Epic Alaska Tours

04/07/2026

A rugged, high-latitude landmark that has defined the Anchorage burger scene since 1964, the Arctic Roadrunner is a true Alaska tradition. You walk into the rustic, wood-trimmed shop filled with vintage local memorabilia and immediately feel the warmth of the roaring fireplace. You grab a seat and eagerly devour a "Salmon Burger" or a thick, hand-patted beef patty topped with all the fresh fixings. To round out the nostalgic feast, you munch on a bag of hot, golden onion rings and slurp down a rich, hand-spun milkshake. The vibe is wonderfully unpretentious and honest, the service is lightning-fast, and the atmosphere is thick with local character. You walk back out into the crisp mountain air completely stuffed and grinning.

04/06/2026

02/13/2026

✈️ North Slope & Red Dog Mine Workers 🚐

Our weekday shuttle runs around your flight schedule, so if your flight is delayed, we adjust your ride time to match!

📆 Book online up to 24 hours before your ride www.epicalaskatours.com

⏰ Need last-minute transportation? Text us at 907‑231‑1059 — & if we have room, we’ll be happy to add you!

🚐 Comfortable, reliable, and built for the tough Alaska conditions

🧊 Avoid risky roads and early‑day driving — let us handle the commute safely

Take the hassle and the expense out of commuting — we’ve got your ride covered! $60pp

12/16/2025

The Winter Solstice Festival is happening downtown all weeklong! We've got the Winter Lights Walk (https://bit.ly/3YrbS1B) and Downtown Storefront Decoration Contest (https://bit.ly/3KACKsV) this week, and then the festival's GRAND FINALE on Saturday -- ending with a spectacular fireworks show! ✨

Here's what we've got going on this Saturday (12/20):

🐕 Free Sled Dog Rides + Photos
(https://bit.ly/4rg9EPM)

📸 Reindeer + Elf Photos
(https://bit.ly/43RCQ5Q)

☕ Hot Chocolate w/ Rylieh
(https://bit.ly/49C24ZF)

🎆 Winter Solstice Fireworks
(https://bit.ly/4pia7Qp)

This Saturday (12/20) we also have an Ice Skating Party at the Starter Block (the former Polaris site) and Warm Up Stations + Winter Light Walk voting at Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center and The Fudge Pot!

Events like this take a community and Fairbanks is *that* community! We want to thank our festival sponsors, including: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company, Rylieh Bodyfelt, Realtor, TOTE Maritime, Spirit of Alaska Credit Union, Explore Fairbanks Alaska, Usibelli Coal Mine, Big Ray's, Kinross Alaska, Tech Wise Systems, North Haven Communities, ConocoPhillips, Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, Alaska Laborers 942, Airport Equipment Rentals, Black Gold Transport, and Borealis Basecamp!

12/16/2025

12/16/2025

✨ Illuminate Anchorage kicks off TONIGHT at 6 PM! ✨

The lights are on, the interactive map is live, and voting is officially open.
Explore the displays downtown tonight, snap your favorite photos, and cast your vote — every vote or tagged photo enters you to win this week’s prize.

🎁 Week 1 Prize (winner announced Dec 12):
A 3-Hour Family Christmas Lights Tour from Welcome Anchorage Tours

Hot chocolate & cookies
($500 value)

How to enter:
⭐ Vote online for your favorite display, or
⭐ Share your photos and tag on Instagram or Facebook

Either action = one entry to win.

Let’s light up the season — together.
🔗 Vote here: https://anchoragecitylights.com/explore

11/23/2025

🐟💥 The Fierce Fight of Alaska’s Salmon 💥🐟

In Alaska’s rivers, salmon aren’t just swimming—they’re warriors battling for the next generation. When female salmon lay their eggs in gravel nests along the riverbank, male salmon compete fiercely to be the one to fertilize them.

Territorial Battles: Male salmon often clash violently, using jaws, fins, and sheer strength to push rivals away. Dominant males can guard a female for hours, ensuring their genes are passed on.

Sneaker Males: Not all males fight head-on—some smaller or less dominant males, called “sneaker males,” dart in quickly to fertilize eggs while the big males are distracted, showing strategy alongside brute force.

