travel

OBESITY IS CHRONIC among all American children, not just those in the 49th state, but it still shocks me - 1 in 3 kids begin school overweight. The contributing factors are many - too much screen time, more working parents, lack of urban planning etc. Even our food is less healthy. 

Summer break has arrived in Alaska, depositing thousands of children and their families in the swirling, whirling world of the midnight sun, chock-full of outdoor activities, including those of the food-related kind.

Calypso Farm and Ecology Center, Ester, AK:
Trying a carrot fresh from the soil! 

When our family travels, no matter where we travel, mealtime is often a highlight of the day. Whether we’re exploring a new restaurant or packing a picnic dinner for a mountain trail, it’s fun to share breakfast, lunch or dinner someplace different. But how healthy, really, are our choices? Oh, I try to stick to my guns for the majority of our travel time, insisting upon fruit and/or veggies at every meal, but frankly, after a few days, I become rather lax about this rule. Apple pie for breakfast? Why not. Dr. Pepper with lunch and dinner? Okay. 

I’ve made a promise to myself - this summer will be different. Alaska is flush with healthy food choices, both of the restaurant and farm variety. Maybe, just maybe, if we involve our timid eater (did I mention I am raising the World’s Pickiest?), our mealtime outcomes will be a bit more on the healthy side of things. 

What’s our strategy? Education is a strong factor in enticing our son to pick healthy menu items instead of just being picky. Knowing where a certain food originates is part of the plan. We adore Calypso Farm and Ecology Center near Fairbanks, where the whole family can participate in learning about food, eating, and growing a garden of healthy foods. Milk a goat, pick a carrot, or make a pizza in their wood-fired oven, all while receiving practical advice from an extremely dedicated staff and volunteer force. Find the farm in the town of Ester, a short drive from Fairbanks, and consider attending their annual Open House, July 22.

Shopping for food is important, too. We generally tend to eat breakfast and lunch in our cabin, hotel room, or on the road, noshing on foods we’ve found at local farmers’ markets or the grocery store. Alaska has so many outdoor markets, in just about every community of the state, and we love to wander the grounds, listen to music, and become a temporary part of a town’s fabric. The Alaska Farmers Market Association is a coalition of farmers and markets around the state, offering a big list of those to visit. Buy some local produce, bread, jam, and cheese, then enjoy your own Alaska picnic. Life doesn’t get much simpler, or better, than that. 

Exercising is key to a healthy appetite, too, we’ve found. A brisk walk, bike ride, or kayak paddle before mealtime can be just the thing to make young tummies growl with hunger, resulting in kids who are more inclined to eat the good stuff. If eating out, I usually order an “appetizer” plate of raw veggies and dip before our main course, and with good results, since my kiddo is starving after a full day of Alaska fun. 

Eating together is a precious time of day, one that should provide not only physical sustenance, but emotional nutrition, too. Why not make it a time of discovery and discussion, while on the road this summer? 

Follow the Kirkland family’s adventures at AKontheGO.com.

THE VISITOR SEASON has arrived! Cruise ships now tied up to the docks daily in our downtown area. The skies overhead are often filled with the varied sounds of aircraft taking guests on once-in-a-lifetime adventures in our backyard. It is difficult to be in any area of our town without seeing some effects of the many visitors to our community. My first summer in Alaska and many more were made possible by the strong visitor economy that exists in this state. My partner also spent many years in the guests and hospitality economy that supported our way of life. For these strong connections to our history the summer visitor season is a time of year that we appreciate.

Just hangin' out on Mendenhall Glacier...

Our oldest son has had exposure to cruise ships since the first months of his life and he prefers to call them “rocket ships.” Although we have had many frustrations with many of the visitors that we have experienced over the years we never cast them in a negative "ugh tourists" light to our boys. For the most part we have many reasons to enjoy and celebrate the visitor industry that affects so many Alaskans in various ways.

Here are 4 reasons to appreciate and welcome visitors to our state.

1. Economic boost. Visitors are renewable resources that leave money in our state supporting local businesses, families, and municipality sales tax.

2. Unique seasonal opportunities. There are restaurants, visitor centers, and tours that are only available during the visitor season that our family can enjoy as well. Many of these opportunities would not be possible and/or affordable for our family without the tourism infrastructure.

3. Reminder of privilege. Every guest that I see in our community reminds me how much people seek Alaska’s grandeur, beauty, and uniqueness. I use this as a reminder of how privileged we are to be able to call this state home and truly experience what this state has to offer.

