Win the medium flat-rate box of Alaska.

by
Cheap-ass burn phone not included.
Cheap-ass burn phone not included.

The tourists are back, pouring out of great big ships and tour buses and wandering the streets in their matching windbreakers. Although some people grumble, I say “bring it.”

As in, “bring your money and spend it here.” Tourism has added more jobs than any other basic industry since 1990, according to the University of Alaska’s Institute of Social and Economic Research.

Besides, the annual visitors remind me what a fascinating (albeit cussed) place Alaska really is. They remind me to stop and take a closer look at the things I see every day but that other people save for decades to be able to afford to glimpse for a week or so.

And if you can’t afford your own Alaska visit just yet? Enter to win the medium flat-rate box of Alaska.

This collection of odds and ends from the Last Frontier will almost make you feel as though you’ve been here. That box contains:

“Though Not Dead,” by Dana Stabenow. This audiobook version of her 18th  Kate Shugak novel is just the thing for a road trip. (Read more about the author, and consider joining the ranks of the Danamaniacs, at her website.)

Some really nice soap. Two bars from Alaska Soap Company (“Gold Creek Granite,” “Mystical Rain”) of Juneau and a bar of goat-milk soap (“Summer Solstice”) from Far Above Rubies of Eagle River. All three smell delicious.

Fridge magnet. This is from a lovely restaurant called Mexico in Alaska, where a scene from the Drew Barrymore movie “Big Miracle” was filmed. (You guessed it: the scene in the Mexican restaurant.)

Salad claws. These two wooden objects look like bear feet and allegedly are used to toss salad. I can neither confirm nor deny their efficacy.

Kuspuk cellphone cover. A “kuspuk” is a hooded cloth garment, initially designed as a parka cover for some Alaska Native groups. These days you see people wearing them as shirts or dresses. DF has several of them and describes them as “Eskimo hoodies.” This cute little lavender calico item buttons over your Android and has a carrying strap. (See photo, above; the phone is the one I got in order to live in the quieter spots of life.)

A “Rootin’ for Newton 2014” stretchy wristband. Jamaican-born Newton Marshall came up to run the Iditarod.  He came in 43rd out of 49 finishers. Marshall also won applause for helping racer Scott Janssen, aka “the Mushin’ Mortician,” after an accident. What a guy!

A copy of the 2014 Alaska Visitors’ Guide. Even if you don’t make it up here this year, everything will pretty much look the same in 2015.

Usibelli Coal Mine hat. It’s a baseball cap with the UCM logo stitched atop a silhouette of the state of Alaska. The color is – you guessed it – black as coal.

Alaska Time 2014 Weekly Calendar. It’s a day-minder whose photos are so varied and beautiful that you’ll be tempted to cut them out and frame them.

Alaska USA Federal Credit Union pen. Use it to write the next five months’ worth of appointments in your new day-minder.

Three issues of Alaska magazine: More gorgeous pictures.

A designer bracelet from an Alaskan artist. Well, sort of. It’s made of those teeny-tiny rubber bands that kids love to turn into “jewelry,” and was constructed by my 7-year-old nephew, Britain, a flamboyant young man whose entire life is performance art. He’d made one for me as a gift; since I knew be doing the box of Alaska I offered him a buck to make a bracelet for my giveaway. He accepted happily and made it extra-strong with multiple rubber bands. The dollar went into his bank; he’s saving his money in case we go on vacation again. Atta boy!

To enter:

If you do any (or all!) of these things, please leave separate, additional comments to get credit for each entry.

The deadline is 7 p.m. PDT Tuesday, July 15. If I don’t hear back from the winner by 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 16, I’ll pull another name.

Note: Due to the high cost of international shipping, a winner from outside the United States will receive a gift card and the box will go back up for grabs.

Please follow and like us:

103 thoughts on “Win the medium flat-rate box of Alaska.”

  17. Wow, I really enjoy reading your comments and posts on FB! I have a friend who lived in Alaska but was born in Germany. Her and her family moved to America and works as missionaries ( Bible translators, etc) with Wylciffe. It would a pleasure to learn more of how they lived in their times past in Alaska!

