Living

NFL football kicks off Sept. 6. Make sure you never go hungry and your beer never runs dry at some of Alaska’s best sports bars.

It probably won’t come as a surprise that the Arctic and sub-Arctic animals living at the Alaska Zoo, such as gray wolves, Amur tigers and moose, thrive in cold weather. As the temperature continues to drop, they become more active – a treat for zoo visitors.

With school back in session, many families deal with the sniffles that accompany having children. A health savings account from Fidelity Bank can help you better prepare for unexpected medical expenses. An HSA can be used only if you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) — generally any health plan with a deductible of at least $1,350 for an individual or $2,700 for a family.

Labor Day weekend in Alaska can be taken with a glass half-empty or glass half-full approach. It may mark the end of Alaska’s glorious summer season, but it’s also a long weekend to check off the last items on your summer to-do list.

We’re all looking for ways to save time and make our lives easier. Here are some of our favorite tricks to give ourselves extra time to play outside:

With one of the highest rates in America, too many Alaskans are personally affected by suicide. In 2017, GCI launched its Suicide Prevention Grant Program to combat the issue. The results were so successful that GCI extended funding for 2018.

Epic encounters with moose and bears often come to mind for Alaska wildlife viewing, but don’t forget the woolly mammoth descendant still roaming the 49th state. Found in several Alaska regions, musk oxen can reach 800 pounds.

The start of the school year does not mean learning must be confined to workbooks and science projects. From Lyutik the majestic polar bear to George the talking magpie, Alaska Zoo residents are eager to help guests better understand their species, habitat and more.

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?