alaska

October Adventures: Exploring Alaska with Your Kids

October in Alaska presents us with breathtaking landscapes that transform into a vibrant tapestry of fall colors. The weather is cooling down, but the opportunities for family fun are endless! Alaska offers an array of exciting activities for kids of all ages. It’s time for us to get out there and explore our backyard. We’ve compiled a few ideas of things you can enjoy this fall. It’s time to bundle up and embark on an unforgettable journey through the Last Frontier with your little ones.

Wildlife Encounters:
October is an excellent time to witness Alaska’s diverse wildlife:

    • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center near Anchorage – Your children can observe bears, moose, musk oxen, and other native animals up close.
    • Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward – Kids can marvel at sea lions, puffins, and playful otters.
    • Kenai Fjords National Park guided whale-watching tour – For the little adventures take a shot at spotting humpback whales, orca whales, and porpoises on his guided tour.

Fall Foliage Exploration:
Alaska’s vast forests burst into a kaleidoscope of colors during October.

    • Tony Knowles Coastal Trail in Anchorage – Take your kids on a scenic hike where they will be surrounded by vibrant red, orange, and yellow foliage.
    • Denali National Park – Visit this national park for breathtaking fall vistas. You can take a family-friendly hike along the Savage River Loop or enjoy a drive along the Denali Park Road. Have your camera ready and be prepared to capture some beautiful families memories amidst the stunning fall scenery.

Cultural Experiences:
Immerse your children in Alaska’s rich cultural heritage by visiting historical sites and museums.

    • Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage – An interactive experience, offering traditional dance performances, storytelling, and craft demonstrations.
    • The Anchorage Museum – Features exhibits that showcase Alaska’s history, art, and science.
    • Pioneer Park in Fairbanks – Give your kids a taste of Alaska’s Gold Rush era. Your little ones can pan for gold, ride a historic train, and enjoy amusement park rides.

Dog Sledding Adventures:
Alaska is famous for our dog sledding tradition. October marks the start of the mushing season, and several kennels offer family-friendly dog sledding tours. In places like Anchorage and Fairbanks, your children can meet adorable sled dogs, ride on a sled, and learn about the fascinating world of dog mushing!

October is a magical time for families to explore the wonders of our Alaskan backyard. There are amazing adventures waiting for us to enjoy with our kids. So, grab your jackets and embark on an unforgettable journey through this beautiful state with your little ones!

in Local Events

Décor in Your Alaskan Home Can Protect Your Mental Health- Part Two

Spring is quickly approaching, but winter hasn’t had its last word. Our spaces are a haven for us mentally, emotionally, and physically. You can make your Alaskan home feel emotionally safe just by adjusting your décor. Here are a few more tips for increasing the healing vibes in your home.

Bring the outside in
Nature is well known to increase mental health and well-being. Bringing nature inside is an inexpensive way to make your space feel warm and cozy. Plant life helps us to feel more creative and relaxed. Add potted herbs to your kitchen, live plants in baskets, planters, decorative pots to add life to your space.

Read More›
in Uncategorized

Décor in Your Alaskan Home Can Protect Your Mental Health- Part One

Did you know that your space can evoke emotional responses based upon its color, texture, lighting, and room layout? During the winter months here in Alaska, many of us experience Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD and we can use all the help we can get to keep our mood and overall mental health in check. Our homes interior design and décor can influence our mood and well-being, so we’ve compiled some tips to help you make your space work for your body and your mind.

Read More›
in Home Decoration

Our Favorite Alaska Homes Blogs of 2022

Wow! Another year has come and gone. 2022 has been a year of adjustment after nearly 2 years of pandemic shutdowns we are finally finding our ‘new normal’ and adapting like pros. This past year has brought many changes throughout the Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla and the Mat-Su Valley. We are happy that we’ve been able to share the ride with all of you. Over the past year we’ve shared some tips and home-buying advice with you and we’d love to review some of our favorite articles from 2022.

Winning the Bidding War for your Alaskan Dream Home – Tips to Success

This February article helped us to know the tips and tricks to winning a bidding war for your dream home. We learned the importance of connecting with the owner personally, if appropriate via a handwritten letter, how to get pre-approved, the importance of limiting contingencies and controlling our emotions.

Read More›
in Uncategorized
Indoor Garden in Alaska | How to Grow a Garden Indoors | Alaska Homes by Brooke

Alaska gardening tips: How to grow an indoor garden in Alaska

While it might seem like a better time to be cutting wood instead of planting seeds, gardeners in Alaska don’t need to give up when the first cold snap hits. Clear some space inside your home, follow our tips, and you can enjoy an indoor garden all winter long. (Parents – this is a great idea for restless kid projects during the winter, too!)

Fresh vegetables, herbs and greens can all be grown inside without having to invest in fancy greenhouses or taking up all your living space. Whether you live in an apartment or a spacious home, you can indulge your love of gardening and fresh foods easily with an indoor garden.

Read More›
in Anchorage News / Community News

Travel and staycation ideas for Anchorage and throughout Alaska

The weather is great, and summer is settling in soon, which means it’s that time of year when everyone is planning their next adventure. Luckily, we live in the best spot for travel and adventure – Alaska! Weekend getaways and staycations are all the thing now – and you can’t get much better than our great state for interesting places to go, fun things to do, and beautiful backdrops to make it memorable. We’ve rounded up a few ideas to help with planning your next getaway.

Lucky for us who live here in the Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer area that Anchorage is so close. This city is a perfect springboard for just about any kind of adventure, getaway or retreat you might be in the mood for. Flightseeing over Denali, fishing for salmon, spotting eagles or visiting grizzly bears, we’ve got it all. You could also check out calving glaciers and majestic whales on a day cruise. And don’t forget hiking, biking, mountain climbing and other outdoor sports as well.

