Everyday Life in The Last Frontier
Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from.
Now you probably don’t need any more reasons to visit Alaska than you already have, but just incase you need that extra boost to book your tickets and come on up, here are five reasons you should visit Alaska this summer!
[Read more…] about 5 Reasons You Need to Visit Alaska this Summer
Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from.
Have you ever wanted to see orcas, calving glaciers, sea lions, and other wildlife? Did you ever think you could do it it just one amazing and awe inspiring trip? Well you can! Last year we finally made time to go on a wildlife and glacier cruise with Major Marine Tours, and I’m here to give you all the insider info and tips you need to know about this awesome adventure!
[Read more…] about Our Day on an Alaska Glacier and Wildlife Cruise
With Mother’s Day fast approaching I thought it only seemed appropriate to make a list of unique and useful gifts for the outdoorswoman in your life. It can sometimes be difficult to find a gift for such a special person in your life, but checking out the list below will help you pick something she will surely enjoy.
This gift list is not exclusive to Mother’s Day, or even ladies for that matter, though. Any guy or gal who enjoys the great outdoors would benefit from any (or all if they really hit the jackpot!) of these items for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more!
Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.
1. If you’re looking for a great gift for an outdoorsy gal under $25, check out this post here. With ideas ranging from LifeStraws to first aid kits, and the perfect camping pillow to dry bags, you’re sure to find a fantastic gift.
2. If she’s outdoorsey she might like cooking outdoors as well. What better thing to do some outdoor cooking in than some American made Lodge Cast Iron! You can get them in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they’re very affordable. Plus, many of them have neat patterns on the bottom. You can check out Everyday Alaska’s list of reasons to start using cast iron here!
3. If your outdoorsy momma enjoys hunting, she’ll need some good optics. For a gift she’ll have for a lifetime (literally, check out their warranty!), shop Vortex Optics. Everything they make is top notch and will make a huge difference in the field.
4. Anyone who loves the outdoors needs a good knife to bring along on their adventures. The knives from Outdoor Edge are awesome. They are incredibly durable, sharp, and have easily replaceable blades to help save you time and money.
5. Jetboil. If they don’t have one, they need one. This is great for hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, or any activity where you may want to stop and have some coffee or make a delicious Peak Refuel meal.
6. Need a great snack for hiking? Dehydrated fruit is great to take along while exploring, and it’s also fun to make! I got a dehydrator as a gift and have had a blast using it and eating some delicious dehydrated apples, berries, and even jerky as a result.
7. Along with snacks, having a water bottle along on any outdoor excursion is a must. Check out Liberty Bottleworks to see their awesome collection of American-made water bottles. They have every design imaginable and you can even have them customize one! Talk about a unique gift!
8. Don’t judge me too harshly, but I believe Crocs are a must have. They are comfortable, lightweight, and a nice break for your feet after camping, hiking, or hunting. They make a great gift that will be used over and over again.
Bonus idea! If she’s not using them already, grab your gal some HotHands! They are an outdoor game changer since they keep your hands, feet, and body toasty warm!
Any of these gifts are sure to be a winner for any outdoor lover in your life. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day or just a gift to show your appreciation for someone, this list will help you pick a gift that will surely bring a smile to their face and be useful for any of their outdoor adventures.
Looking for gifts for the guys, too? Be sure to check out this post!
For many people, falling asleep and getting enough sleep is a struggle in itself, let alone sleeping with 24/7 daylight (not that I’m complaining!). After a long winter hibernation, us Alaskans are determined to stay up as long as the sun does and take advantage of all summer has to offer. Unfortunately, that is a little unrealistic and very unhealthy. Below, I’ve compiled a list of the top five items that help me get to sleep, stay asleep, and sleep well.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted. Disclaimer: The following recommendations are formed from my opinions, and are not to be taken as medical advice as I am not a medical professional. Please read all directions and warnings for the following products.
Believe it or not, there is a tea specifically made to help you get your snooze on! Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime tea can help you get a head start on a good nights rest. They even have it in K-Cups to use with your Kurig!
Now I know you’re probably tired about hearing how wonderful essential oils are, and to be honest I was too until I gave them a try. My mom got me this diffuser to use when I had a cold, and I have used it since then to help with sleeping and relaxation. Also, you can even get a set of oils like this to try out different scents. For me, lavender is the most relaxing one.
There’s no way you’ll get any shut eye with the sun shining in on your face, which leads me to the topic of curtains. You might be thinking ‘well duh, I already have curtains’, but if you don’t have blackout curtains you’re missing out. I purchased these curtains from Amazon years ago and am very impressed with them. Normally, blackout curtains are fairly expensive, but theses are an amazing deal and block out the light that may be keep you from having a restful nights sleep.
P.S. If you’re traveling or can’t afford to change out curtains at the moment, give a sleep mask a try to block out some of that sunshine while you snooze.
Believe it or not, my phone is the tool that helps me fall asleep and stay asleep the best. I have the Better Sleep app on my iPhone, and it works like a charm. All you have to do is pick a sound (rain on roof is my favorite), set a timer if you want it to shut off after you fall asleep, and let it play. This app has been a huge help and puts me to sleep in just a few minutes.
Having the right pillow is key to a good nights rest. Until recently, I was using a over-stuffed down pillow. It may sound comfortable and luxurious, but really it was a pain in the neck. Literally. I switched to using the Mediflow pillow and am very impressed. It seems like I spend much less time trying to get comfortable and don’t toss and turn as much. Click here to learn more about the Mediflow pillows and see what you think; they’re not just all fluff (you’ll see what I mean when you read about them)!
Hopefully these products and ideas can help you get a healthy nights sleep under the midnight sun.
