Playing the good winter host

One of the reasons I prefer visiting family in the summertime is the advantage of spending our time outdoors. During the holidays, family gatherings usually take place indoors, sitting in the Lazy Boy, television football noise in the background, and plates of fudge and peppermint candies are found in every room.

To make your visit special this holiday with visiting friends and relatives plan to get out of the crowded house and take some day trips in our Valley to places sure to please your visitors.

I know Hatcher Pass sounds like an obvious destination, but many Valley residents don't visit this majestic destination enough. I am sure when the snow finally arrives this winter, skiers and snowmachiners will return, but did you realize great hiking has existed into mid-December? Only three cars were parked at the Gold Mint trailhead on a recent Sunday afternoon and the trail was in great condition for hiking. Farther up the mountain you can easily reach snow level if you want to have a snowball fight with your visitors.

With our shrinking daylight hours you have to carefully plan your scenic drives. The best drive departing after 10 a.m. and returning around 3 p.m. is about 150 miles round-trip up the Glenn Highway to Sheep Mountain. Recently designated a National Scenic Byway, the Glenn Highway is sure to give your visitors many photo options with three mountain ranges looming nearby. Stop at one of the many roadhouses or lodges for a warm beverage or lunch. Or, travel just a little bit farther and spend the night at Lake Louise, one of Alaska's hot spots for winter recreation.

If you want to be more active, drive up north on the Parks Highway and visit the Talkeetna Outdoor Center for skiing or snowshoe rentals and take off into the roadless wilderness on your own or with a guided tour. The folks in Talkeetna celebrate winter all month long during December with the annual Winterfest. Check out the latest schedule of events by calling 733-2487. While in Talkeetna take to the air with one of the many flightseeing operators who circle Mount McKinley.

Winter flightseeing trips around Denali are magnificent, in fact many world-class photographers choose to photograph Denali in the clear winter light. Flightseeing Denali is always a popular visitor activity year-round, not just in the summer months.

Two winter activities your guests are sure to want to experience are a dog sled ride or a snowmachine ride. If you don't own a dog team or Skidoo, there are many operators throughout the Valley who can put your visitors on a sled (dog or gasoline powered) with no previous experience necessary.

More and more visitors are traveling to see Alaska in the winter. If you have friends or relatives with reservations to come visit this holiday season, show them how Alaskans stay active in the winter and plan to make memories. The Mat-Su Convention & Visitors Bureau publishes a Mat-Su Winter Activity Guide, listing accommodations, tours, rentals, transportation and attractions operating in the Mat-Su Valley during the winter months.

Call 746-5000 for a free copy.