Denali Dreamin on Such a Winter's Night

At the bottom of this entry, there are good, beginning research sources for a “dream vacation” in Alaska. Please send me any others you think should be included, and I will update the listing.

Many of the Denali Dome Home Bed and Breakfast guests tell us it is their “dream” to come to Alaska. They plan their vacations for months, even years, ahead of time. Many come to us in Healy, AK, with extensive, self-designed planners. Retired elementary teachers have color-coded sections. Computer-savvy guests come with charts and databases. They already know the altitudes, weather norms, area activities and best restaurants when they arrive. Visitors have the MilePost magazines with handwritten notes on the pages. I often read our current B&B descriptions in new travel books carried by our guests.

Dream Alaskan vacations do not start at the first step off the plane in Fairbanks or Anchorage. They do not begin when visitors see the “Welcome to Alaska” sign on the Alcan Highway. These amazing, fun, dream vacations start months ahead in the planning stage.

Early, careful planing allows future visitors to save valuable time and money during their vacations. They already have tickets and do not stand in lines. Early preparations insure the best, personalized vacation for their whole family. Next summer's smart vacationers talk to church members and co-workers who have already been to Alaska. They read reviews and blogs from those who have already been to “the Last Frontier.” Their own excitement builds.

Early on, future Alaskan guests figure out their itineraries and accommodations. Then they investigate Alaskan activities and dinner locations. They ask B&/B hosts many questions about a particular area. The excitement builds again. The dream takes shape.

Often visitors return to Alaska because the dream continues to grow after the first AK vacation ended. Today I booked summer reservations for a couple from NC who will celebrate their “10th and 11th anniversaries this year in Interior of Alaska.

That's right. They camped in Denali during their honeymoon a decade ago and have “dreamed about coming back.” The groom is still in favor of camping, but bride wants a bed and breakfast this time. Last year they were not able to return. This year the groom says they will be able to return to celebrate a decade and a year. I secretly hope they will be spending their 25th anniversary with us too.

Years ago, when we received our first bookings in January for the upcoming summer, we thought we had arrived as a bed and breakfast in Denali. Now, after two decades, we sometimes take reservations a year ahead. We already have 47-room nights booked for next summer. There are many who are now dreaming of an Alaskan vacation on such a winter's day.

Important websites for planning your Alaska information, especially the Interior:

Denali National Park http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
We think shuttle buses are the best way for most independent visitors to see Denali National Park
http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/shuttle-buses.htm
Keys to Denali, Car Rentals, LLC. http://www.gomylocal.com/biz/15692011/Keys-to-Denali-Car-Rentals,-LLC-Healy-AK-99743
For important weather and road conditions:
http://511.alaska.gov/

Denali Chamber of Commerce http://denalichamber.com/
Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce http://www.fairbankschamber.org/
Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau http://www.anchorage.net/
Nenana City http://www.nenana.org/
Bed and Breakfast Association of Alaska http://www.alaskabba.com/

MilePost Magazine http://milepost.com/
Keys to Denali, LLC…only car rental in Denali for 2010
http://www.denalidomehome.com
Trip Advisor www.tripadvisor.com
Alaska forum for discussions (Don’t believe everything you read!)
http://www.travelalaska.com/Regions/TipsDetail.aspx?TipID=141

General information about Alaskan gifts, businesses and activities
http://www.lastfrontier.org/made_in_alaska.htm
Information about gifts made in Alaska:
http://www.travelalaska.com/Regions/TipsDetail.aspx?TipID=141

Alaska Traffic Conditions http://511.alaska.gov/
National Weather Service: Alaska Region
http://www.arh.noaa.gov/hazards.php
Mileage Chart http://alaskatrekker.com/mileage.htm
Alaska Tide Charts and Fishing Information:
http://www.alaskangamefisher.com/july-tide.html

Maps and Directions of Alasks:
http://www.travelalaska.com/maps/index.aspx
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Alaska&f=s&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-syn-gm&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=ak%20map

To Order Free Publications about Alaska:
http://www.travelalaska.com/index.aspx?utm_source=0132&utm_medium=ad&gclid=CNHrkdj14J4CFSn6agodoFhLJQ

Films about Alaska:
http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/alaska/MemberTagFilms.aspx

Books about Alaska:
http://www.alaskageographic.org/
http://www.alaska.com/about/books/
http://www.alaskais.com/Alaska_Books/index.html

Alaskan Artists http://www.artistsalaska.com/
Hiking http://www.trails.com/toptrails.aspx?area=10049

Photography http://www.asonp.org/
http://www.alaskastock.com/Wildlife_Photography.asp
http://www.polar-photo.com/index.html
http://www.polar-photo.com/pages/6/LINKS/LINKS/
http://www.tomwalkerphotography.com/
http://www.pbs.org/harriman/explog/lectures/heacox.html

First Watch for a Long Winter

I walked the dark pavement to the front of our property and wondered who placed the Little Dipper exactly up and center from the driveway. It made me smile to wonder. I counted the stars in the bucket and in the handle: Seven. The clear Alaska night sky was quietly beautiful. I knew there was a chance of Northern Lights. Stars were harbingers.

I don't see stars in the summer months in the Interior. Instead Alaska has amazing gardens with huge, atomic-looking vegetables and and broad blooms. There are long hours of light and no chance to see stars.

In the dark, I realized I had missed the night sky and the Northern Lights. And just as soon as I thought about them, I felt a tinge of regret for our gardens and green lawns. It will be a half year before they return. Alaska has a way of encouraging longing.

I turned back to see the sparkle of "Christmas Lights" Terry recently hung around the dome. They weren't so much holiday lights as they were safety lights. Night will soon start at 4:00 pm and last until 10:00 am. The little lights offered better viewing for safety on the decks and a bit of outside charm. I walked back to our home.

My cheeks were cold as I stepped inside. I could feel the thick warmth from the fireplace. Outside the Little Dipper took winter's first watch.

Tip for our guests: If you are visiting Alaska in the winter, check with University of Alaska's site for accurate Aurora (Northern Lights) forecasts: http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/ This site has lots of great Alaskan information!

Thursday, October 15, 2009
A beautiful, bright day in the Interior; 40 degrees

Hello and Welcome to our First Blog!

Terry and I have been looking for a forum to store our thoughts and suggestions for visiting Healy, Denali National Park, and especially our bed and breakfast. As Denali Dome Home hosts (http://www.denalidomehome.com) and owners, we have been meeting the nicest guests for 20 years in the Denali area.

We are often asked questions we can answer automatically. We are also asked questions that require a bit of reach or deeper thought. We hope to use this site as a way of saving and sharing those answers with our blog readers.

Please respond to this blog if you have questions of your own. We will be happy to answer them from our experience here in the Interior of Alaska. We know our knowledge of this area is truly one of valuable services we have to offer.

We know the best restaurants, even the best dessert and best table locations at those restaurants. We know the best way to see Denali, even what side of the bus to sit on and what to bring and how to dress in the Park. We know the best Denali activities, those with safest records and a history of friendliness and dependable service. We know their schedules and fees. Our answers are really our humble opinions based on local knowledge and personal experiences.

Please bookmark this site and stay tuned. We hope you find this site helpful for your Alaskan visits.

--Ann and Terry Miller