RV with Harvest Hosts - Great Way for a FREE Night's Stay!

Sweet deal for RV enthusiasts!  The Diamond M Ranch Resort just affiliated with Harvest Hosts, a membership program in the United States that provides RV owners with a free self-contained (no hook ups) night's stay at wineries, farms and ranches across the country.  Nice! 

Planning Your 2011 Alaskan Vacation - Which Month is Best? (Part 3 - JUNE)

June is the month where Alaska explodes in green.  The cow moose have had their babies, and the little calves are always a treat to spot, hiding behind mother's legs, tripping along beside her as she walks, often with a twin brother or sister for company. 

Bear peeking his head up, just below Diamond M Ranch Resort

This bear (and his two brothers) came to visit the Kenai River estuary, just below our Viewing Deck, last May and early June.  The bears wake up hungry after a winter's sleep.  Omniverous animals, they often don't really mind what they eat, as long as they eat.  Sometimes the handiest meal available, especially before the salmon come in, is the newborn moose calf, many of which succumb to the bear shortly after their birth.

  Bears are usually not a problem for human beings, preferring to keep to themselves.  As the saying goes, "they are more afraid of us than we are of them."  It is always a treat to get to watch one of these amazing creatures moving, in that slow ambling way that bears do, through their natural environment.

In June, King Salmon begin heading up the rivers, many fishing enthusiasts delighting in the hunt for the "big one," barbeques sizzling with sumptuous the first fresh salmon steaks of the year.  Out in the bountiful waters of the Cook Inlet, halibut guides aid their clients as they pull in the large flat fish, the ocean and the surrounding mountains looking on.  And fishing for trout in a local lake or stream can almost be a magical experience during the month of June, the canoe floating silently along next to loons, lilly pads, and dragonflies, perhaps startling a family of ducks just around the bend.  The water everywhere is teeming with life, the surrouding forests as well, and it all combines to produce a feeling of wonder and awe. 

Kenai River, just below Diamond M Ranch Resort

Visiting Alaska during the month of June is a treat for the senses.  Whether you love to hike, fish, explore or take in the scenery, the wonders of the Far North are everywhere.   

Feel free to leave comments, thoughts, tips and suggestions in the comments box below.  Tell us what you know about visiting Alaska in June!  We look forward to hearing from you.

Planning Your 2011 Alaskan Vacation - Which Month is Best? (Part 2 - MAY)

Click here for Part 1 (with thoughts on Winter, and April)

May is an astounding month here in the Great North.  Snow may or may not be on the ground this month---and, even with the warmer temperatures, you still never know---snow may (or may not) fall from the sky at any time.  Alaskans, delighted at the return of the long sunny days and the arrival of summer, are all ready to hang flower baskets on their porches, hungry for the green and the happy blooms full of color, but all Alaskans know that baskets hung outside in May are not guaranteed.  A 60-degree day may still dip to below-freezing temperatures at night.

While the flower baskets might need to be brought in for the night, our native Alaskan plant species can handle the temperature dips just fine.  It is astounding, for those who take a walk through the spruce-laden forests during the month of May, to see the many varieties of plants unfurling their way out of the ground, often right next to a slowly-thawing mound of snow! 

The month of May is when the green suddenly explodes, the beginning of the month starting out with a mostly bare-looking earth, but within a short time-span, lawns are green, flowers are blooming and the vibrant richness of summer is fully engaging.  If you were an Alaskan who was tapping your  paper birch trees in April (see picture above), creating delicious syrups and wines from the bounty of birch sap gathered, you understand exactly why May culminates in an explosion of green.  With such a rich Spring-time gathering of water and nutrients from the soil, what plant wouldn't? 

Plants aren't the only things waking up.  Migratory birds are in!  It really is hard to describe with mere words the sense electricity and excitement that sparkles through the air when a huge flock of excited shore birds arrives.  On the estuary that the Diamond M Ranch overlooks, we watch large groups coming in, the neat and tidy flocks exploding with joy as they arrive, circling and dipping and diving through the air, all the once-perfect-V-like arrangements breaking into a thousand happy feathered individual birds, celebratory honks and shrieks and cries of delight filling the air. 

