Alaska
As summer travel trends have shifted, great deals are available in the state for Alaskans
This summer was shaping up to be a banner year for Alaska’s tourism industry. Rates were high and availability was scarce.
But things are different now. Many visitors to Alaska are worried about their jobs and their retirement accounts. The uncertainty from federal job cuts and stock market drops caused many travelers to cancel or defer their trips.
That means there is last-minute space available at many destinations around the state. That includes hotels, resorts, cruises and excursions.
Many operators now are extending special offers to Alaska residents. There are a bunch of deals, but most of them are for the month of June. Other offers are available all season long
Alaskans are well-situated to take advantage of last-minute deals. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Stan Stephens Cruises in Valdez offer cruises each day to Mears Glacier and Columbia Glacier. The regular price ranges from $169-$189 per adult. Alaska residents can take 30% off any cruise between now and June 20. Use the code AK30 or call 866-867-1297.
2. Alyeska Resort offers up to 30% off for Alaska residents. The best deals are between now and the end of May, but rates are subject to change without notice. For a midweek stay next week, it’s $182 per night, down from $259 per night. Add $47 in taxes and fees, for a total of $229 per night.
3. Alaskan Dream Cruises in Sitka is offering Alaska residents a 70% discount off normal cruise rates on its fleet of four small, luxury vessels. The ships ply the waters between Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan including Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm and all sorts of hidden bays along the Inside Passage. The discount is available on select sailings all summer long.
For example, the “North to True Alaska” itinerary on the Chichagof Dream is usually starts at $3,995 per person during July. The ship can carry up to 74 passengers. Alaska residents can sail for as little as $1,199 per person. The price includes all accommodations, meals and activities.
Check the website for itinerary details. But you cannot book the cruise online. You have to call to make reservations: 855-747-8100.
4. The Alaska Collection by Pursuit operates the Seward Windsong Lodge, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and the Denali Cabins. Alaska residents can take 20% off between now and June 15. Book online or call 800-808-8068.
Pursuit also operates Kenai Fjords Cruises in Seward. Alaska residents can request a 20% discount on any cruise.
5. Alaska Wildland Adventures is offering a 2-for-1 special at the Kenai Fjords Glacier Lodge, located inside the park near the Aialik Glacier. A three-day/two-night stay at the lodge during June usually costs $2,175 per night. With the half-off deal in June, it comes down to $1,087.50 per adult (double occupancy).
The lodge is one of three that the company operates on the Kenai Peninsula.
The price includes a glacier and wildlife cruise, which ends with a beach landing to access the lodge. All meals, accommodations and activities at the lodge also are included. The lodge is unique, since it’s built inside the park. You can’t see it from the water.
Call 800-334-8730 and tell the reservations agent the code word “LOCAL” to get the discount.
6. Major Marine Tours offers Alaska residents 20% off any of its cruises from Seward all season long.
7. Nova Alaska River Runners now offers 20% off any of its whitewater day trips. I first saw the offer as a deal for Alaska residents, but it’s now available to everyone. This includes trips on the Matanuska River and on Six Mile Creek, which is accessible via the Seward Highway. Use code “RAFT50” for online reservations or call 907-745-5753.
8. Chena Hot Springs, located about 54 miles outside of Fairbanks, offers Alaska residents a $60 per night discount on its rooms all summer. The “Fox” rooms include two double beds, for $209 per night. With the discount applied, the nightly rate drops to $149 per night. The “Moose” rooms include two queen beds, for $299 per night ($239 per night with the discount). There’s an additional $20 per night charge for taxes. Two passes to the swimming pool and hot springs are included with each room. Call 907-451-8104.
9. Princess Alaska Lodges and Holland America Hotels, both owned by Carnival Corp., are offering a season-long special of 50% off the second night. Princess has lodges in Cooper Landing, near Copper Center, in Fairbanks, near Talkeetna and near the entrance to Denali National Park. Holland America has hotels near Denali, in Dawson City and Skagway.
Princess also operates private rail cars between Anchorage and Denali, featuring package pricing with the Princess resorts along the way. Princess is offering a 25% discount on the packages. For a three-day/two-night package from Anchorage to the Mt. McKinley Princess near Talkeetna, the price is $599 per person, double occupancy. That includes train fare, transfers from the Talkeetna train station to the lodge, 60 miles, and accommodations at the lodge.
