denver. But I would like to encourage all, especially Americans, to visit this area for its cultural and natural significance.

     
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Innsbruck, the Tyrolean Capital of the Austrian Alps: Lovely Down to Every Small Detail

That is a pretty huge claim to make but let me tell you why.

The Loveliness of Nature

As soon as our bus approached a valley sandwiched between the Karwendel Alps to the north and the Patscherkofel Series to the south, I couldn’t stop clicking my camera. The Tyrolean region from the Austrian side (probably also from the Italian), is a picture-perfect area. Purplish mountains, greenish meadows, colorful villages, feeding animals, and bright blue skies make for idyllic scenery, especially in fall.

view from our hotel

windows and treatments, five in Old Town and one in Axams

Right at the foothills in Axams, a suburb of Innsbruck, the Austrian capital of the region, is the Alpine Hotel Schlosselhoff, one of the resorts affiliated with one of our timeshares, Diamond Resorts International. It was our home in Austria for seven days. From our deck, we viewed cattle, sheep, and horses grazing on bright green grass. There were rustic cabins and blazing autumnal trees. This October was blessed with unusually gorgeous weather, the high 60s to low 70s, sunny and with no winds.

The Loveliness of the Architecture and History

We were given free passes to buses that run every fifteen minutes and take about thirty minutes to and from the Hauptbahnhof (Main Rail station). Another fifteen minutes of walking took us to Old Town Innsbruck. Yes, here in Europe I didn’t mind walking. I loved the architecture of the buildings so much I couldn’t stop taking photos of the windows and treatments that are so beautiful, lovely down to every small detail. The colors seemed to be coordinated, too. Even in the suburb Axams, they were the same, only they were painted and not sculpted.

Triumphal Arch, left, and Maria Teresa Square, right

And the loveliness went up even to a higher level at Old Town Innsbruck. First to appear during our walk from the Main Rail Station is the Triumphal Arch, reminiscent of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Then the Old Town Square with the statue of Maria Teresa spreads out with colorful buildings on both sides. If you walk towards the Inn River, you will get the spectacular sight of colorful buildings reflected on the water and with the mountains as a backdrop (see headline photo).

Goldenes Dachl, left, and Maximillian's Cenotaph, right

Towards the other side is the iconic Goldenes Dachl, built in 1500 for the wedding of 
Emperor Maximilian I. It glitters with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles.  It is over this balcony where the couple stood in front of adoring crowds to observe many events. Just around the corner is the heart of the Imperial Palace now an astonishing museum. Beside it is the St. James Cathedral which was under renovation. The Court Church was most interesting, containing Maximillian’s Cenotaph surrounded by his Black Men. He designed and commissioned this tomb even before his death.

The Loveliness of Modern Day Innsbruck

the Hungerburgbahn Terminal at Hungerburg

Just beyond all this history stands the LandesTheater, the Tyrolean State Theater, in bright yellow and the present-day Congress, a very modern red building, practically across each other. Across the Congress and beside the Theater is the Hofgarten, ten hectares of a green oasis. About a five-minute walk after these sites is the Hungerburgbahn hybrid funicular railway ride which takes you up to the midpoint village up the mountains of Hungerburg. There you have a lovely aerial view of Innsbruck. Gondolas for eight can take you to the top.

aerial view from Hungerburg

crystal stairs at the downtown Swarowski store

Nature has also so endowed Innsbruck that the city had been chosen to host many international competitions for winter sports like the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, the 1984 and 1988 Winter Paralympics, and the first Winter Youth Olympics in 2012. It was just too bad we didn’t have enough time to visit the Olympic facilities, especially the towering Bergisel Ski Jump.

