Victor Baker knows guitars. For one thing, he’s been playing them professionally for years. For another, back in the late ‘90s, he decided to start building them as well. “I was teaching a ton of …
January 20, 2022
Alaska: news, stories, and travel reviews
Alaska: news, stories, and travel reviews
Victor Baker’s milestone guitar
Documentary at La Paloma: Surfers travel to Aleutian island
Playing to two shows at the La Paloma Theatre on March 22, Surfer magazine presented the San Diego County premier of its new film, The Cradle of Storms. The 25-minute documentary follows three West Coast …
March 24, 2014
What to do in Barrow, Alaska
"Going all the way to Barrow?" the Alaska Air ticketing agent confirms somewhat incredulously. "Yes." "And just one of you traveling today?" "Yes." "You're fortunate the flight is leaving as scheduled. It's rather cold there …
October 15, 2013
(Speed)hiking Alaska's Matanuska Glacier
I had less than eight hours before my flight and I wanted to hike Matanuska Glacier, a two-and-a-half-hour drive each way from the Anchorage airport. It had been a fun weekend visiting friends, seeing the …
Frontier soul: Anchorage, AK
It was my second day in Anchorage and I was lost. Winding along side streets in a residential neighborhood, trying to find my way back to the main highway, I noticed a vehicle with a …
May 19, 2013
Tiny Talkeetna, Alaska
A short jaunt north of Anchorage, Alaska, is the quaint town of Talkeetna, considered the jumping-off point for climbers looking to tackle Mt. McKinley. Talkeetna suddenly swells in size starting in April through July. That's …
Homer, Alaska
In 1896, Homer Pennock arrived in a sleepy seaside hamlet in southern Alaska hoping to strike a fortune. He managed the Alaska Gold Mining Company, but his mining ventures ultimately failed. Pennock left the area …
November 8, 2012
Alaska's Spectacular Drive along the Turnagain Arm
It takes little time after heading south from Anchorage to be exposed to some of the most stunning scenery Alaska has to offer. The Seward Highway, connecting Anchorage with the Kenai Peninsula, has been justly …
October 11, 2012
Seward, Alaska: Gateway to Kenai Fjords
“Listen to the glacier talking to itself,” our guide urged us. I listened to what sounded like thunder in the distance, followed by cracks and pops as if someone was breaking a gigantic stick. A …
September 25, 2012
Deep into Denali
With six million acres of wilderness, Denali National Park in Alaska is one of the largest national parks in the country. If you enjoy seeing wildlife in their native habitat, your time here can be …
September 3, 2012
Looking for Bears in Juneau, Alaska
It had been a long, rainy week aboard our Celebrity cruise ship when we pulled into the port of Juneau on the morning of September 24, 2011. The weather was a brisk 48 degrees and …
Southeast Alaska: Craig and Klawock
You arrive at the Ketchikan Airport and quickly transfer to the Island Air Express counter. You excitedly secure your seatbelt and headphones inside the tiny nine-passenger aircraft. Within five minutes you’re soaring with the eagles …
June 7, 2011
Dog Sledding in Alaska
If the lure of adventure is calling you northward, you won’t find a more unique experience than dog sledding in our 49th state. Dog sledding (or mushing) affords you thrills, challenges and opportunities to view …