Summer's siren song is beginning to be heard across Alaska. Certainly not through our weather, although even that is beginning to convince me it may be time to put the down parka away and bring out the raingear.

Alaska Adventure Media, Inc, local publisher of many outdoor-themed magazines free for the reading, is sponsoring its first Alaska Outdoor Adventure Expo this weekend at the Dena'ina Convention Center. From Friday afternoon through Sunday evening, outdoor enthusiasts will be able to converge upon the latest and greatest in summer fun. Cycling, hiking, RV trips, fishing guides; they all will be there under one roof to answer questions and share their specials for Summer 2009.

I'm getting antsy just thinking about summer. Our bikes have been creeping closer and closer to the garage door, and the hiking boots have been greased and are just waiting for trails to become visible for our waffle-stomper-clad family to hit the tread.

If the mere thought of getting outdoors this summer has you breakdancing in your living room, head downtown to meet up with some like-minded folks.

The Expo is open from 4 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, as is parking, door prizes and a host of fun sidebar activities guaranteed to fire you up for the forthcoming summer season.

For more information about the Expo, including a list of vendors at the show, visit the Alaska Adventure Media Web site.

Prepare to unplug the Wii and have some real-time, real-experience outdoor fun this summer!