10. Prices on airfare to select destinations in Europe are lower this summer on Condor‘s nonstop flight to Frankfurt. Fly nonstop between Anchorage and Frankfurt between now and July 8 for $670-$700 round-trip, or later in the summer between Aug. 8 and Sept. 17. That’s the basic economy price, so it costs more for checked bags, advance seat assignments and a host of other “extras.” Almost every single traveler will end up paying more.
Similar prices are available for flights on Condor to Rome, Milan, Berlin and Zurich.
Several operators indicated more discounts may be available for travel later in the summer.
Alaska resident discounts are not a universal feature for all operators or hotels. But there are many more of these offers this summer. If you’re planning a trip around the state this year, it’s worthwhile to check to see if a “locals” discount applies!
No matter what kind of energy we produce — natural gas, hydro, wind, solar or other legacy fuels — it is only as useful as our ability to deliver it where it is needed. The electricity we consume relies on the substations and distribution lines in our neighborhoods which is in turn dependent on high-voltage transmission infrastructure — the backbone of every electric grid. Any path forward for Alaska’s energy future depends on strengthening this backbone.
The Railbelt electric transmission system stretches 700 miles from Homer to Fairbanks powering roughly 70 % of Alaskans. Built piecemeal over decades, it remains a patchwork of transmission lines operated by five separate utilities. The resulting system is akin to a string of extension cords — some sturdy, others worn — but inadequate for our current and future needs. This fragmentation drives up costs, reduces reliability, and keeps the lowest-cost power from reaching customers when it is needed most.
Case in point: The cheapest electric energy in the Railbelt is generated by the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric plant near Homer. However, because of transmission bottlenecks, that energy can’t always flow north when demand peaks, forcing utilities to use more expensive fuel. Removing these bottlenecks will give Railbelt consumers full access to Bradley Lake’s clean, low-cost power.
Alaska’s Railbelt utilities and the Alaska Energy Authority (AEA) have identified a coordinated, multi-year roadmap to build a reliable, efficient and lower-cost energy backbone for the Railbelt. This plan can be implemented in stages, tackling the most urgent constraints first to deliver savings quickly. Some of this work is already underway.
The Sterling-to-Quartz Creek transmission link on the Kenai Peninsula is undergoing a major upgrade financed through AEA bonds to improve the system’s overall capacity and reliability and reduce power losses. New battery storage projects are also strengthening the grid by providing emergency backup and frequency control. These projects will pay dividends for decades.
In addition, AEA secured $206.5 million from a Department of Energy grant for the next phase of Railbelt modernization. The project will install a high-voltage direct-current submarine cable across Cook Inlet, creating redundancy and increasing capacity so utilities can better access Bradley Lake power. While these federal funds were thought to be in jeopardy in early 2025, they remain available. However, they require a dollar-for-dollar match to move forward.
As steps are taken to allow full access to Bradley Lake’s low-cost power generation, planning is also underway to supply more water to the dam’s generators via the Dixon Diversion project, which will boost power output by up to 50%. Getting more electricity out of existing infrastructure makes sense — especially if we can move that power to end users when they need it. Success with these projects will benefit rural energy users: because the Power Cost Equalization (PCE) program is tied to Railbelt rates, lower cost power on the Railbelt reduces rates across Alaska.
A stronger transmission system will also provide a means for new power generation to supply the Railbelt electric market. Better transmission removes the hurdle of geography, making the entire system more efficient, flexible and affordable — for whatever new generation comes online.
Finally, stronger governance will matter as much as stronger wires. We must also continue the state and utility effort to write fair operating rules for the Railbelt’s shared transmission system to ensure that these investments deliver long-term reliability and affordability for everyone connected to the grid.
Transmission may not be flashy, but it is the foundation of everything else. If we want affordable, reliable power and a stronger economy, we must invest in the infrastructure that makes it possible. What’s needed now is clear state leadership, coordinated utility action, and the backing of Alaskans to move these projects forward.
Gene Therriault served in the Alaska state House of Representatives and Alaska Senate from 1993 to 2009, and is a senior adviser of New Energy Alaska. Subsequent roles include serving as senior energy adviser to Gov. Sean Parnell, vice president of Golden Valley Electric Association and deputy director for statewide energy policy development at the Alaska Energy Authority. He lives in Fairbanks.
