Experience the Valley in the coming year

MAT-SU — With the new year here, now is the time to create your "Valley Passport" for the upcoming year — a list of things you can do and experience, all without having to leave the Mat-Su Borough.

Visitors come to the Mat-Su Valley not only because of the breathtaking views of Pioneer Peak and Denali, they come to "experience" the destination. As residents, we sometimes take for granted the many great opportunities we have to enjoy what makes Alaska so grand. The beginning of a new year is a good time to make a list of the things you’d like to do and see, and make sure you do them.

Ride the rapids

Whether you crave whitewater adventure or a gentle scenic float trip, rafting opportunities abound in the Mat-Su Valley. The Matanuska River and Talkeetna Rivers both have operators who do guided trips — both scenic and whitewater — and you’ll see parts of the Mat-Su Valley you’ve never dreamed of before.

Soar above the clouds

Flightseeing is an amazing way to see Alaska — you’ll get high above the wildlife as you carve through mountain ranges. Denali flightseeing is amazing, but this year, there are opportunities to flightsee the Matanuska Valley and land on Knik Glacier, through Knik River Lodge.

Enjoy Valley’s royalty

By "royalty," we mean kings. As in king salmon. Make it a point to catch the monster you’ve always chased. If you can’t get to the prime fishing holes yourself, or if you don’t have the equipment, let a guide show you how to land a whopper.

Walk on a glacier

Matanuska Glacier is about an hour drive from Palmer, on the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway. Getting there is half the fun, as the mountains provide amazing sights to see along the way. Once there (Mile 100 Glenn Hwy.), you’ll have the opportunity to walk on Alaska’s largest road-accessible glacier. Through the gates of Glacier Park, it’s a short walk to the glacier. You can adventure on your own, or if you would like to get the grand tour, there are businesses that can put together a guided trip for all ages and experience levels.

Turn to mush

As Alaskans, we all follow the Iditarod and marvel at the mushers and canine athletes. This year, do it yourself, but don’t worry about all the training. You can visit a dog kennel and find out what it takes to be a musher, complete with a ride. There are a number of kennel tour operators in the Mat-Su Valley to choose from.

That’s just a start of the list of activities to make sure you experience in 2010. Make the new year one to remember by getting out and enjoying all that the Mat-Su Valley has to offer. Become a tourist in your own backyard.

Take a pass

Hatcher Pass has amazing hiking opportunities throughout the year, not just in the summer. Independence Mine is a must-see for visitors and residents alike, and in the fall, there is fantastic berry picking. Experience the "seasons" of Hatcher Pass.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau.