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.
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.
Opened in 1997, this pub took Anchorage by storm. The menu holds a full selection of appetizers from Brewhouse Amber ale-battered halibut and calamari to desserts such as wood oven-roasted bread pudding or outstanding crème brulee. Entrees vary also, from an applewood grilled King Salmon, to a three peppercorn spit-roasted prime rib accompanied by garlic-mashed potatoes. Of course, don't forget to try the house-brewed beers.
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.
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.
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.
Set along Eagle River Road in Chugach State Park, Eagle River Nature Center is an interesting place to visit for nature lovers. Before it was transformed into a nature center, this building was used to house the Paradise Haven Lodge. Visitors can hike along the three-miles (4.8 kilometers) long Albert Loop trail and revel in the surrounding mountains, cliffs and waterfalls. They also host guided tours and programs that allow visitors of all ages to experience the wilderness. This visitor centre is equipped with an information desk, a souvenir store and clean restrooms.
Since 1990, this museum's displays have educated the public on Alaska's rich natural history. All of the items collected by the museum have been donated or loaned by Alaska residents. Permanent exhibits include collections of Alaska dinosaurs and marine reptiles, Alaskan archaeology, and Alaskan paleontology. The museum holds the largest exhibits of Alaskan rock, mineral and fossils, and also showcases native artifacts dating back 11,000 years. From time-to-time, the museum also presents traveling exhibits from the Lower 48. Most exhibits are fascinating for people of all ages.
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.
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.
The Phillips Cruises and Tours in the city of Anchorage is a cruise and tour company that offers the 26-Glacier tour to Prince William Sound. The sound is located off the Gulf of Alaska on the southern coast and the cruise takes off from the port of Whittier, located 60 miles to the south-east. The four and a half hour tour on the three-deck catamaran would take you through approximately 135 mile into the sound covering all the glaciers on the route. The company also arranges for round-trip between Anchorage and Whittier, in case you don't want to travel in your own car.