I have a soft spot for small towns. Maybe it developed during my four years of college at a small Iowa town. Maybe it is just part of my nature, to love exploring smaller and lesser-visited cities and town. It's part of the reason I fell so in love with Long Beach, Washington while living in the Pacific Northwest. Or why we ended up living in Sausalito when we called California home. As a kid growing up in Alaska, I remember trips to one particular small town with a special name...

When people learn that I grew up in Alaska, one of the most common questions I receive is: how was it living in the dark for half the year?! Actually, it's not dark half the year in Alaska, but there are certain times of the year when it's darker than others and the days are much shorter. December is one of those times, and in fact, the shortest day of the year occurs on December 21st, so it's arguably the darkest time to visit Alaska among any of the winter months...

Fairbanks is also called the Golden Heart of Alaska, due to its Gold Rush era roots – but it also earns the nickname for charming visitors with incredible scenery and fascinating things to do. I'll be completely honest though: I didn't visit Fairbanks often while growing up in Alaska, perhaps because it's about 350 miles and almost six hours of driving from my hometown...

There's nothing like the feeling of a cool Alaskan morning as you set out on a hike. You might be bundled up against the chill, then shed layers as your body warms up. No matter the trail, there's something comforting and awe-inspiring about the many hikes in Alaska, and if you love the idea of exploring Alaska on foot, hiking in Alaska is a must-do activity during your trip...