Why Alaska is Still the "Last Frontier," Plus, 10 Things to do in Alaska NOT Found in a Typical Tourist Guide)

Don't miss these two articles about the Diamond M Ranch Resort on  the RVWest website:

Still the Last Frontier

Ten Things on the Kenai Peninsula... 

Have more tips of fun and interesting things to do on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, things that aren't found in the typical vacationer's guidebook?  Share them below in the comments section!

Free Stay in Historic Alaskan Goldrush Suite! FB Friends March Winner Is...

The original Greentree Hotel and Bar was built in Dawson City, Yukon Territory in 1898 to house those hoping to strike it rich in the rush for gold. Like the dreams of many miners of the era, Greentree went up in smoke during one of the frequent fires that devastated the towns along the gold rush trail.

We have a love for historic Alaska, and that includes researching and re-creating rooms from those exciting times.  So, at the east end of our Mainstreet, you'll find our Greentree Suite. The private deck begins under the roof of the covered carport and wraps around the full 32 feet accessed by sliding doors from the living room and bed room. A couple entering the magnolia decorated Southern Victorian suite will feel peaceful and pampered by the cozy electric fire place, the double sized jetted bath tub with two shower heads, full kitchen TV/VCR/DVD and telephone.

Every month we do a drawing from the pool of names on the Diamond M Ranch's facebook group members.  This month's winner?  Clark Fair!  One free night in our Greentree Suite, to be used in the month of April, is all yours, Clark!  We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed researching and re-creating it.

A "Truly Alaskan" Clam Chowder Recipe

This is the clam chowder that we cook up on certain Saturday's in the summer for our guests here at the Ranch for our Potluck Socials. When the tides are right, we take a group of guests down and teach them how to dig clams before bringing them back to the ranch to show them how to clean them. Then those clams are used to make this delicious clam chowder on the following Saturday. It doesn't get any fresher than that!!

 

Diamond M Ranch - "Truly Alaskan" Clam Chowder

5 lbs peeled, diced potatoes

1-2 cups celery (optional)

1-2 cups carrots (optional)

½ - 1 lb bacon

1 onion

flour (½ - 1 cup)

½ gallon heavy whipping cream

½ gallon (or more) of clams

Combine potatoes, celery, and carrots together in large pot. Just cover with water and bring to a boil.
In skillet, cook bacon and then add onion and sauté together. Add just enough flour to absorb grease making roué. When potatoes are finished, add some of broth from potatoes to roué, and then dump all together with potatoes.

Add whipping cream. Bring to hot (not boil, but close). Add clams. I use blender to blend necks because they are tough; just chop the rest of clam parts with knife. Stir 2 minutes and serve. Do not cook longer; the clams turn rubbery and tough.

Other Option:
Fry bacon and onions in bottom of large pot. Add potatoes, carrots, celery and just cover with water and bring to boil. When potatoes cooked, mix ½ cup plus of flour with 1 cup or more of cream. Pour this mixture and rest of cream into pot (make sure water is not boiling when pouring in cream, because it could curdle the cream). Bring it to hot (not boil, but close), then add clams, stir 2 minutes and serve.

Feel free to share this recipe with friends or reprint in a print article or on your website, but please remember to give credit:
Diamond M Ranch Resort Recipe from http://www.diamondmranch.com/

Diamond M Ranch Resort Wins Award

We were rated in the top 300 Trailer Life Parks in the Nation for 2010!

Who said hard work never pays off? 

Locks of Love and Children's Cancer Research

Yes, this was Blair Martin of the Diamond M Ranch...before the St. Baldricks event last year.  This was Blair after:

Blair Martin raised over $1400 for cancer research, and his son's, Matti and Darias, each raised over $100!  You can learn more about the great things St. Baldricks does, sign up or make a contribution, by clicking here. 

Blair's curly mop of hair was long enough to donate to Locks of Love.  It's really cool how such a simple thing like hair (well, I'm not sure if Blair's hair could be called, "simple," but...) can do so much good! 

If you live on the Kenai Peninsula, the next St. Baldrick's event is this March 20th, 2010, at 6pm, the Soldotna Sports Center.  See you there!