4. Showing our best. There are many misconceptions about Alaskans. I value the exercise and investment that many people undertake to journey to the state. I know their experiences can give them a better perspective of who we are and what we value.

Visiting the hatchery in Juneau

We are a family that prioritizes travel and new experiences. We strive to treat the visitors to our community with the friendliness and respect that we hope to find when we leave the comforts of the 49th state. Perspective and comparisons for us are valuable along with the experience of travel itself.  

Today we set-out for the lower 48 in the quest for warm sunshine and some quality family time together! We hope to be welcomed and appreciated as visitors in another state.

MY MOTHER WAS a stewardess during the days when nobody thought of using any other word to describe the stylish, attractive young ladies who wore stilettos, served cocktails and smiled winningly at equally-stylish passengers. A country girl from Montana, my mother had graduated high school and begun teacher’s college, only to be wooed away by a representative from Northwest Orient Airlines who, quite literally, promised her the world. 

In the 1950’s and early 1960’s, until age 30 and an impending marriage to my dad placed her into forced retirement as per company policy, my mother put her sexy, high-heeled self in the aisles of every modern aircraft of that era. She flew businessmen to Tokyo, well-to-do families to Hawaii and scores of soldiers and airmen to Alaska. During a time of civil unrest and global misunderstanding, she toured the far reaches of our planet and returned time and time again to her enviable apartment on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle, wiser to the world.

Lookin' fly: Erin's mom (left) with a fellow "stew" 

While she was through flying by the time my brother, sister and I arrived, mom did have particular goals in mind for her offspring’s introduction to travel as a whole. With a passport full of stamps and a well-worn Samsonite, my mother had experienced travel from both a passenger and personnel perspective. She made sure we understood our responsibility as members of the globetrotting public. 

Be responsible for thyself. From packing our own clothes to carrying our own spending money, my parents allowed us the freedom, and subsequent consequences, of our choices. Each of us had our own suitcase, packed and unpacked it ourselves, and knew what lay within. Dad taught us the navigation with map and compass, but it was mom who taught subtle nuances of communicating effectively with people. Confidence came through experience, and I am truly thankful for that. 

Be presentable, always. Coming from a time when flying was considered akin to fine dining, mom made us dress up to board an aircraft, and to a certain extent, I still participate in this exercise. Customer service is better, I feel better about myself (and my family), and my professional image is just a whole lot finer when I’m not slouching through a terminal in sweats and flip flops. 

Be respectful to all you meet. Ranging from hotel front desk staff to the lady cleaning the restroom at a train station, respect is paramount for travel success. Travel is a privilege, mom believed, and we better show our appreciation for those people who make it enjoyable. One of my earliest memories is my mother chatting with the porter aboard an Amtrak train bound for Missoula, Montana, and his “Thank you ma’am, for taking the time to talk to me, most people are in such a hurry.” 

Go anywhere you want. If a small-town young lady can see the world, why not me? Why not any of us? 

Celebrate Alaskan moms this weekend and visit AKontheGO.com for a complete list of Fun Friday events and happenings around the state. 

MY HIGH SCHOOL graduation gifts consisted of a Eurail Pass and padded bicycle shorts. One week after receiving my diploma, I began a two-month, two-wheeled journey across Europe, courtesy of my parents. Accompanied by two German teachers and 18 peers, I saw Holland, France, East and West Germany and Czechoslovakia from the vantage points of dusty country lanes, designated bike paths, and busy city streets. 

Each morning, our chaperones would check our physical condition, feed us the local breakfast and establish an estimated arrival time at the next destination. Riding in groups of three or so, we were then released to the whims of the road in a not-so-subtle introduction to the speed of Life. Over the course of 60 days, my cohorts and I learned how to convert miles to kilometres, fix flat tires, and dance the polka. I fell in love, and then out again, discovered beer, and began a mental wrestling match about my subsequent success or failure of an upcoming college soccer career as I pedaled along the lonely backroads. 

The more I travel, the more I recall this trip in 1986 and my parents’ decision to allow their sheltered 17-year old daughter to traipse in and out of Communist Europe, often in the company of other, equally sheltered, teenagers. How wise they were, as I look back and wonder at these defining moments of my transition to young adulthood, as fresh in my memory now as they were 26 years ago. 

