Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Earthquake Park

I found Earthquake Park by pure luck the other day....and I was taking care of a couple of kiddos so after I picked them up from school...and after a stop for some frozen yogurt, we took the dogs for a walk through the park.  The park memorializes the Good Friday earthquake that hit Anchorage in 1964 and is located on the site where huge tracts of land (including 75 homes) slid into Cook Inlet.  It's the most powerful earthquake (9.2 on the Richter scale) recorded in North America.   There really isn't any visible evidence of the quake other than the plaques and photos posted in the park - but there is a nice trail for walking or biking...and there were some great views of downtown Anchorage with the mountains in the background...
 Aidan & Sidney...Duncan & Dave's new friends...
that's as much of a smile as Aidan is going to give me...we had been chatting the night before and when I asked him if he liked hiking, his response was 'No'...when I asked why, he said (with as much attitude as a 9 year old can give) 'because it's basically just walking'  :)   So I didn't bother trying to 'fancy up' our outing by calling it a hike...we just took the dogs for a nice leisurely stroll... :)

On a clear day, you could see Denali...this was my first glimpse of it (on a separate day as the day we were out was not terribly clear)
 pretty impressive seeing this massive peak when it is over 200 miles away!!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Hiking: Thunderbird Falls

I'm the first to admit that 'outdoorsy' is not the first adjective I'd use in describing myself.  However, given the abundance of trails and hiking opportunities around here, I am working to change that :)

I stopped in at Barnes and Noble the other day and picked up this book...
I like the way it's laid out ~ it tells you the difficulty level of the hike...and there's a chart that indicates which hikes are the best hikes for kids...to see rivers/lakes...to see waterfalls etc...I chose an easy one for today...
the trail was well marked...and there were quite a few people so I wasn't concerned about being a solo hiker...
the vegetation was so pretty ~ these large leafy plants are everywhere...and some of them appear ready for fall...
 mushrooms growing on the end of a tree trunk

this is what you find at the end of the trail...
Thunderbird Falls
 upper falls
 lower falls
proof that I was actually there :)

There was also a path to go down to the riverbed
Duncan and Dave had a good time...
 Dave
 Duncan
There was an observation deck that allowed you to look down to the 'gorge' below...there were some other hikers standing there when I got to the deck and one of them asked if he could borrow the lens on my camera...there was a man 'sunbathing' across the way, they were trying to determine if he was wearing any clothes...apparently he wasn't...but after realizing he was being 'observed', he pulled his pants up...I can't help but wonder if he chose his spot intentionally though...out of all the woods in Alaska you decide to plop down and read your magazine across the way from an observation deck?  :)

Not too far from the falls were some other hikes near a lake called Eklutna...I decided to at least check it out...those hikes will have to wait for another day, but it was worth it to at least stop and see the lake today...
and I saw this mama and baby on the way to the lake...
Duncan has found his voice and started barking at them from the car window

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Exploring Downtown

I've been trying to balance a little bit of work with a little bit of fun ~ now that my friends have left and I'm on my own, I have no more excuses not to get completely unpacked.  So Saturday was busy doing a lot of that, as well as some errands.

Sunday was SUNNY, so I knew I wanted to get outside!  I took the dogs downtown to a park and one of the many trails around town ~ this one was called the Coastal Trail cleverly enough because it follows the coastline.  :)
We first stopped at Resolution Park, which is slightly misleading as it's not really a park...more like a viewing area...it does provide a great view of the Cook Inlet and the Alaska mountain range, but there is no grass or trees.  It's marked by this statue of Captain James Cook, a great explorer and navigator who helped chart many far away places while in the Royal Navy.
and just a short walk away is a well known and well loved local hot spot...a place that I would compare to Snooze in Denver.
It's called "Snow City Cafe" and they have GREAT breakfasts!  I've been 3 times since I got here and each breakfast was delicious.  There is always a wait, but they do allow you to call ahead to put your name on the list which helps cut down your wait.

I stopped by the Visitor Information Center just because it's so pretty ~ there are flowers everywhere throughout downtown...I picked up a few brochures with ideas for future weekend exploring as well.  I'm definitely fortunate in that I can do all of the 'touristy' activities without having the time crunch that vacationers must deal with. 
During the summer, there is an outdoor market / festival that takes place every weekend.  It's pet friendly, so we wandered through...a lot of local artists, photographers, crafters, food booths and other vendors...definitely geared towards the touristy set but still fun to walk around...
I was trying to figure out if this was a dog or what he was supposed to be, but I overheard one of the visitor center guides say 'that's the most pathetic polar bear I've ever seen'...so I guess that's what he was...made more pathetic looking when he's standing next to that ferocious grizzly bear! :)

My final stop was on the way home...guess what I found?  Awhile back, I'd read there was going to be a self-serve frozen yogurt place going in at the airport but they would only have 3 flavor options...well, this one is NOT at the airport...and they have 12 different flavors to choose from...their 'toppings' bar is not QUITE as extensive as some of the others I have seen, but that's okay...I was just happy to learn I have a fro-yo shop nearby!
I spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on the patio reading a book and enjoying the sun ~
the wildlife continues to be somewhat sporadic...either that, or they just are out and about really early in the morning before I am usually awake...

I was getting ready to let the dogs out the other night but noticed this little one hanging out in the yard. 
I looked around for his mama but he was by himself...and I've since learned he is called a yearling...the mamas usually become pregnant and about a week before she gives birth, she basically kicks out her one year old from the year before and sends him on his way to fend for himself as she has taught him everything she can and she wants to give birth alone.  Talk about tough love!

And finally, only in Alaska...
 Just Married...
 with a rack on top... :)