The Loveliness of the Crystals

At Old Town Innsbruck, we were fascinated by a Swarowski store replete with exhibits of crystalline ladies’ dresses, bejeweled everyday things like cereals and soda cans, stairs in shimmering silver, and pieces of jewelry and souvenirs on sale! We hungered for more and so we took a trip to the Swarowski KystalWellten or Crystal World where millions of crystals are used to create monumental exhibits, both indoors and outdoors.

entrance to the Gift Shop

Indoors you go through room after room, each with different themes. We were fascinated by the Dome, the Holograms of Peace, Ready to Love, Icons of the World, Emotional Transformations, and many, many more. It is good that photography without flash is allowed. At the end of all the rooms is the gift shop which had more displays of bejeweled ladies’ gowns and other crystalline home décor carrying the brand name. The entrance to the shop is a tunnel of mesmerizing lights. And outdoors, you will find the amazing Jewel Monster and the glittering Cloud Forest.   

Cloud Forest

As you can see, it is easy to see why I fell in love with Innsbruck!

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10 Gems of Largely Undiscovered Slovenia, Courtesy of Our Friends

beautiful Lake Bled

Please see the end of the post for discounts on Slovenian apartments and day trips.

We had such low expectations of Slovenia. It is not exactly off-the-beaten-path but neither is it top of mind when you think of going to Europe. But we had had not seen our long-time Slovenian friends for six years and our new American First Lady comes from Slovenia. When we got to Washington DC for our flight to London where we had a connecting flight to its capital, Ljubljana, we were told that Primera Air had just declared bankruptcy and was no longer flying as of that day. Tough luck! We had to shell out $3,500+ for new tickets. Our Slovenian visit just became very expensive!

But as soon as our Easy Jet flight made the approach, we saw how lovely it is: verdant green with purple mountains streaked with white. I was fascinated by the spruce trees of near whitebark I saw as our shuttle made its way. They looked like evergreen brothers of birches or aspens. We started to feel good!

the Central Market

Imagine our surprise when we found out that the apartment our friend Katarina was letting us use from her stable of units is right in front of the massive Central Market whose stall come alive every day at 7 am with all the goodies farmers and other vendors have to offer. Just to the left of her building is the funicular that led to the Ljubljana Grad (Castle) from where you can get the best aerial view of the city. At the Castle grounds, we found an exhibit of Slovenian mythology, front, and center of which is the dragon. To the right of her building is the walking path to the castle, right after her office where she offers day trips. It was good to know that all of Slovenia is reachable in a day.

view of Ljubljana from the Tower of the  Castle

the Fountaiin and St. Nicholas Church at the background

Just a few steps after her building and the Market you will get to the pedestrian, cobble-stoned Old Historic Center. Little electric shuttle cars are available for those who are tired from walking. Just half a block and you get to the yellow St. Nicholas Church and its massive unique doors. The Fountain is not far from the church. If you turn right you will immediately get to the Ljubljana River with the Three Bridges that lead to the Pink Church. The river is punctuated by other bridges, most notably the Dragon Bridge to the right and the Shoemakers’ Bridge to the left.  

To the left of the Pink Church are the shopping areas. Mustering the strength not to buy too much, we found the city’s green oasis, the Tivoli Park, at the end. There are two art galleries at its entrance and the long promenade, lined with Slovenia’s classic paintings, leads to a former castle that had also been turned into a beautiful art gallery up the hill.

the mystery at Tivoli Park

Katarina customized, per my request, a combination of two-day trips to be done in one day, setting aside the tour of the Lippizans which we have seen in Florida. Luckily, an Australian couple loved the idea and joined us in a small van with a guide to visit three unforgettable destinations south of Ljubljana.

Our first stop was the Postojna Jama (Cave). I almost wanted to remove it from the itinerary, too, since we have seen so many caves around the world. OMG, I am glad we did not! All of its 24 kilometers of viewable areas were accessible by trains and short walks and are all very well-lighted. We climbed the highest point, descended to the lowest, of the whole hill inside the cave! We explored the Dance and Concert Halls and were fascinated by gleaming pure calcite pillars, the colorful iron oxide curtains, and white spaghetti sprouts. They were grand formations we have never seen before.

