There were several fun activities, festivals and events in Anchorage during the winter that motivated us to get outside and enjoy the uniqueness of this town.

During our first winter in Anchorage we got to see the incredible Snow Sculpture Championships held every year at Ship Creek.

We also had some laughs cheering on the Outhouse Races that year. My favorite team was definitely the “Poo Pushers”, with Winnie the Pooh sitting in the outhouse pulled by Piglet and Tigger and pushed by Eyore (not pictured here).

The Running of the Reindeer was another funny event, where people in crazy costumes race along the streets of Anchorage trying to outrun reindeer.

It was also very neat to see the beginning of the Iditarod Race, The Last Great Race. It’s a true Alaskan tradition with an incredible history; locals are passionate about it and proud to be a part of it.

One more winter Anchorage tradition we enjoyed was visiting the Gingerbread Village created by pastry chef Joe Hickel at the Captain Cook Hotel. The mere size of the display  and the attention to detail were mesmerizing.

So it’s not all ice and snow in Anchorage in the winter, although there is a lot of that, but there are also many opportunities to celebrate all that makes Anchorage unique, and I’m glad we got to experience some of it while we lived there.