Life at the Limit: This spawning period is the final act for most salmon—they’ve swum hundreds of miles, leaped waterfalls, and endured predators, all culminating in this intense reproductive showdown.

Ecosystem Impact: The act of spawning churns the riverbed, aerates gravel, and ultimately supports entire river ecosystems, from bears and eagles to the tiny insects that feed future generations of fish.

Watching salmon spawn is witnessing nature’s raw drama and determination—a reminder that life often involves struggle, strategy, and survival.

Have you ever seen salmon fighting for the chance to fertilize eggs in Alaska’s rivers?

11/23/2025

🌊🏄‍♂️ Surfing Alaska’s Turnagain Arm Boretide: Record Waves & Rare Rides 🏄‍♀️🌊

Alaska’s Turnagain Arm is home to one of the world’s most unique surfing experiences: the bore tide. This rare phenomenon draws surfers from around the globe to ride a wave like no other.

🌊 What Makes It Special?

World-Class Wave: The Turnagain Arm bore tide is one of the largest in the world, with waves reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet and speeds up to 24 mph. These waves can travel for miles, providing surfers with extended rides that are rare in other locations.

Record-Breaking Rides: Surfers have reported riding the wave for up to six miles, making it one of the longest wave rides in the United States. The wave's consistency and length offer a unique challenge and thrill for experienced surfers.

Optimal Conditions: The most dramatic bore tides occur during extreme low and high tides, typically around the full and new moon cycles. These conditions create the perfect setup for the powerful waves that surfers seek.

Local Expertise: Guides like Pete Beachy have been instrumental in introducing surfers to this phenomenon. With over a decade of experience, Beachy offers insights into the intricacies and safety considerations of surfing the bore tide, ensuring that newcomers can enjoy the experience responsibly.

11/22/2025

💜🏔️ Alaska’s Dark Lupine: Wildflower with Uses 🏔️💜

Alaska’s striking dark lupine flowers are more than a beautiful meadow accent—they have traditional culinary and practical uses. While not all lupines are edible, certain species’ seeds and flowers can be prepared safely for food or other uses.

Lupine Seed Flour: Seeds can be harvested, soaked, and boiled multiple times to remove natural bitterness and toxins. Once safe, they can be dried and ground into flour, which can be added to breads, pancakes, or porridge for a high-protein boost.

Tea & Infusions: Lupine flowers can be steeped to make a mild herbal tea. Some Indigenous communities used the infusion for a gentle medicinal tonic or flavoring.

Natural Dye: Flowers yield soft purple or blue dyes, which can be used on fabrics, yarn, or for painting. Simply boil the petals in water and strain to extract the pigment.

Steps for Seed Preparation (Traditional Method):

Harvest mature lupine seeds once pods are dry.

Soak seeds in water for several hours or overnight.

Boil the seeds in fresh water, discarding the water and repeating several times to remove bitterness.

Dry and grind seeds into flour for cooking.

Lupines aren’t just gorgeous—they’re edible, medicinal, and practical, connecting people to Alaska’s wild landscapes in multiple ways.

Have you ever tried preparing wild lupine seeds or tea? Share your story or photo!

11/20/2025

🌿🦔 Twix the Porcupine: Snack Time at AWCC 🦔🌿

Meet Twix, the resident porcupine at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center! Twix enjoys a colorful feast of fresh fruits and vegetables, showing just how playful and selective these nocturnal herbivores can be.

Herbivore Habits: Porcupines like Twix feed mostly on leaves, bark, fruits, and vegetables, relying on a high-fiber diet to keep their digestive systems healthy.

Unique Teeth: Their sharp, ever-growing incisors allow them to gnaw through tough plant material—perfect for enjoying apples, carrots, or leafy greens.

Climbing Skills: While Twix may look slow on the ground, porcupines are excellent climbers, often foraging in trees for leaves and fruit in the wild.

Quill Defense: Those quills aren’t just for show—they provide protection, though Twix seems perfectly content enjoying a peaceful snack without needing them!

Have you ever seen a porcupine up close? I would hear about your experience or see a photo!