There's a funny thing that happens each year when I sit down to write this post. Like most of us, I tend to focus on all the ways I haven't done well, haven't achieved what I wanted, haven't made it as far as others... and by stating aloud how many years I've been blogging, I always feel a bit behind my friends who've been doing this for longer – 13 years, 15 years, some are approaching 20 years as bloggers...| Valerie & Valise
Stretching almost 1,800 miles from Miami Lakes, Florida, to the Canadian border near Sault Sainte Marie in Upper Michigan, Interstate 75 is one of the most underrated north-south routes in the country; it's overlooked for more famous routes, but runs through bustling major cities, charming rural areas, and picturesque scenery with a number of fascinating sights and stops along the way...| Valerie & Valise
I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again: Palmer is cool. Growing up in nearby Eagle River, I didn't really visit the Mat-Su Valley – where Palmer and Wasilla are located – and I certainly never would have gone out of my way to visit Palmer for specific activities or places to eat/drink (once I learned to drive, that is!). To be fair, I don't think Palmer was cool back then, but it certainly is now, and the dining/drinking scene is a reflection of that...| Valerie & Valise
Where should you go in Alaska? What's actually worth doing? How long should you spend? Where should you stay? Ask any Alaskan, and you'll get a list of answers; the word I hear most commonly from people struggling to plan an Alaska trip is "overwhelmed," and I totally get why...| Valerie & Valise
Psssst, I whispered to my hiking guide, sat next to me at dinner, I hate to admit this since it was not the case when I was growing up in Eagle River, but Palmer's getting cool! She looked at me knowingly, smiled, and nodded. Actually, that's not a fair statement: Palmer, Alaska, is already cool. Gone are the days when all you knew/all there was to do was agricultural or driving through in search of adventures in the greater Mat-Su Valley...| Valerie & Valise
When people learn that I grew up in Alaska, one of the most common questions I receive is: how was it living in the dark for half the year?! Actually, it's not dark half the year in Alaska, but there are certain times of the year when it's darker than others and the days are much shorter. December is one of those times, and in fact, the shortest day of the year occurs on December 21st, so it's arguably the darkest time to visit Alaska among any of the winter months...| Valerie & Valise
When you picture Ireland, what comes to mind? Verdant fields dotted with sheep and the occasional circle of standing stones or castle ruins. Pints of velvety Guinness in a toasty warm wood-paneled pub. And the rainbows, oh my gosh, the rainbows! On my recent, fourth trip to Ireland, I was delighted to discover that all the quintessentially Irish I've enjoyed on past trips to the Emerald Isle are still as lovely as they were when I first started visiting a decade ago... and this time, I got to...| Valerie & Valise
Bucket List Travel in the American West & Beyond| Valerie & Valise
Alaska is full of unexplored corners – even for someone who has visited more than a dozen times. I've probably been on 10+ Kenai Fjords National Park cruises over the years, yet have never splurged to stay out at one of the remote resorts in the park. The most exploring I've done of Kenai Fjords – other than the day cruises and hiking at Exit Glacier – is lost in fuzzy memories of a place called Fox Island...| Valerie & Valise
If there's one food people most associate with Alaska, it's gotta be King Crab. We've all seen the buckets of giant legs and mouth-watering red hue of the shell – and there are several iconic places to visit if you want to try King Crab in Alaska. (I'm thinking of Tracy's Crab Shack in Juneau and the "King Crabby grilled cheese" at 49th State Brewing...) The popularity of King Crab in Alaska has been around since long before Deadliest Catch first debuted, but the show's popularity certainl...| Valerie & Valise
If there's one class I wish everyone in America – heck, the world – had to take before graduating their basic education program, it's statistics. In a world dominated by headlines meant to grab attention, I think it would do us all well to have a better radar about numbers we can trust, and when someone might be massaging or manipulating the data. Such is the case for one of Alaska's most notorious statistics, which gets plastered all over the internet and cheap swag sold at the gift sh...| Valerie & Valise
If you've seen the movie Cars, you probably remember well the scene that shows how the major interstate cuts directly through the countryside with no thought of the fascinating sights and experiences along the way... sure, America's Interstates are the fastest way to drive between points A and B – but will you really miss everything interesting along the way? From sculptures and towers to museums and collections, you don't need to drive I-80 straight through unless you want to...| Valerie & Valise
I've been blogging for over a decade now, and focusing on Alaska for more than half that time. After so many years of exploring this great state, you might think I've seen and done it all. And sure, I've seen and done a lot, but there are always new experiences to be had – and new places to go, in a place so big! One such example is the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge on Fox Island, which I had only previously visited as a kid on a dinner cruise from Seward...| Valerie & Valise
