Annie, and any others going to Alaska?
OutsidePlaying
8 years ago
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Alaska Cruise this summer - any tips?
Comments (13)caroleoh - in Juneau I would suggest: 1. The Princess Alaska GAstineau Mill & Gold mine tour - is great, and young ones really like it also "A half-day tour visits the ruins of a hard-rock gold operation that operated from 1915 to 1921, then goes 360 feet into one tunnel for a mining demonstration. Guests also get to pan for gold from the mine's tailings." I think it can be booked through Princess Tours, 151 Mill St - Phone 907/463-3900. It was locals and miner's that actually established this tour, however. 3. If you don't want to spend $60 per person but are interested in mining...take a walk out to a beautiful area called Basin Road. Or taxi out ($6.00)and walk back. Snuggled in the mountain side are the original minining buildings and equipment called the Last Chance Mining Museum ( about $3.00). From Frommers " On the site on forested Gold Creek where gold was first discovered in Juneau, the museum preserves old mining buildings and some of their original equipment, including an immense 1912 air compressor and a layered glass map of the tunnels. This was once a nerve center for one of the world's biggest hard-rock mines. The highlight is its energetic and learned guide, Renee Hughes, who lives above the compressor with her husband Gary Gillette. Both are leaders of the Gastineau Channel Historical Society. Ask Renee about the cave-in of the Treadwell Mine to hear her riveting storytelling. The entrance to the site -- which contains relics and buildings spread over several acres -- is a bridge over the creek, which leads to a steep trail up to the buildings." Check for the open times before you go out there. 2. Mendenhall Glacier - is awesome and cheap. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/webcam.html. There are a couple of $10 RT Glacier Express buses (in contrast to the "expensive tours" - the $10 RT bus is all you need). It generally runs every half hour in both directions - takes 20minutes to get to the glacier. The glacier is free, as are the trails there. There are a couple very short ones trails , and a 3 mile trail. The glacier visitor's center is informative (costs $3-$5 per person) but you do not need to even go in it if you don't want. The beauty is outside! Plus there is a bear lookout there (free).. and in August bears can frequently be seen trying to get the salmon. 4. Fish Hatchery is another inexpensive possibility - and is really interesting to see when the fish are coming in (usually August). http://juneaualaska.com/visit/stories/12jun_dipac.shtml For this .. you also do not need to take an expensive "tour" - the city bus goes very close to it - maybe a block 1/2 away .. and the entry fee is $3-$5. IMO the helicopter tours and dog sled tours are very unique but extremely overpriced. As for safety, when compared to the number of flights it is probably pretty good. Does that mean there are not ever any incidents? No - there are but the majority of flights are problem free. Scary problems exist on cruise ships too ... keep a sharp eye on your child! Have a fun trip .. and make sure you have rain gear .. it could be sunny every day or it could rain 24/7....See MoreAnnie and others: Grass Fed Beef
Comments (9)Relax, the most that I've heard is that it's "beefier". If you eat bison, it'll be fine. The burger will probably be so lean that it'll stick to a skillet and doesn't make a good burger for the grill without adding a bit of fat. I use butter for the best flavor, or olive oil if I'm feeling "healthier". LOL Steaks can be tough because there is not the marbling of fat to make them tender. Mine aren't because I butcher "baby beef", 16 to 18 months old. Do not overcook steaks, tips, etc. or it'll be tough. Pot roast you can treat just like any other pot roast, ditto chop suey or beef burgundy or stroganoff or other things that get simmered for a longer period of time. The soup bones will make a batch of stock that jells so thickly it'll stay on the spoon. Make it just like any other beef stock. In my house beef ribs aren't good for anything except soup or the dog, but I know many people like them. No matter what I do, I have that layer of "tallow" in my mouth after eating them, but grass fed beef is much leaner and so you may find it very likable. Liver you can cook how ever you like it, but keep any roast you're not going to make pot roast with a bit on the rare side and slice it thinly. I don't really see a difference in texture, other than the lack of beef fat. Oh, and I just read in Prevention that feeding beef grass ups the Omega-3 content to a level where it is equivalent to some fish (like tilapia, not salmon, LOL). I hope you enjoy the beef, it may take a little adjustment in cooking techniques but the health benefits will make up for that, I hope. Annie...See MoreAlaska going people - question for you