Here are a few resources you can use to plan and set out on your own adventure:

Read More›
in Anchorage News / Community News

Five mistakes to avoid when selling your house in Alaska

When you put your house on the market it’s easy to find lots of advice for all the things you need to sell a home. But just as important, and often overlooked, are some very important “don’ts” that can harm your chances for a quick and lucrative sale.

With more than 30 years of helping people buy and sell homes in the Eagle River, Wasilla, and Mat-su Valley region of Alaska area we’ve seen just about everything. That’s why we decided to share the following missteps to avoid when you put your house on the market.

Read More›
in Real Estate Tips

Getting your home ready for winter

Fall is in full swing here in Alaska and it’s the perfect time to get your home ready for winter. Plus, if your home is on the market, seasonal maintenance is a great way to keep your home looking good and showing great when potential buyers visit. If you’re feeling overwhelmed and not sure what to do first, we’ve created this handy checklist to get you started.    

Before the first snows start falling it’s good to get a jump start on these outdoor maintenance tasks:

Read More›
in Community News / Real Estate Tips / Uncategorized

How to use apps to find a home for sale

Looking for a home to buy the old-fashioned way — cruising around looking for “For Sale” signs and checking local classifieds – can get pretty stressful. But it doesn’t have to be. Thanks to apps such as Zillow and Redfin, you can use your smart phone or computer to find homes that fit what you’re looking for faster and easier. Better yet? The ones we mention here are all free.

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

Why Spring is a great time to sell a home in Alaska

Spring is in the air and, along with the bears, homebuyers are coming out of hibernation. If you’re thinking of selling your home, this is a great time to take advantage as potential home buyers are more than ready to start exploring potential homes as they take advantage of improving weather. If you’re ready to sell your home, here are some ideas to help take advantage of the warmer weather and even hotter market.

Read More›
in Community News / Real Estate Tips
Prep your home for winter in Alaska | Winter in Alaska | Tips from Brooke Stiltner, Alaska real estate agents

How to Prep Your Home for an Alaskan Winter

There’s winter. And then there’s Alaska winter. As daylight fades and the long, cold months approach, locals know it’s time to prep your home, garden and car and get your personal gear ready to help you survive and thrive until the spring thaw. If you’re new to the area, here are a few ideas to help you prep your home and get started on winterizing your home for an Alaskan winter.

Read More›
in Community News

Bear Safety Tips for Alaska

Bears can be found in many places across the country, but here in Alaska we live in true bear country – one of the few places in the world where all three species of North American bears live in one place. When you’re in Alaska, there are always bears nearby, even if you don’t always see them.

Bears are curious, intelligent and tend to avoid or ignore people, but can be dangerous, as evidenced by two recent fatal bear maulings in our area. Respecting bears and knowing the proper way to behave when you see one can help you avoid conflict so you both can continue on your way, safe and sound.

Read More›
in Community News
Seasonal Affective Disorder also know as SAD

How to Overcome Seasonal Affective Disorder in Alaska

Feeling blue. Cabin fever. The doldrums. If you live in Alaska, where the winters are long and gray and the spring and summer sometimes struggles to shake the dreariness off, some of these might sound familiar to you. The winter blues are definitely a real thing, but if your symptoms are getting more intense you might have something called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). 

While SAD affects people throughout the United States, it’s more prevalent in the northernmost states where winter months are darker, colder, and last longer. Which means for those of us living here in Alaska, we need to watch out. It’s normal to feel less energetic during the winter, but researchers believe that people with seasonal affective disorder have abnormal biological responses to changes in sunlight exposure, adversely affecting their health in many ways. 

Yes, we’re in the summer months now, and if you have SAD your symptoms should be better. But if you weren’t sure why your cabin fever held on so long, and suspect you might have this disorder, it’s good to know what you’re dealing with before next winter rolls around.

Read More›
in Community News

Enjoying Springtime in Alaska

This is an exciting time here in Alaska as spring moves toward summer and we watch the countryside embrace renewal in every direction. Moose calves are born and bears come out of their dens. Whales and other marine life return to our oceans and bays. Snow melts and nature gets ready to bloom. While things can get a bit soggy (and muddy) during this time, it’s also a great time to take on our own renewal projects as we enjoy nature’s show and get ready for summer.

After a long winter of dreary days and inactivity, the sun and warming temperatures offer increased opportunities for outdoor activities, exercise, planting gardens and flowerbeds, and making plans for vacations or relocations in the next season or two. Daylight hours have been increasing for the last couple months, with Anchorage and the Eagle River area gaining an extra 42 minutes of daylight each week. In fact, by the end of March, we officially had more hours of daylight than anywhere in the other 49 states!

Read More›
in Community News
Eagle River - Mat-Su Valley - Anchorage area named Best Cities to live and work

Anchorage Named Among Best Cities for Entrepreneurs

Anchorage Makes the List

When it comes to living AND launching a business, you just can’t beat Anchorage. According to the current (April 2017) issue of Entrepreneur Magazine, Anchorage, Alaska was named as one of the 50 Best Cities for Entrepreneurs that help businesses flourish. According to Peter Cohan, an investor and author of Disciplined Growth Strategies, the location entrepreneurs choose is vital to their success. “Beyond a great product, strong marketing and sufficient capital, startups thrive or fizzle depending on their environment and the people in them,” he said.

Entrepreneur Magazine partnered with Livability.com to compile the data that led to this list, looking closely at a wide variety of issues that affect business creation and growth including employment rate, affordable homes, per capita spending, commute times, safety, diversity, rates of healthcare coverage, wage growth, household income growth, and more.

Read More›
in Anchorage News