There are some months that I just don't hear many questions about visiting Alaska – and November is one of them. It's not that there's nothing to do in the winter (there's lots in both Anchorage and Fairbanks!) or that you can't see the aurora (you absolutely can!) – it's more that people maybe just think about visiting in the heart of winter (December & January) or in the late winter (February & March). All this to say, if you're planning to visit Alaska in November, you're in for a tre...| Valerie & Valise
Every time I look for a place to stay in Anchorage, I'm shocked. There are lots of great hotels, but by gosh, the prices are jaw-dropping. Alaska is, on the whole, an expensive destination, but hotels in Anchorage especially have gotten exorbitant. Or is it extortionate? Yeah, yeah, supply and demand, I know...| Valerie & Valise
How many times have you thought about exploring or visiting a destination in the region where you live, but never planned a trip? It's so easy to overlook the amazing places 'right in your backyard!' Such is the same for me with the region of Eklutna; I grew up in the neighboring valley of Eagle River, but hardly ever visited Eklutna. In fact, my only childhood memory was of attempting a hike there in high school, and being sorely defeated by the steep slopes of the mountain trail...| Valerie & Valise
I swear, it wasn't on purpose that I left Bryce Canyon to last among the Mighty 5 to visit; on my first trip to one of Utah's national parks – Zion in 2019 with my friend Marissa – the Zion-Mount Carmel Tunnel was closed. This tunnel, which began construction in the late 1920s, helped connect Zion and Bryce Canyon and aided the latter in its effort to become a national park. Today, it's common to visit both parks on a single trip – when the tunnel is closed, that's hard to do...| Valerie & Valise
My trip to the Arctic was full of surprises: cultural experiences, new foods, and – of course, for Alaska – incredible scenery unlike anything I've seen before. (I was especially smitten by the sea ice still visible in late June!) One other notable surprise was which national park unit I most enjoyed visiting – no, it wasn't either of the National Parks, Kobuk Valley or Gates of the Arctic...| Valerie & Valise
I floated in on the wind, with the sun shining through a thin layer of clouds and wildflower smoke. Below the plane, a huge river snaked beneath us, treelined except for occasional breaks where smaller tributaries added to the mass of water slowly making its way toward the Arctic Ocean. Suddenly, the trees disappeared, replaced by golden sand, stretching almost as far as the eye can see. Wait... sand? In Alaska? In the middle of nowhere?...| Valerie & Valise
There's an interesting thing about Alaskans: we don't travel very much within our own state. If you live on the road system (as I did when growing up in the Anchorage area), you'll probably see the main sights in places like Denali or Seward – you might even be adventurous and head out to further flung spots like Homer, Valdez, or McCarthy (in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park)...| Valerie & Valise
Nothing irks me more than when people call Alaska’s biggest city "Los Anchorage" and suggest there's nothing about it worth visiting. I grew up in the Anchorage area, and – call me biased – it holds a special place in my heart. Best of all, Anchorage is stepping up – and into the spotlight – this summer. With more flights, new hotels, exciting cultural updates, and a food scene that’s quietly catching national attention...| Valerie & Valise
Running nearly 1,906 miles from Miami, Florida, to the Canadian border near Houlton, Maine, Interstate 95 (I-95) is a transportation corridor that runs almost the entire length of America's East Coast. Along the way, it passes through many major cities, including Jacksonville, Savannah, Washington (D.C.), Philadelphia, New York City, Providence, Boston, and Portland (ME). In some ways, it funnels the lifeblood of commerce and carriage through this part of the country...| Valerie & Valise
Ask anyone who's been, and they have a favorite among the five National Parks in Utah (that would be Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, and Zion, just to remind you). Even I do – now that I've visited them all, that is! I finally ticked off the fifth of Utah's Mighty 5 with a visit in April 2025; my friend Marissa and I made it our destination for that year's annual national parks trip...| Valerie & Valise
Alaska may have a short summer season, but we certainly know how to make the most of it. From Memorial Day through Labor Day, both visitors and local Alaskans can experience all The Last Frontier has to offer, from culture and cuisine to the wonders of wildlife and the Great Outdoors...| Valerie & Valise
When it comes to Utah's National Parks, it's easy to understand why they're called the Mighty 5. From Arches eponymous formations to Zion's riotous red canyons, it's hard to believe there can be anywhere so beautiful in the world. This is undoubtedly why Utah ranks #3 for the most national park visitors in the country (after North Carolina (Great Smoky Mountains) and California with its 9 parks)...| Valerie & Valise