If I was speaking to the Class of 2012, I’d tell them to travel somewhere this summer. Exactly where doesn’t matter as much as how. Ride the Alaska Marine Highway, taking note of who shares the ride, and why. Sketch, write, or record a journal of the adventure, including the misadventures, for these are the snapshots worth viewing much later as pinnacles of growth. Get in the car and drive north to Denali National Park and camp, taking advantage of an opportunity to witness this landscape, gazed an entire lifetime, perhaps, but never taken as an intimate partner in this deft dance toward adulthood.

The Alaska ferry: hosting recent grads for decades...

From this moment on, the journey is what offers the most joy, with a wide open world ready to accept this youthful, boundless acceptance for new experiences and new people. For at the moment when a tassel is moved from right to left, children sprout wings of independence and sink roots of values, and this is where parents hope and pray the two shall forever be intertwined. 

I remember my father’s face as I looked back before entering the jetway back in June of 1986. We had spent an hour discussing international phone calls, money exchanges, and navigation, sitting there in the gate area. I was anxious, he was apprehensive. But as I turned my head and caught one last look at the people who had gently pushed me out of my secure nest, there was nothing but pride, there. 

Just look where it took me. 

Follow Erin’s Alaska adventures at AKontheGO.com

ALASKA IS AN easy place to encourage a child’s natural sense of curiosity. With diverse environments and unique individuals, every 49th state vacation destination assures that someone or something different will be waiting at the end of the road. 

Turning a vacation into a cultural (or scientific, or historical) opportunity is easy, requiring only a little preparation and research ahead of time. Many fascinating experiences lie right under our noses, yet are often bypassed for the sake of more flashy opportunities. Especially in Alaska, where folks are generally happy to speak freely with children, we’ve found it helpful to call ahead and do a little information-gathering ahead of time. Many are happy to chat with our son, or provide an up-close look at a particular exhibit with a little prior warning, especially in smaller Alaska communities. Below are some opportunities that might interest kids, in all regions of the state.

Juneau: Mt. Roberts Tramway, Living Tree Carvings. A surprising discovery for our family, these trees, known as “culturally modified,” have been carved only through the bark and inner layer of the tree in such a way that the tree keeps itself alive and grows a protective barrier that lasts a lifetime. Faces of warriors, spirits, and various creatures adorn the trees, and it’s a bit of a natural treasure hunt to find them all along the popular Alpine Loop Trail. It’s also fun to guess the story behind each carving before reading the interpretive brochure (grab at the trailhead).

Sitka: New Archangel Dancers. I was worried when the Sitka Visitors Bureau offered us the chance to view this all-woman dance troupe last summer. My son, at the age where dancing and girls are equally yucky, was not too thrilled, and initially sat like a sack of potatoes in his seat. However, when the catchy music started, and the dancers began whirling around like tops and shouting “Oy!” at the tops of their lungs, he sat up and took notice. Great music, beautiful costumes (they make all costumes themselves), and very personable dancers who like talking about their dancing with kids.

Anchorage: Alaska Botanical Garden. Pretend you’re in a hidden fairy forest, explore edible plants and interesting new varieties, or attend the annual Garden Fair and Children’s Garden each June. Whatever you choose, this 110-acre spruce and birch woods is a wonderland of botanical delights for kids of all ages. Staff and volunteers have created accessible trails that wind through the different garden areas, and the Lowenfels Family Nature Trail is a self-guided, 1.1-mile walk from the gardens to busy Campbell Creek. The organization also has a fantastic Junior Master Gardener program and day camp, where kids can learn the mechanics of gardening, and the role gardens have played in Alaska’s history.

Fairbanks: Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center. More than a hub for gathering information on area attractions, this beautiful building is also home to the Public Lands Information Center and Tanana Valley Chiefs Conference. From towering sculptures at the entrance, to interactive displays throughout the center, this facility is a must-see for the whole family. A favorite area for our crew is the Athabascan Elder’s Hall, an intimate, quiet room where we have been able to observe an Athabascan fiddle lesson, drumming circle, and storytelling session. Outside, visit the little log cabin and talk about how difficult it must have been to live without running water, gas heat, or television, and admire the beautiful garden beds.

For more information about these and other Alaskan family hotspots, visit AKontheGO.com.

AS ALL PARENTS of children on the autism spectrum know, consistency and structure are mainstays toward success. Travel, on the other hand, is full of inconsistency and free-flowing schedules, causing many moms and dads to remain at home. Compounding the issue is the characteristics of such “hidden disabilities” like autism; children do not appear, at least from outward appearances, to be disabled, and many, many trips have been tainted by thoughtless comments or unwillingness to accommodate. 

