Living

Whether a quick hour from Anchorage to Girdwood or a multi-day statewide adventure, road trips are as much a part of Alaska summer as salmon fishing and the midnight sun. These podcasts will make you happy when the answer to, “Are we there yet?” is still, “No.”

Puggle. Porcupette. Pup. Believe it or not, these are not made-up words but actual baby animal names. Baby porcupines are referred to as “porcupettes,” and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center recently started taking care of one.

The Fourth of July is almost here, and there is nothing more patriotic than winning Olympic gold for Team USA.

In 2017, Thompson & Co. PR launched The Alaska 100 to bring Alaskans news that is short, sweet and easy to read. Content focuses on the people, businesses, communities and events that shape the great state of Alaska.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute professor Carl Tape and colleagues witnessed accelerating activity before a 2016 earthquake at Minto Flats, and this research discovery may help to detect early warning signs for earthquakes.

Just like the rest of Alaska’s inhabitants, bears are starting to emerge from their winter hibernation and become more active. It is imperative that everyone stay bear aware. A few tips:

The Turnagain Arm bore tide in the Cook Inlet near Anchorage is one of the largest in the world. It’s the only bore tide in the far north. If you catch it at its peak, it could be 10 feet tall moving 15 miles per hour.

In Australia, a single rabbit without natural predators was released in the wild; and, after years of doing what rabbits do best, Australia is now facing ecological devastation from more than 200 million of these bunnies. In other parts of the world, toxic caterpillars, exploding ants and deadly fungus are wrecking havoc and overtaking native species.

Looking for a way to unwind? ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos are sweeping the internet, offering an unexpected pleasant, tingly sensation to viewers.

Patty Ginsburg is a 14-year lung cancer survivor leading the charge for smoke-free air, health care coverage and research funding for Alaska.

Springtime means spring cleaning, and that term takes on a much bigger meaning in Alaska as the snow melts to reveal months worth of debris. Help give the state a fresh and clean summer look by participating in clean-up events over the next couple of weeks:

It’s springtime in Alaska, which means it’s time to get your garden ready for the summer growing season. Gardening in Alaska can be tough with its varying climates, short growing season and pesky wildlife, but there are organizations to help gardeners be successful.

The sun is returning. Spring is here. As exciting as the thought of summer is, break-up season means potholes appear out of nowhere. Dog poo that has been frozen in a veil of snow will thaw. Dirty roads make your windshield incapable of being clean for more than a minute. While enjoying all of this, don’t forget:

Daylight saving time is often referred to as “daylight savings time” with an extra “s” at the end of “saving.” But you can’t savings time. Daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday of March at 2 a.m. and then transitions back to daylight standard time on the first Sunday of November.

Each year in March, we celebrate Seward’s Day and Secretary of State William H. Seward’s role in building Alaska’s history.

Every place has laws that seem bizarre, but Alaska may have some of the stranger ones. Be careful to mind the following:

Her fifth Olympics. She knew it would be her last. Now 35, Kikkan Randall, known to her adoring fanbase as Kikkanimal, took off the 2015-2016 competitive skiing season to play another role: mom to her son Breck, who is now almost two.

The Alaska 100 team is Kikkan obsessed – okay beyond obsessed. We’ve decided that Kikkanimal is our communal spirit animal. Everyone has different reasons they’re filled with pride about her accomplishments, though.

Kikkan Randall finally has her gold medal, and she’s said that the Pyeongchang games are her last. This doesn’t mean you have to stop enjoying her inspiring adventures as a skier, mother and Alaskan.

She shocked the world taking gold for Team USA, and Kikkan Randall’s becoming a household name. Alaskans have long known, though, about Kikkan’s grace, infectious positive attitude and dedication to helping others.

The Sitka Sound Science Center (SSSC), a nonprofit science center and aquarium in the southeast community of Sitka, is seeking seasonal summer interpreters to lead aquarium and hatchery tours, greet guests, sell admissions and answer questions from visitors. This public-facing position runs from May – September.

I remember on a cruise celebrating my 40^th birthday, I found that I couldn’t sit still in my lounge chair. Wasn’t there something I needed to do or somewhere I needed to be?

For the second year in a row, local nurses with the Alaska Nurses Association came together to help Anchorage’s homeless population. At their holiday open house, nurses assembled and wrapped “beanie boxes,” shoe boxes filled with cold-weather essentials, personal hygiene items and snacks

Oh no! It’s Dec. 22, and you just realized you forgot someone on your holiday gift list! Don’t fret. There are fantastic shops across Alaska with ideal gifts for everyone on your list.

Backyard tree-eating moose, piles of snow and limited daylight can’t get the main character down in Barbara Brown’s “Hanukkah in Alaska.”

Give the gift of year-round fun with an annual membership to some of Alaska’s top attractions. Memberships include admission and other benefits.

Looking forward to evenings next to the fire this winter? Get ready to cozy up and put your cast (no, not the one you use to fish!) to work. Add an extra special touch to the gifts you give this holiday season by making them yourself!

Anchorage is a community full of talented craftspeople and artisans, and that makes it easy to shop local this holiday season.

Family time around the holidays is a must, and one way to enjoy each other’s company is an outing to select your Christmas tree. While some visit a tree lot, others head to the backcountry.

When I travel I pack a large bag for the trip and a smaller one for sightseeing or going out at night. This gorgeous Valletta 2.0 Backpack and Wristlet from P.Mai takes care of both needs, whether you’re jetting to Thailand or commuting to your job.