The Alaska Native Heritage Center is remarkable for its programs, life-sized village displays, craft-making workstations and friendly, knowledgeable Alaskan Native staff. This museum presents 11 distinct cultural groups of Alaska within its 26 acres (10 hectares) and is a must-see for anyone interested in knowing Alaska's history and its native people's way of life. Located just ten minutes east of downtown, the grounds are bordered by the Chugach Mountains. Expect to be entranced by storytelling, drumming, hands-on crafts and Native dancers. A gift store and cafe are onsite.
The main attraction at this multi-galleried museum is the Alaska Gallery, which features more than 1,000 pieces of history, artwork and photography by Alaskans. Five other galleries are housed in the downtown-area museum, showcasing a variety of temporary exhibits from all over the world, as well as a Children's Gallery that is sure to delight visiting families. Visitors to the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center can also attend after-hours events, art classes, and lectures that are sure to spark the imagination.
In 1970 this magnificent area was declared a state park. Located within the municipality of Anchorage, Chugach State Park includes roughly 500,000 acres (202,343 hectares) of the Chugach Range and the surrounding landscape. The Eklutna Lake is the park's most unique proposition that beautifully mirrors the surrounding environs over its glassy surface. With a 5,000 foot (1,524 meters) vertical rise and three major campgrounds to the north of Anchorage, this wilderness area is filled with wildlife including moose, wolves, brown and black bears and more. It's a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts offering a plethora of activities that allow one to get up, close and personal with nature.
View 85 species of wildlife from the Arctic, including glacier bears, grizzly bears, and black bears, on this 25-acre (103 hectare) wooded area. Other creatures that can be found here include caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolves, Musk-ox and many others. Some non-Alaskan species such as elephants, Bactrian camels and even a Siberian tiger are housed in the zoo as well. A gift shop and a refreshment stand are on the premises for anyone who needs a little pick-me-up.
This coastal trail offers 11 miles (18 kilometers) of paved walking, skiing, biking and in-line skating heaven. It also provides unbelievable sunset views. Tony Knowles Coastal trail, built in honor of one of the city's former mayors and the former governor, is joined by many side trails that come from the midtown and south Anchorage districts. Along the way are mile and trail markers and, at Westchester Lagoon (one mile south of downtown), built-in fitness centers with pull-up bars, sit-up benches and general fitness information.
Part of the Anchorage walking tour, this house was built by the self-proclaimed "18th person" to walk into Anchorage, Oscar Anderson, in 915. Restored in 1982, it is open for guided tours Memorial Day to Labor Day. At the museum one gets a glimpse of the life style of the Andersons, and learns more about the early history of Anchorage. Exhibits discuss a roughly ten-year period from 1915 to 1925. The home is directly adjacent to the paved Tony Knowles Coastal Trail that follows the Inlet.
This grassy, garden strip (11 blocks long and one block wide) was designed as a fire protection strip for the downtown district. Later, it acted as a landing strip for the city. Now, it is a recreational area with eight tennis courts, space for flying kites, ball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, a skating rink, a steam engine and a Veteran's Memorial. Named after the 1929 Anchorage mayor, James Delaney, it hosts several festivals each year.
Spanning 110-acre (44.5 hectares), the Alaska Botanical Garden includes native perennials, an enclosed herb garden and an outdoor rock garden. Created in 1991 by volunteers, the garden has become an educational resource as well as a stunning showcase of Alaskan plants and wildflowers. Paths throughout allow for easy travel and a 1.2-mile (1.9 kilometer) hike provides views of the Chugach Mountains. One unusual feature is a still-used dog-mushing trail that travels through the garden.
Kincaid Park is home to the city's largest moose population, but bipeds also enjoy the beauty of this former glacial area. With more than 1,400 acres (6.1 square kilometers), this wooded park has trails that wind throughout. Many interpretive sites and frequent postings allow for navigation through its beautiful, hilly expanse. You may access the park either from the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail or by Raspberry Road. There is a large interpretive visitor's center available and many wide open areas where festivals are held. These trails are home to local and national skiing competitions and have also hosted Olympic tryouts.