Alaska is the destination hot-spot for all sorts of winged species.  Beginning in April and continuing through the month of May, you may see swans, loons, robins, hummingbirds, and a host of other birds arriving "home" to nest and raise their young. (For an excellent article on this topic here, information on shore birds here, water fowl here, and general info here). 

One of the best things about visiting in May is that it will be friendly on your pocket book.  The tourism and hospitality industry here in Alaska does a fantastic job of helping travelers experience our great state, and in May, since most people plan their trips to Alaska around the salmon run in July, you will have them almost entirely to yourself!  Everyone is getting their cruises, guided tours and hospitality services ramped up and ready to go for the summer rush, but because of the smaller flow of people, May prices tend to be much lower than they will be in just a couple months. 

For those wanting to experience Alaska, but without a lot of spare spending money, a vacation here during the month of May could be just what you are looking for.  For example, here at the Diamond M Ranch, you could spend a week in a beautiful one bedroom apartment suite during the month of May, complete with a full kitchen and including your own private deck overlooking the Kenai River estuary, mountain ranges and more, and do it for about $200 less than you would in July! 

Alaskan-dweller Lynne, who blogs here, had this to say about vacationing in Alaska during the month of May, providing vacationers with some great money-saving tips!

"Sometimes breakup doesn't come until May. Might want to wait until first week of May. That is usually when they open Denali Park for first 30 miles to private vehicles. Just before tour buses start running. And May is great time to go to Homer for Halibut or salmon fishing. But don't rent an RV in May and expect many RV parks to be open. Usually not until Memorial Day. And if you drive north of Anchorage, dress warm. It has snowed and sleeted on us in May pretty often."

Thanks, Lynne!  (FYI, for those who RV, we are one of the few RV Parks that is open in May, and with great rates, too)!  If you live in Alaska, or have visited here during the month of May, please feel welcome to share your thoughts, suggestions and tips in the comments box below.

The Biggest Little Fair in Alaska: Kenai Peninsula State Fair in Ninilchik

The Fair is this coming weekend! 

Stay tuned for some pictures and commentary, but in the meantime, go here for more information, schedules, and more:  Official Fair Website

Alaskan Beaches: Razor Clam Digging and Sand Castle Design

We take all interested guests on a razor clam dig, once a week---always a much lauded experience---but it's fair to say that the play-dough-like consistancy of Alaskan beach mud calls out loudly for tactile engagement of other kinds.  Here, Kaillee Skjold and Josiah Martin take a brief moment off from clam digging to construct a sand castle---with a moat and the decorative value of snail shells thrown in for good measure.

Last year, my kids and I found three baby sharks caught in a tide pool, waiting for the cold waters of Cook Inlet to come back and give them a chance at life.  My children stood guard as the sea gulls circled hopefully above, the salty sweet smell of kelp filling the air around us.  

There is no such thing as a "casual" walk on the beach, here by the waters of Cook Inlet, no matter which beach you visit.  It is a richly meditative experience, each and every time, and certainly one not to be missed.          

RVing in Alaska: Slow Down and Smell the Spruce Trees!

Roger and Ruthanne Jansen, Work Campers at the Diamond M Ranch this summer,
exemplify the fine art of making the most of every moment!

Not everyone has the time to take a leisurely trip through Alaska, but it's important to remember that a vacation is only a vacation in so much as it is a vacation!  If you maintain a fast pace and a tight schedule, hustling from one stop to the next, concentrating on the map and the milage and the next stop, you may be in Alaska but you're missing almost everything Alaska has to offer. 

Don't let the cities and the roadways fool you.  There's nothing tame about Alaska.  It's still a land of rugged wildness---a place where you can breathe deeply, stretch out stiff limbs and remember what it is like to be alive again.  Many RVer's understand this, so instead of scheduling a whirlwind tour of the state (going a mile wide and an inch deep), they pick one specific part of the state to really "get to know," to richly experience and enjoy.  Make no bones about it---the quality of their Alaskan vacation time is unparalleled.

So if there is one piece of advice we could give you, as you plan for your Alaskan vacation, it is this: make it a priority to fully enjoy the piece of Alaska that you find yourself in.  Walk on the spongy tundra.  Breathe in the salty freshness of the river mouth.  Stay up late for a one-of-a-kind "midnight sun" sunset.  It doesn't have to cost money, because it's not about money.  It's simply about engaging with your surroundings and drinking deeply of the richness all around you. 

