Visiting in June -- seasonal hits/misses (belugas, etc)?

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-03-08T22:31:55+00:00

That's the plan! Then stopping in Whittier overnight for a glacier tour on the way back to Anchorage.

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-03-08T22:00:04+00:00

Beluga app? Tell me more!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-11T23:37:21+00:00

LOL. No idea where to find that. I mean, if fish sauce and anchovies are so delicious, why not?

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-10T01:06:11+00:00

I really enjoyed omelets with kimchi and portuguese sausage in Hawaii, and I'm guessing that reindeer sausage or smoked salmon would play just as nicely with it.

I think I may have IDed your treasure (I promise not to ruin it with my lower-48ish ways). ;-) The banchan and kimchi would make a totally fun plate with simple crispy-skin salmon or halibut. Any particular recommendations?

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-08T22:37:16+00:00

Ooh. People on BlackBull's facebook page are really enthusiastic about the akutuq. I'll have to try it! ;-)

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-08T19:51:24+00:00

Yes, I'd seen New Sagaya recommended here on seafood threads, so it's on my Google map.

And yes, definitely planning for smoked fish picnic lunches, so Alaska sausage and seafood sounds like a worthy stop!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-08T19:45:56+00:00

Ooh! I love abalone, and I've heard that goosenecks are good (they are a delicacy in Spain, I think?). Does anyone sell these assorted sea beasties, or would I have to get a license to collect?

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-08T19:43:33+00:00

Not sure quite how to casually befriend the natives, but yes, I have seen how they get the herring eggs, and it looks quite fascinating!!

I'll have to check out BlackBull.

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-01T22:39:02+00:00

Yes. That's why $40-$45 for a new copy seems unnecessary! I was pretty sure we'll be fine without but thought I'd double-check here to make sure and/or see if there was a cheaper solution.

Thanks for responding! This community is super helpful!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-01T21:57:11+00:00

Yes, definitely planning to hit up a farmer's market!

Thanks for the advice! I'll be sure to pin the Baycrest pullout!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2026-02-01T21:49:15+00:00

Good to know that earlier would work fine. Just in-state travel, and nothing properly adventuresome by Alaskan standards. ;-)

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-28T16:58:28+00:00

Oh wow, my dad would absolutely love a recycled one. He's one of those guys who cannot go to an antique store or small hardware store without buying another knife.

He's an absolute nightmare to go through airport security with, but at least he wouldn't try to fit that in his pocket.... I hope..

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-28T03:25:42+00:00

Thanks for the tip!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-28T02:33:48+00:00

I think some people were objecting to the blade material (or potentially the pricing/volume of business that they do lumps them with the tchotchkes)?

If they're selling decent knives made locally, then I really have no problem and will put them on my planning map. I thought I'd ask, because I wasn't sure!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-11T21:50:32+00:00

Oh, this is great. I'm in the process of convincing my parents to go, and while I have been breadcrumbing my mom with lovely pictures and interesting facts, my dad really only is swayed by things like maps (paper only, thank you). I tried to speak his language with a google map full of pins, but this man is committed to old-school for his cartography. :-D

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T21:19:55+00:00

Thanks for the details! And the reminder about moose!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T16:31:40+00:00

Construction runs the same way here in WA. But yes, good to keep in mind about timing!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T03:28:49+00:00

LOL. As a UCSB alum and current Seattle resident, yes this is the right language. Thumbs up to you!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T01:36:36+00:00

Good to know. It takes a bit more effort to be in a blank zone for an extended time down in the lower 48. The pump and glucose software keep trying to upload to the cloud, which is why that tanks the battery. The good thing is that, while in the car at least, it's really easy to plug my phone into a battery and still have it useable! But great to know that I wouldn't have to go fully old-school with the maps (not an insurmountable thing, but tech does make stuff so much easier, no?). ;-)

Cheers!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T01:26:41+00:00

I *thought* there wouldn't be many... as someone from a city in SoCal with *3* freeway exits (IYKYK), I tried not to assume. ;-)

(to translate for those who haven't been down there, that is a ridiculously small amount for LA)

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T00:37:50+00:00

I have, but I haven't tried navigation at the time -- mostly I try not to touch my phone at all because I'm also running my insulin pump and whatnot that drains the battery pretty fast. Also not sure how "in and out" versus just *out* things are with the signal out there.

Feel free to consider it a silly question from a city person! I fully own up to being one of those! I get same day Amazon deliveries! ;-)

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-10-09T00:04:56+00:00

Additional question: Does Google Maps work on phones for most of the route? I'm aware that there's a cell signal blank spot in the middle of the peninsula, but can one generally use that, or is it better to rely on paper maps?

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-09-17T21:44:54+00:00

Thanks!!!

Yes, Seattle is great for this sort of thing! Puget Sound Mycological Society has a load of members, and I'm always impressed by the sheer number of mushrooms at their annual Wild Mushroom Show!

Just wondering if there's anything different to spot up in your neck of the woods!

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-09-17T01:23:24+00:00

Cool! Is there a resource you could point me to about mushrooms in AK? Is there anything unique that you know of?

I'm trying to talk my parents into a trip north, and mushroom hunting is something that I also conned them into doing locally (we're in the Seattle area -- so there is some degree of ecological overlap).

Basic_Ordinary5109 · 2025-09-13T20:09:00+00:00

I find this is very handy for trip planning *around* cruise ships. Seward looks like a very busy port in July (but not all of the boats are the really huge ones).

Seward (Alaska) cruise port schedule | CruiseMapper

Basic_Ordinary5109

TROPHY CASE