Brian Hickey lives in Anchorage and has over 40 years of experience working in construction, engineering and operations in the Alaska Railbelt electric grid. Most recently, he was executive director of Railbelt Regional Coordination and led Railbelt’s joint effort to obtain the $206.5 million Department of Energy grant for AEA. He is also the general manager of Seward Electric Systems in Seward.
• • •
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High School
Hockey
Tuesday
Monroe Catholic 8, Lathrop 3
West 3, Wasilla 1
South 2, Dimond 0
Wednesday
North Pole 9, West Valley 6
Delta 6, Monroe Catholic 5
West 1, Chugiak 0
Thursday
Palmer 5, Kenai Central 2
North Pole 8, Colony 2
Friday
Palmer 6, Soldotna 0
West Valley 7, Colony 2
Juneau-Douglas 4, Kenai Central 2
Kodiak 6, Service 3
Dimond 3, Eagle River 0
Saturday
Service 4, Kodiak 3
Juneau-Douglas 8, Kenai Central 2
Palmer 14, Homer 2
Wasilla 6, Chugiak 3
• • •
Volleyball
Thursday
Nelson Island 2, SISD 0 (25-20, 25-15)
Susitna Valley 3, Metlakatla 0 (25-16, 25-19, 25-14)
Martin L Olson 2, Nunamiut 1 (25-14, 23-25, 25-21)
Dillingham 3, Glennallen 1 (19-25, 25-18, 25-17, 25-23)
Shaktoolik 2, Gustavus 1 (25-12, 22-25, 25-15)
Sand Point 3, Tri-Valley 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-13)
Aniak 2, Emmonak 0 (25-15, 25-11)
Tanalian 2, Nelson Island 0 (25-15, 25-18)
Unalaska 3, Wrangell 0 (25-13, 25-23, 25-20)
Martin L Olson 2, Scammon Bay 0 (25-13, 25-14)
Susitna Valley 3, Dillingham 1 (25-9, 23-25, 25-15, 25-21)
Shaktoolik 2, Anchor Lutheran 0 (25-9, 25-17)
Kisimgiugtuq 2, Aniak 0 (28-25, 25-20)
Unalaska 3, Sand Point 0 (25-16, 25-13, 25-23)
Friday
Scammon Bay 2, Gustavus 1 (20-25, 25-21, 25-17)
Nelson Island 2, Emmonak 0 (25-23, 25-18)
Metlakatla 3, Glennallen 0 (25-21, 25-21, 25-12)
Aniak 2, SISD 0 (25-16, 25-20)
Nunamiut 2, Anchor Lutheran 0 (25-13, 25-5)
Nunamiut 2, Aniak 0 (25-22, 25-16)
Nelson Island 2, Scammon Bay 1 (25-10, 23-25, 25-0)
Wrangell 3, Tri-Valley 1 (25-27, 25-23, 25-18, 25-10)
Tanalian 3, Martin L Olson 1 (25-13, 8-25, 25-22, 25-23)
Shaktoolik 3, Kisimgiugtuq 0 (25-14, 25-5, 25-15)
Sand Point 3, Metlakatla 0 (25-20, 25-20, 26-24)
Nelson Island 2, Kisimgiugtuq 0 (25-13, 25-10)
Martin L Olson 2, Nunamiut 1 (25-27, 25-16, 26-24)
Tanalian 3, Shaktoolik 1 (25-20, 17-25, 25-19, 25-23)
Unalaska 3, Susitna Valley 1 (23-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-22)
Wrangell 3, Dillingham 2 (16-25, 25-21, 25-21, 20-25, 15-9)
Sand Point 3, Wrangell 0 (25-14, 25-21, 25-18)
Saturday
Martin L Olson 2, Nelson Island 0 (25-16, 25-21)
Martin L Olson 2, Shaktoolik 0 (25-22, 25-21)
Susitna Valley 3, Sand Point 1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-21, 25-17)
Tanalian 3, Martin L Olson 1 (27-25, 23-25, 25-22, 28-26)
Unalaska vs. Susitna Valley (Late)
• • •
Wrestling
Tuesday
Dimond 55, Bartlett 47
Boys – 145: Prince Bonilla (5-15), Dimond over Benjamin Fudge (13-14), Bartlett (F 3:48)
Boys – 135: Taven Carbaugh (12-13), Dimond over Aurelius Atwood (4-12), Bartlett (F 5:51)
Boys – 119: Yeng Lao (17-6), Bartlett over Joshawa McCorkle (3-22), Dimond (TF 19-3 (3:03)
Boys – 285: Denver Spencer (17-11), Bartlett over Juan Hernandez (0-0), Dimond (F 1:26)
Boys – 215: Jayce Casarez (10-4), Bartlett over Creed Cvancara (12-5), Dimond (F 3:30)
Boys – 189: Donald Goss (0-4), Bartlett over Tristan Mason (5-23), Dimond (F 4:21)
Boys – 171: Everett Monteil (6-7), Dimond over Alton Drones (4-6), Bartlett (TF 18-1 (4:33)