beautiful curtains of Postojna Jama 

Part of the Park and just about fifteen minutes away, is what is called Predjama Grad, a unique castle built onto a smaller cave. We saw the older portions of the castle carved into the cave and the newer parts at the cave’s opening that were built to make the castle more comfortable for the owners. There is a fireplace in the bedroom, a kitchen, a dining room, a cellar, a water collection cistern, a chapel, and servants’ quarters. But it is the defense structures that were unique: a solid entrance with a drawbridge, an armory, shooting holes, and narrow openings for the guns and cannons. What an interesting castle built, not primarily for the luxury like others, but for maximum defense.  

unique Predjama Grad

And we continued south to the 43 kilometers of Slovenian coastline In the city of Piran where the finest sea salt in the world is produced. After a sumptuous seafood lunch, we descended into the spit where the red rooftops made for a beautiful scene, very much like in Croatia. To the left one can see Croatia’s coast, to right Italy’s, and up the hill stands a Catholic Church and a monastery from the 1600s.

ice cream at the tip of the coastline in Piran with  a view of the Italian coast 

That night Katarina drove us to Bled and, on the way, we relished the burgers at the only MacDonalds in Slovenia. Then she brought us to one of the rental apartments of another friend, Jure, for our next tour day. Imagine our thrill when we found out it was right on Lake Bled. We could see the lights of the other castle on the hill but it was In the morning when we were left awestruck by all the beauty around.  

Jure picked us up the next day and the three of us began our slow walk around the six-kilometer perimeter of the lake. We stopped several times so we can take many photos at different angles of the famous church on the island in the middle of Lake Bled Colorful boats regularly brought tourists to and from the castle. We also stopped for coffee and to admire the work of a painter which were different perspectives of the famous scene. Jure bought me a small one and the painter proceeded to paint the three of us at the back of the painting, signed it, making permanent our “moment in time.”

the twin falls at the end of Vintgar Gorge

After lunch at the oldest local dishes restaurant in town, Jure took us to Vintgar Gorge, a 1.6-kilometer gorge created by the Radovna River. The stream is so clear you can see the fish, logs, and rocks in the not-so-deep waters. As we walked the long, narrow boardwalk, we saw the boulders that punctuated the waters, creating gushing little waterfalls. Towards the end, you will find the larger twin falls, crowned by a tall arch bridge where trains ran. It was such a pretty scene.

By that time we had walked 9.2 miles and were tired but Jure wanted us to see the largely unexplored, more pristine, and the bigger lake known as Lake Bohinj. On the way and back, he happily told us about the Slovenian countryside and rural life: the identical little churches in every village, the unique kozolecs or hayracks for drying hay and corn or even store wood, and the small garden each Slovenian home nurtured from where the family gets their own favorite vegetables. 

   

Lake Bohinj

We saw so much more in three days than we had ever planned. Having Slovenian friends host us was our definite advantage. As a matter of fact, we were also able to sample many local dishes. My next post is a deeper look into Slovenian cuisine and why they are so delicious and healthy. There is a reason obesity is nonexistent in the country. But for now, $3,500 seems so small compared to the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual satisfaction we found on this short but comprehensive trip of the largely undiscovered gem that Slovenia is!

IMPORTANT NOTE

For those who want great rates on Katrina's centrally-located  Ljubljana apartments featured in Airbnb, please click CENTRALLY-LOCATED LJUBLJANA APARTMENTS. For discounts on the day trips she organizes, please go to her website TRIP YOUR DAY. Mention “Carol Colborn Blog” in your inquiry for both apartments and day trips and get the 10% discount for any booking(s) you make.

For those who want to rent any of the six sought-after lake view apartment units of Jure on Lake Bled, please click LAKEVIEW APARTMENTS ON LAKE BLED. 

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My First Real Outings, an Initial Taste of Melbourne

Yarra River Cruise

Kyrie at the parks

After that horrific 38-hour flight, here are my first outings!

For us travelers, it’s a rare opportunity to stay in a locale for four months. When we were RVing across North America, Bill and I stayed at most three weeks at a campground. It was the maximum time allowed by Thousand Trails, the national network we joined.  For travels outside the continent, when we use our Timeshare memberships, we stay for two to four weeks.

