AK Adventure Day 49: Girdwood Forest Fair

I dropped off the van at 8:00am for brake work...then we headed on to Girdwood for the 44th Annual Forest Fair.

On the drive along the ocean we spotted Dahl Sheep.

The Festival is definitely a hippified event!!  It was fun...crafty...music-y...foodie...shady.... It is sort of funny to me that this is its 44th year!!...I suppose it is still small and quaint because it is not widely advertised—so therefore, maybe not so many tourists!!...so still sort of LOCAL??  I think about what the Texas Renfest was like way back in 1977–just a few years after it opened...compared to NOW—42 years since its first year!!...I guess also, look at the number of people in TX versus AK!!...anyway...the Forest Fair was FUN!!...and free to get it!!...and I FINALLY got a baked potato!!

Makeshift water mister up in the trees!!

 

Lots of beautiful log cabin and chalet looking homes in Girdwood.  A weird mix of resort chic...and artsy fartsy styles going on in the area!!  LOVE the front of this home!!

Before leaving Girdwood...we checked out the short hike to the Virgin Creek Falls. Tranquil rest stop in the wood!!

On the way back to Eagle River...we stopped at Bird Point...lovely scenic viewing area.

...the quirky Indian Creek Mine/gold panning tourist stop...definitely an Alaskan weird thing!!...since it only cost a dollar to get in...I guess you get what you pay for!!...NOTHING compared to a REAL gold panning tourist stop like the Crow Creek Historic Gold Mine!!

Stopped to see a couple of NEW Greek Orthodox churches...beautiful!!

...and stopped at Potter’s Marsh bird viewing area.  These parent arctic terns were guarding their baby...who was down on the rocks below.  The baby looked like it was big enough to fly away...but must be injured or something because it wouldn’t leave the spot.  IF we got too close, the parents dive-bombed us and squawked hysterically!!

Picked up the van and rested up for tomorrow’s big hike!!