Boys – 160: Yaroslav Ustymenko (16-16), Dimond over Jonny Larsen (6-6), Bartlett (SV 7-4)
Boys – 152: Keller Jackson (18-6), Dimond over Isiah Anaruk (16-10), Bartlett (F 5:12)
Girls – 126: Nyah O`Neil (17-5), Dimond over Teresa Vicens (8-6), Bartlett (TF 17-2 (3:48)
Girls – 100: Kaylee Kofford (22-6), Bartlett over Aoife Stout (13-7), Dimond (F 3:56)
Chugiak 62, Eagle River 46
Boys – 135: Lukas Nuxall (7-5), Chugiak over Izzak Alonzo (7-18), Eagle River (F 3:59)
Boys – 130: Jacob Driscoll (23-10), Eagle River over Briar Otts (4-8), Chugiak (F 0:56)
Boys – 119: Archer Hicks (17-12), Chugiak over Wyatt Zeiler (14-8), Eagle River (MD 9-1)
Boys – 112: Oliver Dunlavey (13-13), Chugiak over Aiden Smith (7-6), Eagle River (F 0:44)
Boys – 103: Tanner Bailey (16-11), Chugiak over Grant Brunner (14-12), Eagle River (Dec 11-4)
Boys – 215: Braden Ott (16-5), Eagle River over Oliver Stoltze (6-6), Chugiak (F 2:42)
Boys – 189: Bryson Diola (16-1), Eagle River over Morgan Robinson (4-3), Chugiak (F 5:02)
Boys – 171: Elias Rimbert (20-6), Chugiak over Gavin Wiess (27-10), Eagle River (MD 17-5)
Boys – 160: Richard Dunlavey (21-8), Chugiak over Vern Stott (5-11), Eagle River (F 2:34)
Boys – 152: Kamdon Marchant (13-8), Chugiak over Caleb Driscoll (24-15), Eagle River (Dec 9-5)
Boys – 145: Michael Roschi (16-0), Eagle River over Mason Scow (9-12), Chugiak (F 1:46)
Boys – 140: August Rogers (16-17), Eagle River over Brock Baker (2-9), Chugiak (F 4:46)
Girls – 126: Sabreena Otts (29-8), Chugiak over Cheyenne Bobo (0-0), Eagle River (F 2:36)
Girls – 114: Talia Jenkins (22-5), Chugiak over Lillian Dwyer (17-18), Eagle River (F 3:06)
Girls – 107: Rylee Ruggles (17-6), Chugiak over Violet Roschi (29-9), Eagle River (F 5:44)
Girls – 152: Lily Boze (13-10), Eagle River over Ereale Campbell (15-17), Chugiak (Dec 6-0)
South 122, Service 24
Boys – 189: Bohdan Porter (25-4), South over Lucas Witwer (13-17), Service (F 2:00)
Boys – 152: Shane Ostermiller (19-2), South over Lucas Gross (0-1), Service (F 1:25)
Boys – 140: Benson Mishler (21-2), South over Braiden Sanchez (15-9), Service (MD 19-6)
Boys – 135: Shaw Gerondale (20-4), South over Mason Childress (8-10), Service (F 1:36)
Boys – 130: Dylan Frawner (19-6), South over Urijah Eppelsheimer (10-6), Service (TF 16-0 (2:38)
Girls – 152: Savannah Stout (27-2), South over Julie Ishnook (17-13), Service (TF 20-3 (2:21)
Girls – 114: Julia Dunlap (32-6), South over Scarlett Easton (28-12), Service (Dec 8-5)
Girls – 100: Ava Rogers (11-9), South over Rebekah Ellsworth (5-11), Service (Dec 8-1)
West 75, Bettye Davis East 53
Boys – 285: Matt Manumalealii (0-0), West over Jerome Keil-Mano (5-2), East (F 3:29)
Boys – 215: Aiden Luzano (2-8), West over Scottie Saechao (1-0), East (F 0:58)
Boys – 189: Ezekiel Alabado (2-4), East over Declan Gee (7-12), West (Dec 6-4)
Boys – 171: Ryder Thomas (11-7), West over Kalek Donnelly (8-5), East (F 1:00)
Boys – 160: Lucas Starck (15-4), West over Julian Ferreira (7-8), East (F 2:00)
Boys – 152: Liam Ferreira (6-7), East over Chris Espina (4-12), West (Dec 11-8)
Boys – 145: Damien Ambrose (14-9), West over Levi Hanks (2-2), East (F 3:33)
Boys – 140: Ramon armenta (6-3), East over Gage Williams (3-9), West (F 3:56)
Boys – 135: Mason Rhude (7-12), West over Warren Smallwood (4-1), East (SV 13-10)
Boys – 119: Jerriel Medina-Salazar (3-3), West over Eranda Dissanayake (1-0), East (F 4:35)