Comments (11)I currently live in Fairbanks. As someone mentioned above, you must see Denali and the best way to see it is on the bus, because personal vehicles are only allowed up to the 9mile mark and you can't go any further unless you're on a bus. The trip itself is about 5-6 hours long through the park, so you should get there early. http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/index.htm As for Fairbanks, Pioneer Park is a little park full of museums and such to see. One of the places is the -40*F room to experience how cold it is in the winter. Yes, that sounds crazy, and it is. lol However, my fiance had me go in that room as my 'thing I had to do' before he would propose (he had to learn to drive a standard, who had the better end of the deal? lol). http://www.co.fairbanks.ak.us/pioneerpark/ If you have the time, go to the El Dorado Gold Mine. You'll be taken on a train ride tour of the gold mine and at the end you'll pan for gold. http://www.eldoradogoldmine.com/ Also, if you have the time - go to Chena Hot Springs. It's a beautiful place to go and see. Water feels amazing and helps you relax. There's an Ice Museum to see (open year-round). Any other questions, let me know! Cindy http://www.chenahotsprings.com/ Here is a link that might be useful: Denali National Park...See MoreLisa & Others: Annie's Annuals is Having a 3 Day Sale - 20% Off!
Comments (46)I’m kinda glad to hear that I’m not the only one, Deborah. I feel like a pretty bad gardener when I kill “beginner plants” or “indestructible”. There are a few that I now realize need to be planted on my slope with some gravel mixed in the planting hole for better drainage. They just couldn’t handle my clay soil. Mmmm, I would consider planting’Blue Boy’ centaurea seeds. Bachelor Buttons like cool temps, and will probably be happier in your garden than mine. Mine are long finished by now because of the heat. They are reliable self seeders, so you’ll have them forever once you let one go to seed. I scatter mine in the late fall, and they appear during the winter. I’m sure yours would appear in the later spring, but with seeds you could have as many as you want. I got the ‘Classic Magic’ mix from Floret last year. The different purples were neat, but I think I prefer the blue ones. Floret does have a blue mix called ‘Classic Fantastic’. It sure looks like the ‘Classic Fantastic’ mix contains a tall blue very similar to Annie’s ‘Blue Diadem’. Floret will have the seeds available next month again for $3.95 per packet of 100 seeds. I’m sure many other reliable seed companies carry it as well. If you can keep the bunnies and snails from eating the seedlings, I’d highly recommend starting these from seed. They grow themselves in my garden, especially the seeds that I drop into containers. I often purchase a single annual plant from Annie’s if I have trouble finding seeds or getting the seeds to germinate successfully in my garden from. Often, I’m successful with the seeds that fall from the plant when I’ve had trouble getting purchased seeds to sprout. I purchased Annie’s a few years ago. It’s not really a Batchelor‘s Button, so I’m not sure why they call it that. It’s a perennial (in my zone) Gomphrena, so I think it should be called ‘Airy Globe Amaranth’ instead. It’s a great plant in the garden and in the vase, combining well with cut roses. It’s very much like a hot pink/maroon baby’s breath in an arrangement. I finally have a couple of self sown plants in this plants 3rd or 4th year. It’s super heat and drought tolerant. Mine are in full blazing sun against thé west side of the house. It’s really hot there on summer afternoons! I’m surprised it’s been so happy there. Anyway, that’s just a little review of one of my many Annie’s plants. I enjoy hearing about everyone’s experiences with Annie’s plants. I like finding plants that weren’t on my radar until someone mentioned it here. I’m going to see if my Gomphrena decumbens "Airy Bachelor's Buttons" has blooms for a picture today. They last forever both on the plant and in a vase. I’m glad I have new plants coming up, so I’ll have plenty to use as fillers in arrangements. Actually, I’m submitting this before I get my shoes on and look outside. I’m worried that it will be lost in the meantime. Lisa...See MoreOutsidePlaying
8 years agoOutsidePlaying
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Annie Deighnaugh