North Pole, Alaska News

What's New

May 12: Update
Spring is in the air and the leaves are popping out on the trees! Whoa, our local temps have climbed into the 50s and 60s, and we even hit the 70 degree mark. On May 1st, we were recovering from a big snowstorm (see Spring), but now the weather is on an upswing and things are looking much better.

This month we are celebrating the return of warmer temperatures, the increase in daylight, and the bountiful flowers that grow here in the Interior. May is also the month when seasonal stores, hotels, and tourism vendors reopen their doors and welcome the tourists to our beautiful state. We've listed a few of the popular activities to partake in, if your travel plans include a visit to Alaska this summer.

H A P P Y M O T H E R 'S D A Y!

Mother's Day
We want to wish all of the Moms, Step-Moms and Grandmothers out there a very special Mother's Day! This rose goes out to you!

Photo: French Perfume Rose grown at our home each summer.
Click rose for larger image.

Spring
We initially wrote our column a few days ago and talked about how the warm weather has continued to increase day-by-day, but today (April 30th) through us a curve ball and we awoke to a snowy blizzard here in North Pole. We decided to rewrite part of our column today since we were completely caught off guard, as were many of our colleagues and friends.

Because of all the unexpected snow we received during the month of April, the State of Alaska recently extended the deadline for removing studded snow tires from vehicles, which is typically April 30th. We are hopeful that May will bring the end of snowy weather and the beginning of warmer days to come.

Once spring finally arrives, it will be greatly appreciated. After all, we just spent nearly two-thirds of the year trying to keep ourselves, our homes and our cars warm. It is with great joy that we put away our coats, parkas, hats, mittens, boots, Mukluks, long johns and scarves, and replace them with shorts, T-shirts and sandals (weather-permitting)!

Increased Daylight
Alaskans get very excited at the prospect of warmer weather and longer days, and we love to stay up late into the evening when spring makes its appearance. Beginning March 21st, each new day brings four to seven minutes of additional daylight, which equates to consecutively longer and longer days leading up to Summer Solstice on June 21st. Imagine sunny skies at 11:30p.m. and no darkness for close to three months! What a wonderful gift Mother Nature brings to the landscape after months of shortened days and cold temperatures.

During spring and summer it also becomes more difficult to convince children that it's time for bed, especially when it's daylight at bedtime. Our children say things like, "It's still light outside, why do we have to go to bed?" We remind them that although it's still light outside and it will continue to grow light outside until Summer Solstice (June 21), they still have to get their rest and go to sleep.

Flowers of the Interior and Reindeer
Here in the Interior, we enjoy some of the warmest summer temperatures in the state, which helps offset the extremely cold temperatures we endure during the long winter months. Soon wildflowers will begin cropping up along highways and driveways, and the terrain will turn brilliant green. The Arctic rose, one of the predominant wildflowers in the Interior, will make its annual appearance later this month, along with numerous other wildflowers which sprout quickly during our short summer months.

When traveling around the Interior, you will see a beautiful display of flowers scattered throughout the towns of North Pole and Fairbanks (late May through August). Hanging baskets, annuals and perennials can be seen in practically every yard. Alaskans anxiously await the end of May, when it's safe to plant gardens and annuals, and then we know that summer is truly here!

Another place to view some beautiful flowers and gardens is the Georgeson Botanical Garden at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. While visiting the gardens, you will likely see a large group of reindeer just across the parking lot from the gardens. The reindeer pens are part of the Large Animal Research facility at the university.

Alaska Tourism
Beginning in May, tourists from across the country and around the world travel to Alaska for a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Here in the Interior we welcome tourists with genuine warmth and gracious hospitality.

May is the month when things really gear up in Alaska as hotels, gift shops, and attractions reopen for the summer season. Starting in mid-May (May 16), the Alaska Railroad reinstates daily service from Fairbanks to Anchorage with an enroute stop at Denali National Park. This schedule continues throughout the summer months, concluding in mid-September. If you are planning a trip to Alaska during the summer months, the Alaska Railroad is a unique way to see the breathtaking landscape.

Many of the local tourist destinations capture the mining history of Fairbanks, which was founded following the Klondike Gold Rush in the Yukon. Other popular attractions include a riverboat ride along the Chena River and flightseeing trips to the Arctic or the Brooks Range.

North Pole and Fairbanks may be far removed from the Lower 48, but there are numerous attractions, activities, and events happening throughout the summer months. For more information, be sure to contact the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau. Also visit the Travel Alaska Web site for a complete listing of information and attractions statewide.

That's All For Now
That's all for now folks. We may add additional information/events as they occur, so be sure to check back occasionally. Click to go back to the About North Pole page or you can visit our About Fairbanks page and go to the What's New section, to see what's happening in Fairbanks.

Alaska Travel Log
To read about local trips we have taken in and around Alaska and Canada, please visit our Alaska Travel Log page.

Attractions, Events and Activities in Interior Alaska...
There are numerous attractions, activities, and events happening throughout the summer and winter months. For more information, be sure to contact the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau.


	Santa's Letters and Gifts "Personalized Letters from Santa and Unique Gifts from North Pole, Alaska"