Anchorage, AK

You may be able to experience a vacation of a lifetime by taking advantage of discounted cruises, lodging and tours.

Alaska is beautiful and most visitors consider this vacation trip, the trip of a lifetime. It is the vacation that they always remember and talk about to others. There is good reason for this. There is no other place on earth as captivating as Alaska .

The city of Anchorage offers so much to see and do. Anchorage makes a perfect "home-base" to experience the wonders of our state.

Cruise lines, travel tours, lodges, and hotels are offering specials discounts and "stimulus" vacation packages to travelers this season. So, be sure to check them out.

Travel north this year. Come to Alaska and make Anchorage your first stop. I can promise you will not be disappointed.

Pauline

Information on traveling North to Alaska:

Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau

Anchorage Travel Guide - Free

Alaska Division of Tourism

Alaska Vacation Planner - Free

Alaska Tourism and Travel Guide

On January 3rd, Alaska celebrated its 50th year as a state in the Union.

Friday and Saturday saw many celebrations throughout the state in Anchorage , Fairbanks , Juneau , Kodiak, Nome , Unalaska and Valdez.

Anchorage sponsored a celebration which included a fireworks display following a cauldron lighting and a full day of musical entertainment. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Governor Sarah Palin and outgoing Mayor Mark Begich all addressed the crowds that gathered to participate.

The Anchorage Daily News has posted several interesting articles as a "Countdown to Statehood" feature. This week's article talks about the 50 years of change Alaska has experienced as a state and the many benefits Alaskans have received. The article discusses how different life might be if Alaska never became a state.

I found the article quite interesting and in some ways enlightening so I will share it with you here.

Here is to the next 50 years!

Pauline

Related Links in the Anchorage Daily News:

Alaska Statehood Celebration Video

1958 - Alaskans Remember

Photo Gallery - Photos submitted by Alaskans

Snowzilla was quite an attraction in Anchorage with people waiting in line to get a picture with the colossus snowman. Unfortunately, Snowzilla is no longer with us and Anchorage must say bye-bye to our unofficial attraction.

In 2005, Mr. Billy Powers did what many people like to do when the snow falls, he built a snowman. The large snowman did what many snowmen do when it warms up after a snowfall, he began to melt.

Mr. Powers rebuilt his snowman which grew and grew and grew! The project soon became a family project and then the neighborhood began to help, too. The result was an enormous 16' snowman that somehow got dubbed "Snowzilla". The giant snowman's traditional corn cob pipe was made from manila evelopes. Glass bottles made the buttons and a collapsible hamper made the perfect top hat.

Snowzilla reminds me of the "build it and they will come" statement in the movie, "Field of Dreams". Billy Powers built the snowman for his own pleasure, but "they" came from all over Anchorage and the world (Snowzilla drew attention of the international media) to see the giant snowman.

Unfortunately, there is always a sad ending to snowmen. The sun always melts them away. In Snowzilla's case, it was the City of Anchorage that was his demise. After three years of bringing fun and joy to his visitors, it seems Snowzilla violated some code in the Municipality of Anchorage , so he was bulldozed down.

You may not be able to see Snowzilla any longer, but you can still see many beautifully decorated homes in Anchorage . Use this Holiday Lights interactive map to map out a tour. A tour of the homes are decorated for your enjoyment and can be a really fun-filled evening for a Christmas Eve or Christmas Night activity. Turn your radio to your favorite stations, grab your iPod or pop in a Christmas CD in the CD player in your car. Take along a thermos of hot chocolate and enjoy!

Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!

Pauline

The Anchorage Fire and Police departments will be competing once again in their annual hockey competition game, Guns 'n Hoses.

The Guns 'n Hoses event is held each year as a charity event for local charities. This year proceeds will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. Last year's event raised about $31,000.

The "Guns" hockey team, of course, represents the Anchorage Police Department while the Hoses hockey team represents the Anchorage Fire Department. The game will be played at the Sullivan Arena on Sunday, December 13. It should be an exciting game, as the Guns try to even up the "score" and the Hoses fight to maintain the their lead in the most games won. The Hoses have won 6 of the 8 games played over the past years.

Those attending the game will also be entertained with various demonstrations by both the Anchorage Firefighters and the Anchorage Police, including a demonstration by the K-9 and SWAT units. Sparky (Fire Department mascot) and Buddy Bear (Police department mascot) will be on hand to give out special goodies to all the children. Those attending should also remember to bring their ice skates as they will be given the chance to skate with the players on both teams after the game.

You may purchase Tickets for the Anchorage Guns 'n Hoses Hockey game at any police or fire station or from the Anchorage American Diabetes Association. Tickets are only $7 per person or you may purchase a family pass (6 people) for only $25

The Hillside area of Anchorage is growing rapidly; faster than any other Anchorage community and plans are underway to plan its future.

Currently there are approximately 8,500 homes in the Hillside area. The projected growth (10,000 - 15,000) calls for another 5,000 homes to be added to the area.

The Hillside area has much of the undeveloped space in the Anchorage Bowl. Much of this space is steep and hard to develop. Construction higher up the hillside can cause major problems for the homeowners located down the hill.

A district plan is entering its final stages after being developed by Hillside residents, city planners and consultants. The plan will guide development, population growth, open space, trails, roads, water and sewer service.

The new plan is in drafting stages, it will replace the Hillside Wastewater Management Plan and address issues more specifically than what has been outlined in the Anchorage 2020 Comprehensive Plan.

Some of the major proposals in the drafted plan are:

• Development requirements for building on the steeper slopes and the higher elevations of Hillside . Requirements for buffer zones, open spaces, trails, and roads will be established as well as drainage plans to deal with runoff.

• Building permit regulations and requirements to be expanded to include the southeastern portion of Hillside which falls outside of Anchorage 's Building Safety Service. This proposal will need to be approved by Hillside residents.

• Creating a new and larger service area to build and manage roads and drainage improvement. The possible creation of a separate entity to manage drainage and watershed problems. Fees would be charged to landowners for the financing of the "entity".

• Expand Anchorage 's tax-supported service area to include all of Hillside and would include also extend (about a mile) into Chugach State Park . The expansion would allow for community parks, park access, park maintenance and parking areas. The City of Anchorage would market bonds to finance the projects.

City planners have listened to the residents of the Hillside area. They are listening and responding all comments and suggestions concerning Hillside 's future. Although the official deadline for comments was yesterday, your input will still be considered if you make them in the next couple of days according to Chris Beck of Agnew Beck Consulting.

The Hillside plan will now go to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then will be redrafted. In a few months public hearings will be held, once again. Begin checking the Hillside District Plan website for hearing dates around February.

The Hillside District plan is expected to be finalized and sent to the Anchorage Assembly by next summer.

Hillside District Plan Links:

Hillside District Plan website (www.hillsidedistrictplan.com) offers information on all the issues, who to contact and an online comment form

Live Hillside WebCam - see what's happening on the Hillside

Sign up for our Hillside District Plan newsletter, and receive periodic email updates.