It’s your first Alaskan cruise! You’re excited, anxious, and have your clothes picked out weeks before you go. But what should you really be packing? Is it a snowsuit, rain gear, shorts, or all of the above? Well don’t worry, I’ve been there, done that, and can help you figure it out!
Alaska’s weather can be pretty unpredictable, so it’s best to be prepared for a little bit of everything, which means dressing in layers. We’ll start from the top and work our way down through all the layers you’ll need to have a comfortable and fun adventure!
Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.
This Carhartt beanie is great for a variety of Alaskan outings. They come in a variety of colors, are inexpensive, keep your noggin nice and warm, and won’t fly off your head when you’re out on the water.
When standing outside to view orcas, puffins, and other amazing wildlife, your hands may get chilled, but the issue is you’re probably wanting to photograph all these critters as well. Don’t fret, you can stay warm and still get those great shots with The North Face Etip gloves.
Unless you tend to run very cold, or are not used to colder weather, I don’t believe you need to be wearing any baselayers for this excursion. But if you do think you’ll get cold, I suggest something along the lines of this top and even matching pants to keep the chill out.
Since any shirt you’re comfortable in is good for a base layer, we can skip that and go onto the mid layer. The North Face Denali jacket is a great mid layer for men and women to wear on a cruise. It’s warm, you can wear it with anything, and looks great as well. I also like Mountain Hardware’s half zip, too.
It gets pretty windy standing outside to watch the animals, so it’s best to have a windbreaker for your outer layer. The North Face makes great ones, and that’s what I brought with on our trip. Nomar is another great option. They make their gear right here in Alaska, so you know it’s made for our wild weather! I have their pullover and it’s incredibly windproof and warm.
Just wearing regular old jeans, or whatever pants you would normally wear, will work fine for this trip unless you think you may get chilled. In that case I’d suggest looking into light baselayers, as mentioned above, to stay warm.
To keep your tootsies toasty I’d suggest Fox River socks like these ones, which will be a little heavier and warmer than your everyday socks. Darn Tough is another fantastic brand of socks that will keep you warm and comfortable on the chillier days of your vacation.
Shoes
As for shoes, I wore my everyday sneakers, just make sure whatever you wear won’t be to slick if the deck gets wet while you’re outside viewing wildlife.
Once you have all that, all you have to do is grab your camera (I got a Canon Rebel shortly after our trip, and its amazing), and you can be on your way to more glacier and wildlife viewing you can imagine!
If you have questions about traveling to Alaska feel free to leave a comment below, or sign up for the Everyday Alaska newsletter, and send me an email. You can also join the Everyday Alaska Travel Tips, Information, and Advice group, and/or our New to Alaska Tips, Information, and Advice group to ask any questions you may have. I’m happy to help you get the most out of your time in our beautiful Last Frontier!
Getting stuck in a blizzard or having your car break down in below-freezing temps is never fun, and its even worse when you’re not prepared for it. You’re cold, hungry, worried, tired, and nothing you have with you can solve any of those problems. All it takes, though, is a little preparation and this list of winter essentials to help you along.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.
You already have that since you’re in a vehicle, so no need to worry there!
You need to be warm and stay warm, which is a little hard when its freezing out, but much easier if you have the right clothes. Luckily, I’ve made a comprehensive list of the best winter gear and how to layer for winter, plus a list of my five favorite winter boots. These two lists will help you determine what you need to pack in your emergency bag, such as hats, warm socks, base layers, gloves, mittens, snow pants, and more.
Now, I’m not saying you need to be wearing all of this while you’re on the road, but just use common sense (you’re smart people, so I really don’t need to worry about this), and don’t wear shorty shorts and heels out when its snowing. Also, make sure these items are easily accessible for if and when you need them.
This wool blanket is easy to pack and keep in your vehicle. It’s great to have the wool to keep you warm and dry, and an added bonus is that it’s made in America! If a wool blanket isn’t what you want to go with, you can always keep emergency blankets with you on the road.
If you get cold and just can’t warm up, or if you just need to be a little warmer, HotHands are a lifesaver! It’s great to keep some of these in your vehicle, and even use them when camping or doing other outdoor activities.
There’s a good chance if your vehicle breaks down or if you’re stuck in a snow storm it might be awhile before you’re able to get some food. It’s good to have some protein bars or other filling snacks in your vehicle to keep your energy up and your hunger down. As for thirst, it’s important to have some water bottles with you whenever you travel. If you leave them in there all the time, they’ll be frozen when you need them, so it good to bring some fresh water with you in bottles like this when you leave for your trip.
Even if you don’t have service all the time where you’re driving, it’s important to keep your phone charged incase of an emergency. So, make sure you always have a car charger with you incase you are in an area where you can call for help. Check out the Garmin inReach, too, if you want a communication device that will work wherever you take it. I have a complete review of the inReach here.
It’s always good to keep a flashlight with you for an emergency, and this one is the best one to get. It’s rechargeable and the battery is very long lasting. Flares are good to have with as well for safety and visibility.
Whether it’s winter, summer, or anywhere in between, it’s essential to have a first aid kit with you. You can help yourself and others in an emergency with just a few supplies included in this kit.
For all of the winter gear that you won’t be wearing on your trip, I suggest packing them in these bags. They’ll condense all of your gear, and are a great space-saver, especially if you have a smaller vehicle.
For all your other items, and to store the bags in, totes work great. Make sure these are in a secure, easily accessible place. These items may move around in an accident, so be sure they are well placed so they don’t move much and you are able to reach them without getting out of the vehicle.
I hope this helps you be more prepared for your winter trips. For addition information and lists, check out Alaska.org. Safe travels, friends!
Check out this link for Rakuten to get money back on your purchases and earn a bonus for joining. Also, don’t forget to sign up for the Amazon Prime free trial offer for 30 days of FREE Prime!