Ottsworld Travel and Life Experiences

08/03/2025

Let's travel today! Can you identify where this photo was taken?

06/03/2025

Snow-capped mountains, glaciers, feeding whales, seabirds, and picturesque coves are just a few of the hidden treasures right out of Seward in Resurrection Bay.
I loved this small boat wildlife adventure - it was a 6 person boat so we all had a great view! We saw eagles, porpoises, sea otters, goats, and even hopped on over to Kenai Fjords National Park thanks to some smooth waters.

This was a perfect 'off season' thing to do in Alaska! Seward was pretty quiet - and I loved it. They run the boat tours year round so be sure to add it to your Alaska itinerary!

05/03/2025

Let's spin the globe! Can you identify where this photo was taken?

04/03/2025

One of the best new stops you need to make on your Alaska vacation...the Nordic Spa in Girdwood! This thermal spa is so lovely- I spent the afternoon there and came out feeling divine! Hot cold therapy is my favorite so that alone would've made me happy, but the beautiful setting in the mountains and among the trees, as well as the beautiful grounds made it even better! Plan to spend a half day there and soak the Alaska beauty in!!

And it's only a 45 min drive ( down the scenic Seward highway) from Anchorage!

03/03/2025

Anchorage has stepped up its foodie status since I've last been here! No longer is it just awesome seafood, steak, and beer! These restaurants ( below) were a highlight for me during my visit. And the cocktails were also bringing their A game!! There seems to be a bunch of new restaurants opening in downtown... specifically ethnic restaurants like Mexican and Asian.

03/03/2025

02/03/2025

The best place to experience the northern lights? Fairbanks Alaska. Located just below the Arctic Circle, and landlocked, Fairbanks has the perfect recipe for viewing the aurora borealis. Clear skies and location under yh Aurora Oval.

Fairbanks has many clear nights since it’s located in the inland Arctic – an area they call Alaska’s interior. By the coasts, there’s more humidity, precipitation, and clouds. But in Fairbanks, it is a dry climate meaning lots of clear skies!

Fairbanks happens to be perfectly positioned under the Aurora oval surrounding the North Pole. This means that the aurora in Fairbanks is typically seen directly overhead!

All of this means The northern lights are so prolific in the Fairbanks region and the Arctic that visitors who stay a minimum of three nights and are actively out during the late evening hours increase their chance of seeing the aurora to more than 80 percent!

02/03/2025

Quick…when I say Wisconsin – what comes to mind for you? For me, it conjures up images of rolling hills, cheese, cows, football, supper clubs, and……booze. Yes – that might not be what Wisconsin wants to be known for, but I can’t help it; when I think of Wisconsin, I think of cocktails.

Wisconsin cocktails you'll find nowhere else other than Wisconsin! Learn the history behind the Wisconsin Old Fashioned, Bloody Mary, Pink Squirrel, and Tom and Jerry.

01/03/2025

Anchorage's Fur Rendezvous festival has begun! This winter festival is full of community spirit and fun winter activities...like the Outhouse races that raise money for the engineering school. The team names, homemade outhouses and costumes were so much fun. And the competition was fierce!

28/02/2025

Hiking on Matanuska Glacier was a super ending to our tour! Every time I go the glacier is different. This year we traversed through lots of narrow crevaces! We spent two hours exploring all over the mouth of the glacier!

27/02/2025

Two fabulous days in Talkeetna! A little town filled with cats and dogs...and great beer . I adore going to Talkeetna in the winter...it's quiet ..and most importantly...just a normal town in the winter. In the summer it's a tourist hub...and a completely different feel!

24/02/2025

Everyone I've met in Alaska once denali's name to remain Denali. As you probably know, it was recently changed back to Mount McKinley by Trump. This was against the will of the people of Alaska. They've tried to fight back on the decision.

The Alaska Legislature passed a resolution urging Trump to reverse course and retain the name of North America’s tallest peak as Denali rather than change it to Mount McKinley.

Locals have started campaigns to continue calling it Denali. I met Linda who has started making Denali Forever buttons for people to show their support. People have just flat out refused the name change in Alaska. Except of course for the national park service which has a visitor center in Talkeetna which has to change all of its signage to McKinley.

Why did he rename it? The only explanation was this- He said he planned to “restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent.”

Here's the kicker, President McKinley never even set foot in the state of Alaska.

There are so many things wrong with this decision, but I don't need to go into them here You can make up your own mind.

23/02/2025

The drive from Fairbanks to Talkeetna is a feast for the eyes!! Luckily we are in awesome little bus Rosie. She has big windows so you can see the beautiful Denali National Park!

23/02/2025

I’ve driven this route between Moab and Denver many times, and I’ve seen this landscape before. But this time, I’m going at a train’s pace. At this luxury train’s pace, it feels like you are soaking up the landscape like a sponge. I realize there is something different and quite beautiful about going 35 mph through the Colorado Rockies; no road rage, construction, or worries. The Rocky Mountaineer Colorado train is a new way for me to travel through a familiar landscape, and it’s just as exciting as seeing it for the first time.

Find out what it's like to experience the newest luxury train from Moab to Denver - the Rocky Mountaineer. Plus get tips for riding including what to wear, and what to do at each stop.

22/02/2025

We had an incredible afternoon playing with the dogs of Moon Dog Kennel! Courtney and Brian welcomed us into their home in Healy and taught us all about the Alaskan tradition of haul dogs and how they have built up and run their kennel with these people loving dogs. Different from racing dogs, the Moon Dogs are built different and run for much longer than your typical race dogs.

Plus, they treated us to some incredible tapas in their dry cabin...I honestly didn't want to leave.
They do educational talks like this in the winter in addition to overnight dogsled expeditions where you mush your own team to a remote cabin. I did this 4 years ago with them and it has been a highlight of my Alaska travels. I even got to be reacquainted with my lead dog Basil from that trip 4 years ago!

In the summer they do tundra walks and talks with the dogs- so be sure to add the Moon Dog Kennel to your Alaska itinerary for a super local Alaska experience!!

Moon Dog Kennel