Last year I was in Calgary babysitting my grandsons for three and a half months and left no stone unturned in the Canadian Rockies. This year, my main mission in Melbourne is also to babysit. So my first outings were to bring Kyrie, my youngest Apo (grandson), to parks around the neighborhood and to the doctor when he had an unfortunate bout of constipation.

South Melbourne Market

South Melbourne Market

But I have also had some time to taste life in Melbourne and test the ranking that the city enjoys, “the most livable city in the world” for six years in a row. My first real outing was to the South Melbourne Market.  Bill and I cannot forget Granville Market in Vancouver, British Columbia,  Reading Terminal Market in Philly, Pennsylvania, and the Quincy Market in Boston, Massachusetts.  Imagine my delight at finding out there was the same kind of market just about a ten-minute walk from my daughter’s apartment!

doughnuts, paella, oysters, savory muffin

The market has sections for dry and wet goods. I was more interested in the latter with parts for produce, dairy, bakery, fresh meats, and even seafood. There was even an Asian grocer where we finished off our shopping list. But the highlight of our visit was the Food Hall where we sampled different cheeses.  This Hall would delight me no end and I could not help but go at least once a week.

During my first try, I had a cream and spinach Borek from a Meditteranean Kiosk which I followed with an ultra-moist blueberry banana bread. April joined me with her stash of six fresh raw oysters while Clint took to coffee and Hot Jam doughnuts. During my second visit, Clint and I had plates of the “World’s Best Paella Outside of Spain” at the Simply Spanish kiosk and shared them with Kyrie who absolutely loved it.  My third visit was to meet with Suzette (a schoolmate in high school of my daughter Claudine and her husband JB. That time, I had a taste of savory muffins! Food should be one of the reasons for Melbourne's most coveted ranking!

The Yarra River Lunch Cruise

Melbourne skylines

bridges that cross Yarra

My daughters always gift me with an experience for important occasions like my birthday, Christmas or Mother’s Day. One year it was a Bahamas cruise, another it was a stay at a Banff mountain chalet. They know that I am a traveler at heart and, instead of material things, they give me experiential outings. Last month, they reserved a seat for me at the Melbourne Mother’s Day River Cruise. April and her brood accompanied me on the two and a half hour trip up and down the Yarra River.

It is a river that cuts the city of Melbourne into two.  The city's beginnings were first established in 1835 on its lower parts. The river flows 150 miles west through the Yarra Valley, originating from the Yarra Ranges, opening out into the plains, winding its way through the city, and finally emptying into Hobsons Bay in the northernmost section of Port Phillip. 

scenes around Yarra

The city skyline extends on the river banks, nineteen artsy bridges and walkways cross the river, and high and low-rise condos with water toys for the wealthy boys dot the river edges. On the trip, we reached Port Philip and the Docklands where we saw old storage warehouses, old ships being restored, and the old pier still lending a historic touch. Where we boarded and disembarked, black swans were playing on the water!

The cruise lunch started with three types of dips for a basket of artisan bread slices. The entrees consisted of steak, potato scallops, and veggies for April and Clint and baked chicken, prawns, mashed potatoes, and veggies for me. A plate of mini cupcakes satisfied our sweet tooth. Throughout the entire cruise, unlimited glasses of red and white wine were served. The price of A$95 pp was so worth it, we thought!

scenes around the Southbank Promenade

The South Bank Promenade

 We were so satisfied that, even if we took the famous Melbourne trams to the central business district, we went home just slowly strolling down the South Bank Promenade. Soon after disembarking, we chanced upon a comedy skit eagerly watched by a lively crowd. Later, we came upon some fifty cheongsam-clad (mostly in red) Chinese ladies in an afternoon dance or pantomime number. It took us about twenty minutes to get home. It would be easy to explore Melbourne’s central business district, especially with the city's vaunted tram system, another reason for its title!

