Midnight Fireworks and Scenic Overlook

Jane here again...
I have been away for work for the last two weeks, but I got back in on July 3, and after a good night's sleep (very long flight from the lower 48), we were ready for the long July 4 weekend!

Friday during the day we unpacked, as our stuff finally got here! There weren't too many damages, so that was great. At first it looked like SO MUCH STUFF, but after we started unpacking we realized a good percentage of the bulk was wrapping materials and awkwardly packed items, so there really wasn't as much as it seemed at first. It wasn't that exciting a day except to us. Unpacking was like Christmas - you unwrap things and go "Oooooo! Martini glasses!" "Look! Our fridge magnets!" Even though we were unwrapping our own stuff, it's been so long since we've seen it that it all seems like new things.

Then in the evening, we went to fireworks, because it is the 4th of July, after all. Fortunately we don't have have that much of wildfire danger in Anchorage unlike so many areas of the country. They were like firework anyplace, basically. The big difference was that they had be held at midnight - the sun didn't set until around 11:30. Even still it was only kind of twilight-y, but still, fireworks are fireworks!

This morning we woke up late and went on a little adventure. We drove to a scenic overlook of Anchorage and its surrounding scenery. You drive up and up and up, up a mountain to the Chugash State Park. There are a variety of different trails you can follow. Other hikers, who were taking it much more seriously than we did were taking what looked like very difficult trails up to much higher vantage points. We weren't dressed for anything like that, so just took a nice easy walk to a lookout platform. Nothing but beauty in any direction! Mountains to one side of us, Anchorage and Cook Inlet to the other side....words can't describe it. In addition to the beautiful scenery, there were also interesting plants and wildflowers all around us. We spent quite a while up there, looking around. We will be going back, maybe even dressed and equipped to do one of the tougher hikes!