Eklutna Lake

 I've been wanting to visit Eklutna Lake with the kiddos for awhile now, so I was glad we finally went with a friend and her kids. It was beautiful in Anchorage, but windy in Eklutna. I was so glad we stayed and didn't chase the sunshine in Anchorage.

 Eklutna Lake is off the Glenn Highway, exit at Mile 26. Follow all the signs about 10 miles to the lake. You can camp as well, but I've heard it has become really popular and hard to get a site. If you plan on camping, get there early.

 Quick fact, Anchorage residents get their drinking water from Eklutna Lake.

We brought lunch and had a picnic. The adventure started with throwing rocks.

  Then it moved to looking for frogs in the grass. Did you know we have frogs here? Yea, wood frogs! They freeze in the winter time and thaw as temperatures warm! Crazy huh?

Then to climbing dead tree stumps. I collected driftwood for a future Pinterest project.

 The boys explored. My friend and I were so amazed how long they stayed in the water. We put our feet in and it HURT!

  I LOVED watching my kids play. No plastic toys. They were entertained for hours with the water, sticks, clay and rocks.

The boys found the clay.

The girls splashed.

  We watched kayakers paddle out. There was also an older man swimming laps in the lake.

  I collected a bucket full of the clay to make pottery for later.

  Then we had to stop by Rochelle's Ice Cream Stop. They are open everyday from 10a to 9pm in the summer. They open Mother's Day and generally close for the season on Labor Day. It was delicious!

  We sat at picnic tables while we ate. After the kids scarfed the ice cream down, they ran around. I don't know where they got the energy from because we just spent hours exploring Eklutna Lake!

 "Kora, can I have a bite?"

"No!"

 This was another beautiful site for us mommies.

A great time to visit is in the fall as well.....which is right around the corner. (SIGH)



Fact Friday

 Do you know how the design of our state flag came to be? A contest was held in 1927 for Alaskan children seventh through twelfth grade to design the flag. The winner of the contest was a seventh grade Aleut boy, named John Bell (Benny) Benson from Chignik, who was living in an orphanage in Seward.

 He describes his design: "The blue field is for the Alaska sky and the forget-me-not, an Alaska Flower. The North Star is for the future state of Alaska, the most northerly of the union. The dipper is for the Great Bear symbolizing strength." Alaska's state song echoes his description.

 There are several places in Alaska that honor his contribution. Anchorage, Kodiak and Seward named streets after him. There is Benny Benson Secondary School in Anchorage. You can visit the Benny Benson Memorial in Seward.

 Learn more about how our state flag came to be and Benny's story.

Fact Friday

I still get excited when I see a moose, even after I've lived here for 7 years. Do you know how to read their body language? If you come a cross a moose and the long hairs on the hump are raised, ears are down and it starts licking its lips, you better back away. Do you know what to do if a moose charges you? Get behind something solid like a tree. They can be dangerous and can kick with their back and front feet.  

For more moose safety visit: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=livewith.aggressivemoose

Fact Friday

 The heaviest snowfall in one day in Alaska happened on December 29, 1955 in Thompson Pass. They got 62 inches of snow which is a little over 5 feet!!  Talk about getting snowed in!

From http://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/snowiest.php