Chinatown, South Bank sculpture, Flinders Station and Seafarer's Bridge

As a matter of fact, after the South Melbourne Market snacks with Suzette and JB, they took me in their car to the City Centre again. I had a chance to walk on the South Wharf leading to the South Bank. This time I also got the chance to see Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Station (unfortunately, it was under renovation) and got all my maps and info at the Melbourne Visitor Information Center right in front of it. Then they took me to Samsam at the busy row of Asian restaurants near Chinatown for great but inexpensive Korean food.

I had planned on going to so many of Melbourne’s landmarks even without Bill. But, with temperatures hovering around the mid-50s, partly cloudy, sometimes with showers, and with more than ten miles per hour winds sometimes, I preferred to curl up with Kyrie or the comforter. Besides, he said to wait for him for a lot of them. So I will try to limit my outings and, in the meantime, savor my downtime after that horrific 38-hour flight and enjoy hyperactive Kyrie and his imagination.

Aurora Gazing, Glacier Walking and 9 Bonuses around Anchorage!

loved this hole on the wall of a building in Anchorage, Alaska

Our first ten days in Anchorage was a continuation of our five days in Fairbanks: skies heavily overcast, occasional showers, and temperatures in the 40s. We were increasingly resigning ourselves to the inevitable; we will not be able to tick off seeing the Northern Lights from our bucket list! And then it came. In the last week, our luck changed. The skies cleared, and the sun shone.

Things We Did with Cherry and Rick

Aurora Gazing at Flattop Overlook

They Lights come in 11-year cycles, and we are in one that began in 2013. The season lasts from late September to late March (the Equinoxes). The Geophysical Institute put auroral activity forecast at 6 (from  0 to 10) on September 28, 29, and 30. That meant a 60% chance, the first of three required criteria. We were staying with Cherry and Rick. We all chose the 29th when Weather Underground forecasted the least cloud cover (13%), the second rule (plus 0% precipitation, 44 F, and two mph winds).

finally viewing the Aurora Borealis from the Flattop Overlook in Anchorage

The third requirement is little light pollution which means choosing well where to see the Lights. We picked the Flattop Overlook that rises 1,300 feet high with a city aerial view, just twenty-five minutes from their house. It was windy when we arrived at 10:30 pm and "froze" despite our layered bundles. It was an instant party. The typical greens and usual patches were already active in the skies. A few times striking rays and glimpses of pinks flashed. It was well worth the thirty minutes of cold.

Walking on Ice at the Matanuska Glacier

At 27 miles long by 4 miles wide, Matanuska Glacier is the largest glacier accessible by car in the US.  A valley glacier, solid ice that flows like a river under its weight about a foot a day, it began its retreat to its present day location about 10,000 years ago. With no significant change in mass for two decades, it still feeds the Matanuska River, 100 miles northeast of Anchorage off Glenn Highway.

walking on Matanuska Glacier

We first saw the glacier in 2009, driving to Anchorage from Tok, at the view deck of the State Recreation Area on MP 101. A few months ago, I saw the Facebook pictures of the recent trip Cristine and husband Mitch took there. So we found out from them how to experience the ice up-close. With my sister Cherry and husband Rick, we found the only glacier access point at MP102.

We drove through an “unsafe road” to the office 2 miles down the valley, paid an entrance fee of $20, and drove another 2 miles to park next to the glacier. Then we braved the challenging, muddy, and slippery hike onto the ice. With cleats lent to us by Cristine, we had a ball exploring the glacier on our own. And I finally walked on a glacier, another item on my bucket list I was able to tick off!

on Rodak Trail at Eagle River Nature Center

Things We Did By Ourselves

A Hike at Eagle River Nature Center

Bill’s and my first hike was the easy, 40 minutes from Anchorage. The Nature Center has 10 miles of hiking trails in the Eagle River Valley of the Chugach State Park. We paid a parking fee of $5 and walked the 0.75 miles Rodak Trail. Explorer Mendenhall called the Valley “a miniature Yosemite” with lovely fall foliage, snow-riddled rock faces, a running river, and two viewing decks.