Boys – 112: Colter Campbell (13-1), East over Juan Rojas Arismendy (11-3), West (TF 19-2 (2:13)
Girls – 165: Kenya-Marie Bruno (17-2), East over Laura Souza (1-4), West (F 0:49)
Girls – 145: Bridey Lee Piscoya (6-10), West over Victoria Orozco (6-4), East (F 3:36)
Girls – 132: Lily Oldham (18-7), West over Aniyah Smalley (5-5), East (F 1:51)
Girls – 120: Ivy Shanklin (3-9), West over Molly Antijunti (0-1), East (F 5:13)
• • •
College
Volleyball
Thursday
UAF 3, UAA 0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-15)
Friday
Point Loma 3, UAF 1 (25-22, 25-20, 20-25, 25-18)
• • •
Women’s basketball
Thursday
Western Oregon 82, UAF 24
Saint Martin’s 69, UAA 60
Saturday
Saint Martin’s 74, UAF 37
Western Oregon 77, UAA 69
• • •
Men’s basketball
Thursday
Saint Martin’s 78, UAA 63
UAF 80, Western Oregon 70
Saturday
Saint Martin’s 66, UAF 56
UAA 64, Western Oregon 56
• • •
Hockey
Friday
Stonehill 3, UAA 2
Saturday
UAA vs. Stonehill (Late)
UAF vs. Grand Canyon (Late)
PALMER — High winds knocked out power for thousands in Mat-Su on Saturday morning with gusts forecast up to 80 mph in places before the weekend ends.
As of 9 a.m., there were nearly 17,000 members without power, according to Matanuska Electric Association. Major outages included Knik-Goose Bay and Fairview Loop roads. Another large outage knocked out more than 2,000 members from Palmer to Hatcher Pass.
There were reports of trees down on some side roads and damaged railroad crossing gates, as well as at least one small brush fire sparked by a downed power line.
By 10 a.m., the Palmer Airport had recorded a gust of 84 mph while the Wasilla Airport and the Glenn Highway near the Parks Highway had seen gusts of between 70 and 74 mph, according to weather station observations.
A high wind warning from the National Weather Service is in place until 11 p.m. Sunday for the Matanuska Valley including Wasilla, Sutton, Big Lake, Chickaloon and Palmer. The warning calls for northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph with possible gusts up to 80 mph. Wind chill could drop to between minus 10 and minus 20 degrees by Sunday evening, the agency said.
Power outages began early Saturday morning.
“We have multiple crews out in the field and are calling in more as they become available. Winds are not expected to die down today and will last into at least tomorrow evening,” Matanuska Electric Association said in a Facebook post, encouraging people to avoid downed power lines. “Please stay safe – there is a lot of debris scattered outside.”
Wasilla police warned that numerous traffic signals were dark Saturday morning due to power outages. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough announced the central landfill near Palmer is closed Saturday due to high winds.Palmer airport officials on Friday urged pilots to secure all aircraft.
A high wind advisory for the Anchorage area and the northwest Kenai Peninsula — including Nikiski, Kenai, Soldotna and Sterling — remains in effect until 11 p.m. Sunday. Forecasters expected north winds of 20 to 30 mph and gusts up to 50, and wind chill dropping to between minus 5 and minus 15 by Sunday night. Knik Arm, West Anchorage and areas along the coast of northern Cook Inlet were likely to experience the strongest winds, according to the advisory.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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