As the saying goes, a good motto both for RVer's and for the rest of us,

"Wherever you are, be all there."

Alaskan Homestead Cabin

 

On Beautiful Mount Marathon

Ronna, Darius and Sonora pose on top of Mount Marathon in Seward.  We offer free guided hikes to our guests every summer, some on easy terrain and some on more difficult trails.  We usually feature two or three of difficult hikes on this very mountain, a steep rugged climb that is also the stage for an exciting race every 4th of July. 

The Diamond M Ranch would like to thank all the runners who entered this year's race in Matti's honor and ran in his memory.  We appreciate you!  

D.Anne Martin races wearing an In Memory of Matti t-shirt.

RVing in Alaska: July Dipnetting Season Is Upon Us!

It's the middle of July, and for those of us with lodging accommodations next to the Kenai River, that means only one thing  Lots and lots of motor homes!  It seems like everybody and their brother (and mother and uncles and cousins, for that matter) are down from the Anchorage, hoping to get their nets in the water and load up on a winter freezer's worth of salmon.  We're glad to be of service and enjoy the energy that all these guests bring to our busy campground.   

Schools of salmon are making their last pilgrimage, leaving the cold ocean waters and making for the streams of their birth.  My kids and I were at a beach a couple days ago, young faces squealing with delight as we watched salmon make their way past a well-fed seal and up into the fresh water creek where we stood, slippery scales passing between our bare legs, thrashings tails leaving a brief wake of foaming white water before disappearing around the bend.          

God Bless America! Diamond M Ranch Wins 1st Place for 4th of July Parade Float!

Diamond M Ranch Campground Hosts (Ruthanne and Roger Jansen, and Sherry and Jim Diggs) got together, despite the busy summer, and mamaged to put together a float for the 4th of July parade that ended up winning 1st Place for Commercial/Business Floats! 

We had a lot of fun!  Even "Dolly Parton Varden" was there!

Here, two of our most precious float participants took advantage of a lull in parade activities to catch a few winks!  Doesn't get much cuter than this! 

The 2010 Free Authentic Alaskan Summer Activities List is Up!

This summer is going to be FULL of fun stuff to do on the Ranch!  Check out the extensive (and ever-popular) list here, especially if you want to plan your trip around one or more of these authentic Alaskan experiences. 

Speaking of an authentic Alaskan vacation, a new article from the Ranch, featuring advice on how to make the most of your Alaskan stay, is now up at Trailer Life.  Enjoy!  

America on Wheels: Great Review for the Ranch

What a nice review this is about the Diamond M Ranch Resort.  Thanks so much, Janet!   

"Great place to stay!


If you have the opportunity to stop, this is a good central location for lots of activity. The WiFi works well and the bathhouse is very clean. The laundry facilities are good. The sites are good size and the office has recommendations for places to fish, eat, hike and sight see. They even have activities such as the clam chowder social and pot luck dinners. This is a quiet park where you can feel at home. Instead of moving the RV around the Kenai, we stayed here and traveled to Homer and Seward (Seward was a little far for a day trip)."

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/

Free Activities for Your Alaskan Vacation

"We and our friends stayed with you last July (2008). While keying in my journal entry from our stay there, I was reminded of your wonderful hospitality and family atmosphere. Thank you for going beyond just providing a camping space. We enjoyed a BBQ of 5 kinds of salmon, steak, potatoes and salad our first night there - what a welcome! After driving 7000 miles, I can say that camping at the Diamond M Ranch stands out in my mind as one of the best in our 7 weeks of travel. Thank you." 

--Lynda & Tralve Hathorn

The Diamond M Ranch is an experience in camping that few can parallel! A family owned campground run by three generations of the Martin Family, we are a warm and friendly group eager to help in any matter, whether it be repairs, fishing charters, or advice on sightseeing. Each day has an organized activity you are invited to participate in - clamming to suppers to courses on fish preparation and canning.
 
See what's on the schedule for 2010 Summer Activities here, and come join in the fun!