 A Stroll in Downtown Anchorage

downtown Anchorage

   

Bill and I also spent some time in downtown Anchorage where we had fun taking our pictures with replicas of bears, the sod log cabin that is the Visitor Center, and the many reminders of the legendary Iditarod race. We perused Alaskan gifts and souvenirs, including ivory and fur products. Unfortunately, we spotted many of Alaska's homeless around Downtown.

jumping and fishing at lovely Mirror Lake

Fishing at Mirror Lake

We spotted this lake from the highway and saw how beautifully the water reflected the birches and other trees. One afternoon Bill and I took a look and there met a Filipino father and son fishing. It turns out it is a favorite fishing spot which is regularly stocked by the Alaska Fishing and Gaming Office. Its mean depth is more than 6 feet and has a shoreline length of 1.4 miles.

Things We Did with Cristine

at Potter Marsh, in Anchorage

                                                                                                                                                     
Wildfowl Viewing at Potter Marsh                
Cristine took us to Potter Marsh where viewers can leisurely walk the Turnagain Arm, a wooden boardwalk that winds 1,550 feet from the parking area through the marshland habitat for a variety of birds. Geese were feeding off the fish, mallards rested on fallen tree trunks, eagles hovered in the sky, and white swans gracefully glided on mini ponds but not a single moose came out to meet us.

up close and personal with Alaskan wildlife

Wildlife Viewing at 
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

The Center is is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Alaska's wildlife on about 700 acres at the southern edge of Turnagain Arm and the entrance to Portage Valley in Girdwood, Alaska. It is a refuge for orphaned or injured wild, credited with the reintroduction of elk and wood bison back into Alaska. I was so excited to see bears, moose, musk oxen, bison, elk, and reindeer.

enjoying Alyeska Resort

Enjoying Hotel Alyeska Resort

Then she also took us to Girdwood where the famous Hotel Alyeska Resort was located with its popular ski runs. It would have been great to stay there with its lavish lobby, quaint pond, functional chair lifts, and lovely views. An Art Gallery gave us interesting art finds and souvenirs and the end of the day was an excellent steak dinner in a cozy log cabin. 

the beauty of Hatchers Pass

A Drive through Hatcher Pass

Hatcher Pass is a scenic drive, winding through the mountains for roughly 60 miles between Palmer and Willow. It is open in summer but is partially closed at other times because 22 miles is gravel. On another day, Cristine drove us up to the top of the pass, to about 4,000 feet in elevation where the earliest snow in the state collects around Independence Mine Historical State Park.

A Walk around Eklutna Lake

at Eklutna Lake

She then took us to Eklutna Lake, a great spot in which to picnic, hike, or fish. The trail is supposed to take you out 10 miles where you can then continue to get a better look at Eklutna Glacier. But there were so many mosquitoes that Cristine and I decided we would just take a few photos and leave.

A Hike to Thunderbird Falls

Thunderbird Falls Trail is a 1.8-mile moderate hike in Chugiak, Alaska, about 35 minutes from Anchorage. I almost gave up as the hardest part was the rise at the trailhead directly off Glenn Highway. Bill and daughter Cristine encouraged me to continue, and it became a leisurely walk after. We stopped at a Gorge View midway, and the Falls was visible from a balcony at the end.  We could have had a closer view on the Creekside Trail that split from the general path. But no, thank you!

Thunderbird Falls and the easy half-mile hike to and from it, with Cristine

We loved our visit with Cristine and the trips to the famous Moose Tooth Pizza Place and Suite 100 for her birthday dinner with Mitch. We also enjoyed out stay at Cherry and Rick’s home and were glad we were able to see "Sully" with Cherry. We also took the couple to Sophia’s Café between Palmer and Wasilla for an excellent Meditteranean lunch which we first discovered with Cristine.

But the highlights of our visit remains seeing the Northern Lights and walking on a glacier!