Times are changing, however. Parents who used to sit on their hands in frustration are now creating their own criteria for travel with autistic children, and they’re winning the hearts of travel industry professionals and businesses the world over. While Alaska isn’t quite ready to pull out all the stops from a travel industry perspective, I will say the state as a whole is accepting, loving and generally willing to help whenever possible. That said, parents who choose to visit or explore the Last Frontier with their youngster should heed a few guidelines, since Alaska, for its awesome vistas and charming cultural experiences, is remote, rugged and sometimes not fully-equipped to handle every situation. Our suggestions? 

1. Plan ahead, way, way ahead. If your child is on a higher-functioning level, engage their interest through maps, DVD’s, visitor bureau information and interactive websites (our oldest adores computer time, and we’ve finally found a way to use it in a positive manner). Let he or she be the one to request information and receive it in the mail (in the parents’ names, of course) and allow your child’s interests to drive the planning process. 

2. Pack wisely. Allow your child to bring familiar items, from comfortable clothing (children on the autism spectrum often resist new clothes, or the itchy, scratchy fabrics of outdoor duds) to the same soap, toothpaste and toothbrush they use at home. We also threw in the pillow from our son’s bed, and added a sleeping bag to the packing list; the cozy softness helped our son feel secure and warm, all the time. In our rented RV, he stayed in it all day.

Exploring the treasures of the gift shop

3. Practice traveling. Before jetting across the country, start by exploring your own community, using the above strategies. Reserve a hotel room in your city, and show your child how people act when away from home. Explain there can be lots of noises, strange textures, and different foods (but do bring some familiar favorites from home). Talk about how someone may assist with bags and parking, and that some people from other cultures may not appreciate an open-mouthed stare from a curious kid. Take along a map and walk around the city, discovering what types of attractions appeal to your child, and which ones are a pass. Typically, history museums, hands-on exhibits (the El Dorado Gold Mine in Fairbanks was hit with our son), and the like are big winners. Each child on the spectrum has a different level of tolerance, so knowing what scenarios trigger meltdowns or anxiety is crucial to future travel expectations. Also consider regular routines of sleeping and eating, two very important aspects of traveling with children, never mind those on the autism spectrum. 

4. Be purposeful. You are the parent and you know your child best. If, for instance, you are certain your son or daughter will not tolerate a 9-hour day cruise, speak to staff ahead of time for shorter experiences that may bring more smiles and less frustration. Ask for pre-boarding of airplanes, cruise boats, and motorcoaches. Consider printing information cards (business cards) to hand silently to naysayers, stating your child’s disability and your appreciation of their patience. Remember, you are your child’s best advocate (as you’ve heard over and over), and people can’t assist you if you don’t assist them, first. 

5. Probe with Questions. Want to be sure you’re choosing the right experience for your child? Ask for clarification, reinforcement, and above all, understanding. It is a good idea to speak to a company representative in person rather than relying upon websites or email. Connecting names to voices or, in the best of circumstances, faces, can garner a whole lot more support. 

Travel is not only possible for families with autism, it’s the perfect way to help prepare your child for their future.

For more resources and some excellent testimonies from other parents, visit Autistic Globetrotters or Aspie Travel. Authored by mothers of sons with autism, these two sites are a treasure trove of information.

EVEN THE NEWEST Alaska visitor will quickly spot the lack of major freeways running through the state. With a mere handful of options available for a true road trip, Alaska nonetheless presents a wealth of destinations for those hardy souls who believe in seeing the state from the ground up. Driving is one of our favorite modes of travel, because we are in complete control of our itinerary - when we stop, how long and where. Even today, with gasoline prices choking wallets and bank accounts, the quintessential family road trip remains a signature summer event for many, many families. 

Alaska’s road systems are a bit unique, requiring drivers to be prepared, vigilant, and flexible. We utilize the Alaska Department of Transportation’s 5-1-1 system, a comprehensive map and click-by-click description of road conditions and delays around the state. A quick check of the website lets us know how many DVD’s or books to pack so we can wait out construction-season delays. Additionally, our family travel “backseat kit” includes food, water, a sleeping bag, first aid kit, bug spray, a lighter and cash. In the event of a major delay, breakdown, or other incident miles and miles from the nearest repair station or town, we won’t starve, die of thirst, freeze, or be eaten by mosquitoes. And, when we do need help in a small, remote Alaska town, we’ll have cash to pay for goods and/or services in a place that doesn’t have credit card capabilities.