    Reply

  18. My mom brought the entire family (including my cousin and his family) to Alaska 7years ago, cruise and rail. A guy from Skagway came aboard to sing songs and tell stories. Best vacation ever! (Well, after the honeymoon in Hawaii, anyway.) if I win, I’ll share with Mom. (She’s been talking about Greece for years, but the kids are almost grown now, so who know?)

    Reply

  20. Count me in! And if I should win please include a nice portion of “cool” Alaska air. With temperatures in the 90’s and humidity to match the relief would be much appreciatted.

    Reply

  21. My husband and I were in Alaska for a Jeep Jamboree in, I believe, 1996 and have yearned to go back. Someday, I hope this will happen. I follow via email. I look forward to the memories this “package” will bring me. Thanks!

    Reply

  33. Oh please please please I hope I win. My sister lives in Ketchikan! Those cruise ships are a welcome sight in terms of tourism $$$ It’s also fun people-watching. Gosh, I miss my sissie. I haven’t seen her in about 2 years. Sigh. A goodie box would be wonderful.

    Reply

  34. This will hold me over till I can save up for my Alaska Inside Passage cruise! i don’t like snow and ice, but I’m sure interested in Alaska… go figure.

    Reply

  35. Love the flat rate box from Alaska! my brother lived in Seward and it was the most reasonable way to send him gifts

    Reply

  36. Been to Alaska twice to visit my sister when she lived there. Loved everything about it except the mosquitos! Couldn’t believe they bit through my jeans! Love to get the box, but keep the skeeters!

    Reply

  39. I have a friend who lives on Haystack Mountain and loves it. He has build his own cabins, house and is now one of the hardest working people I know..

    Reply

  44. I’ve been a Dana Stabenow fan for many, many years and dream of someday visiting Alaska. Winning this would be so fun!

    Reply

  46. Looks like great stuff. I don’t have an android phone but I think that cover could make a nice dress for my granddaughter’s doll.

    Reply

  48. our once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska was over 10 years ago. we were seduced into thinking that we’d see an abundance of animals because we witnessed thousands of salmon swimming in a river in Ketchikan. the next critter we saw was a small black bear in Denali NP… so did the other 40 people on the bus.

    Reply

  49. I hope to go to Alaska sooner than someday. Growing up Orthodox, Alaskans would come to visit the church in Trenton and talk about Alaskan life, Alaskan churchs and their charitable missions. Having heard so much about Sitka, and looking at the Alaskan saints painted as frescos on the walls of the church, I would very much like to visit Sitka. I also really would love to go to Denali:)

    Reply

  71. My Dad was born in Alaska (before it was a State) so I am very interested in Alaska but have never visited. This would be a fun box – especially your nephew’s designer bracelet!

    Reply

  76. All these things are so cool, and remind me of my vacation there! I REALLY want to go back someday, it was a dream trip, one that I wanted to take for as long as I can remember! I subscribe by email

    Reply

  77. Your box sounds like fun. I want to take a cruise to Alaska and I’m WA native! While a friend is up to visit my son in August we are going to be hometown tourists. It’s fun to see where you live through someone elses lenses for a change.

    Reply

  80. My mom just got back from a cruise in the SE. The cruise ship had a engine or boiler issue, so they had to turn around early, but since she lived in Anchorage for many years, I don’t think she was too disappointed! Would love to enjoy the salad claws and Dana S book. 🙂

    Reply

  91. I really enjoyed your survival story – how you left your husband, and despite some hardships, survived quite nicely! Good for you! I love to read stories about how women, no matter what the odds are, survive.

    Please count me in your giveaway. The book reviews look great

    Reply

  96. I’ve got to remember to come and comment on these ‘give-away’ posts! I read every column via my email subscription then forget to come here and comment. Ah, Alaska! You are on my ‘bucket list’. Any suggestions on how to do it as cheaply as possible? 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Comment