International Food Blogger Conference

The Single Biggest Takeaway From IFBC19

by

The 2019 International Food Blogger Conference in Juneau, Alaska wrapped up today and by all accounts was a big success.

Content for the 2019 version was specifically designed to be at an advanced level and covered all aspects of food blogging and social media including monetization paths, book publishing, creating a business from your blog, mastering social media, writing pitches to brands, and much, much more.

Our unique keynote speaker, Dr. Julia Nordgren, delivered a compelling argument that food bloggers have a role in helping their readers achieve healthy lives. Food blogger Heather Johnson delivered a 20-minute monologue on the Life of a Food Blogger.

The food was fabulous and included an opening reception by the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute, a Taste of Juneau event attended by 18 local restaurants and food producers, a hummus toast buffet by Sabra, and a closing reception by our 2020 host Visit El Paso. Attendees enjoyed pre-conference excursions and tomorrow will be participating in post-conference excursions.

There was a lot to take in and a lot to like.

 

 

 

 

But in our opinion, perhaps the single biggest takeaway from the 2019 conference is that those brave souls who traveled north to Juneau, Alaska reveled in their decision. The town of Juneau, with only 33,000 inhabitants, pulled out all stops for IFBC attendees and attendees were smitten with the city. Over and over we heard great comments about the food, the chefs, the friendly inhabitants, and the scenery. Any traveler to Juneau would have a great time but coming as part of the IFBC was simply amazing.

Moving a conference such as the IFBC each year is not easy. But it pays dividends in spades to attendees. Thank you, Juneau, for showing us your best.

5 Hidden Gems of Juneau

by

  • Mendenhall Ice Caves:
    Atlas Obscura

    Be inside a glacier. A short 12-miles from downtown Juneau in the Mendenhall Valley. The Mendenhall Glacier is visible from the visitors center on the Mendenhall Loop Road. If you’re the adventurous type you can go inside the cave by kayaking and climbing over the glacier. This magical place has bright-blue ceilings and is often described as “nothing short of incredible” or “otherworldly.” The hollow part of the glacier is sadly due to glacier melting and therefore the landscape is ever-changing. A must see before it retreats any further. *To explore the caves, you must schedule with a guided tour before hand*

 

  • The Upside-Down Forest of Glacier Gardens: The botanical gardens of Alaska inside the Tongass National Forest. 50 acres of beautiful lush green gardens. Discover the upside-down nature of the trees and possibly even spot a bald eagle. Wave to your fellow attendees on the Juneau Waterfront as you snap photos of a panoramic view of the city. Open for both walk-in and scheduled tours.

 

  • Treadwell Ruins: A short trip away on Douglas Island lays the “gorgeous ghost town” of the Tradewell gold mines. In operation from 1883 to 1917, these century year old ruins mined about $70 millions worth of gold. The stop in operation came when 3 of the 4 mines flooded due to high tides. Now, guests are able to walk around trails and read the fascinating history of what once was.

 

  • Alaska Zip-line: Have you ever been zip-lining? Now’s your chance! Enjoy the green views and the fresh ocean air while sailing through the lush forest. Perfect for the whole family.

 

  • Eagle Beach: Located right off Glacier Highway about 25 miles northwest of Downtown Juneau sits Eagle Beach. Yes, they do have bald eagles. Try to visit during low tide and you may have the opportunity to watch the eagles in their natural habitat pick at fish on the flats. There is no better place than Eagle Beach to observe the majestic birds. 

 

Why Did We Choose Juneau, Alaska for IFBC19?

by

Answer: FOOD!

According to Buzzfeed.com, Juneau is the only US destination on its top 10 worldwide places to go in 2019 for foodies.

“Focusing on fresh, local seafood and wild fruits, the food scene here is understated, delicious, and eco-friendly by nature.”

How would one describe Alaskan cuisine? Well, it is hard to describe. The Washington Post says “It’s trickier to pinpoint than Louisiana food, what with its jazzy Cajun spices and general swagger. It’s more soothing than Texan cuisine, with all its devil-may-care charred edges. And it’s more modest yet just as fun as that of New England, with its lobster rolls and abundant oysters.”

We think of it as holistic, jazzy, flavorful, smoky, fresh, fun, local and wild. It is hard to pinpoint but easy to love. It is perfect for any food lover but especially for food bloggers.

Thrillist puts it among the “10 Small Cities With World Class Food Scenes” and says “Juneauites’ access to fresh seafood, foraged sea and forest vegetables, and wild game is unparalleled.” Vogue wrote an article titled “Why Southeast Alaska Might Be America’s Most Interesting Food Scene.” And Food & Wine wrote “Alaska has always been extraordinarily lucky, when it comes to eating. Lately, however, there’s been an explosion of culinary talent and creativity, much of it in the state’s more temperate Southeast.”

Yes, the food is the reason we picked Juneau and Alaska for the 2019 International Food Blogger Conference.

Wondering what restaurants you can try in Juneau? Here are just a few samples.

**Tracy’s King Crab Shack: Located directly on Juneau’s waterfront, this favorite local location measures just 8-by-10-feet but serves no small amount of customers. Steaming crab legs and friendly service is what keeps people coming back day after day. Great food for a great price. A must try!

**Salt: Opened last year, Salt is the new hotspot on Juneau’s waterfront. What makes them special? Chef Lionel Uddipa, who won the Great American Seafood Cookoff in 2017, forages for the ingredients himself.

Deckhand Dave’s: Fresh fish tacos, need I say more? Yes? How about a fresh fish taco paired with a beer from Devil’s Club Brewing. A truly outstanding taco truck serving the freshest fish possible, even named in the “top 50 best taco joints in the U.S.” by Business Insider.

**Coppa: The most unique ice cream place you might ever visit. What is on the menu? Daily flavors, including rhubarb sorbet, and salmon candy. In 2016, BuzzFeed named Coppa the most popular ice cream shop in Alaska. In 2017, Coppa won the Grand Prize in the Alaska Symphony of Seafood with their candied salmon ice cream.  (Photo from: Travel Juneau) 

Narrows: After a day out on the waterfront you will want to head over to Narrows. A craft cocktail bar with uniquely crafted ice balls from the Harriman Fjord in Prince William Sound. This local hangout spot, equip with a fire place and brick walls provides as relaxing space to unwind from (and digest) all your delicious foodie adventures.

**Will be serving bites at IFBC19’s Taste of Juneau.

We hope you can join us this June in Juneau!

IFBC19 Juneau Excursions: Registration is Open

by

Registration is now open for the Juneau pre-conference and post-conference excursions.

We understand traveling to any IFBC is a big commitment of time and money. We also understand if you travel to Alaska for a food blogger conference, you would like to see a little of the area and not just the inside of a conference room.

For our pre-conference excursions, we have focused on the local food and drink scene in Juneau with three optional excursions:

  • Juneau Food Tour
  • Alaska Brewing Company Tour
  • Juneau Bites & Booze Tour

For post-conference excursions, we are getting you into the beauty of the natural surroundings:

  • Whale Watching
  • Uncruise Adventures Ship Tour

In addition to these excursions, we will soon be providing discount opportunities on other local attractions, including a plane ride and salmon bake, so you can extend your vacation even more. All details are on our Excursions page. Registration is open only to conference attendees and their families or signifiant others.

Follow Us

Contact Us

ZephyrConferences.com
info@zephyrconferences.com
Our Equality Plan
Climate Change Pledge