Gorgeous scenery around every corner

Where does our family like to roam? Anywhere and everywhere, but we do have favorites. Below are a few excellent choices for families, broken down by geographic area: 

Southcentral: Anchorage to Seward, Homer, and/or the rest of the Kenai Peninsula. What I like about this trip is the bounty of options for stops along the way. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Turnagain Pass hiking, the little communities of Hope and Moose Pass, while the destination cities of Homer and Seward, themselves, offer plenty of family fun. A nifty companion to this road trip choice is utilizing the Alaska Audio Guides’ Seward Highway CD and companion map, through which kids can learn a ton of interesting information, mile-by-mile, and thus drive parents nuts with this knowledge forever after (kidding).

Dirt, wood or pavement, Alaska's roads are great for summer  family cruising

Interior: Fairbanks to Denali National Park. Attention northern parents! Denali NP is not just a drive-by. Yes, we know the Park’s periphery, better known as “Glitter Gulch” can be full, full of tourists, but there are many quieter options for wild Alaskan family fun. Stop in to the Murie Science and Learning Center and take a guided nature walk, let the kids complete their Junior Ranger Badge, then perhaps take a rafting trip down the mighty Nenana River. While you’re driving around, take time to stop and let the kids photograph their impressions, or sketch the landscape in their journals.

Hop on the ferry for a watery road trip! 

Southeast: Take the ferry. That’s right, the ferry. The Alaska Marine Highway is the only designated water National Scenic Byway in the United States, so why not take advantage of the incredible opportunity for a little family togetherness while experiencing some of the 1,500 islands making up the Inside Passage, or taking time to investigate ancient Native Alaskan culture and the Gold Rush of the late 1800’s. Leave the car at home and take advantage of AMHS’s summertime “See Alaska Pass,” picking three destinations from among several, saving 25% of the usual ticket price. Kids under six are free, and children 6-11 are half the adult fare. Not a bad deal. 

Explore your state this summer, and do visit AKontheGO.com for more road trip facts and tips. 

PASS THROUGH ANY crowded airport these days, and it’s highly likely you’ll witness a toddler manipulating mom or dad’s smartphone. These pint-sized techies are part of a new generation of traveling kids who, for better or worse, have amusement at their fingertips. 

Big kids, too, have their own new set of standards for travel fun; from iPads to the latest hand-held video game, children today are able to manipulate their own brand of quiet fun. But is it a good thing? Certainly, say some parents, harkening back to their own childhoods spent in the family station wagon with nothing more than “License Plate Bingo” to play during a 12-hour drive to grandma’s house. Apps and maps do provide kids and parents a positive travel experience - no whining is good, right? But other moms and dads are in the camp of uncertainty, wondering if perhaps the family travel experience is sullied by the lack of family interaction, engagement, and ultimately, time.

It’s a tough decision, one in which my husband and I discuss quite frequently. Regardless of your own position on the matter, there are guidelines and limits, along with a wealth of options for application. Here are a few of our thoughts on bringing technology into the backseat: 

1. Set limits. Remember when your dad would demand a shut-down of the television because he said your brain would turn to mush? Yep. Same rule applies in our family for hand-held games and such. Besides, there’s nothing wrong with actual conversation among family members all traveling together. Also remember that some kids do get headaches after staring at a small screen for extended periods of time, so breaks are good for a physical recharge, too. 

2. Choose participatory apps or games. A few great apps, like Viator (suitable for older children and teens), provide cool history and trivia about thousands of destinations around the world. Put a child in charge, and keep the dialogue going with searches, question-and-answer sessions, and the like. Google Maps is also fun, and teaches valuable navigation skills, something many of tend to forget in this world of GPS. Smaller kiddos may enjoy the excellent PBS Kids app, with familiar faces and games that appeal to the 2-5 year-old set. 

3. Try a multimedia approach. All smartphones today come with a handy still or video camera, and of high quality, too. Hand it over to the kids and ask them to create a slide show of their day, or offer up a theme for a family video you can all view together at the end of your trip. YouTube is an excellent venue for sharing family vids, and settings are easy to tweak for privacy. Even small children can click the camera button! 

4. Encourage writing and reading. iPads and other tablets are fabulous ways to encourage journaling among your elementary or middle school child. iPad’s “notes” even look like notebook paper, and the keypad is large and simple to operate. Combine daily journal entries with photos, and you’ve got a pretty fancy vacation scrapbook. 

Involve your kids in the technology discussion well before the trip commences. Decide together how much is too much, and establish rules for sharing devices. Technology is a wonderful addition to family travel, but it shouldn’t be the only one. 

For more tips and travel thoughts, visit AKontheGO.com