It has been a strange summer. We had plans to take our toddler daughter on several short trips around the Northwest. I was working on a mini-documentary, and July and August were wide open for visits to Mount St. Helens, Mount Hood (again!), and Silver Falls State Park.

Then came the Great Home Remodel of 2016 — the most mentally and emotionally exhausting event to come along since our child’s birth. Throw in a couple kitchen appliance updates, a replaced toilet, a car accident, and a few weekend commitments and suddenly it’s the end of August with time and treasure spent. We haven’t been anywhere since June!

The weather tends to be pretty good here until about mid-October, so there is still time for a summer activity or two. That said, vacation life took a bit of a turn a couple weeks ago presenting a new and unexpected opportunity.

We’ve been asked to come to Alaska, where my wife, Lisa, and her father’s side of the family grew up. It’s going to be a quick trip, but we’re headed to the Anchorage area — Wasilla to be exact — in the early fall. Lisa’s grandmother is well into her 90s and wants to meet her great-granddaughter.

It’s my first trip to The Last Frontier, Aria’s first ride on a plane, and Lisa’s first return to the 49th state in almost 20 years. I see a multi-generational photo and a whole new video documentary coming soon! It’s an unplanned adventure at the tail end of summer, and we look forward to it.