What to See & Do in Alaska
 |
| View of Denali - Mr. McKinley |
Stay off mud flats, bring bear spray on hikes, leave moose alone, layer, be prepared, enjoy.
Anchorage
□ Moose, seen year-round, calves born mid-May and early
June. Do NOT feed. Stay clear. They are usually content to just eat but can
become irrationally dangerous when provoked. SHORT WALK.
□
Federal Building, 605 W 4th Ave, Films on Earthquakes
& Bears, Etc. Good introductory exhibits, $2/hr. parking, National Parks
pass office. 15 minutes from Anchorage Alaska Temple. SHORT
WALK.
□ Tony Knowles
Coastal Trail, great for bike rides and walks. STAY OFF THE MUD FLATS - Think quicksand with 30 foot tides.
□ Earthquake
Park, 5101 Point Woronzof Road, on Tony Knowles
Parkway. 17 minutes from temple. SHORT WALK.
□ Point Woronzof
Overlook, 9700 Point Woronzof Road, amazing place to watch planes
take off from hill & come in for landing from bottom of trail. 20
minutes from temple. SHORT WALK.
□ Flat Top
Trailhead Overlook,
Top of Upper Huffman, to Glen Alps, $5 parking or State Parking Pass. 17 minutes from temple. SHORT WALK.
□ Native Alaskan
Heritage Center https://www.alaska.org/detail/alaska-native-heritage-center
8800
Heritage Center Drive, No charge w. ANSCA membership. SHORT WALK – Lots of places to sit.
□
Anchorage Museum, 625 C STREET, ANCHORAGE, AK 99501
https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/visit/hours-tickets/
WINTER HOURS (OCTOBER - APRIL)
Closed Mondays
Tuesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.*, Sunday: Noon to 6 p.m.
*Extended hours through 9 p.m. on First Fridays
MUSEUM ADMISSION & TICKETS
$25 Adult (18-64)
$20 Alaska resident (18-64)
$18 Senior (65+), active duty military with ID, students (13-17) with ID
$12 Ages 6-12*
FREE 5 and younger*, FREE 6-9 p.m. First Fridays
$5 Third Thursdays (October - April), FREE on Juneteenth
□ Downtown,
pay to park most places.
□ Ulu Factory,
Alaskan Knife, 211 West Ship Creek https://theulufactory.com/
SHORT WALK.
□ Campbell Creek Estuary
□ Bi-Centennial Park, Miles of trails…groomed
winter, great summer, walking, biking, etc.
□ Chester Creek trail system
□ Campbell Creek trail system
□ Taku Lake, 76th West of King Street.
□
Alaska Zoo, 4731 O’Malley Rd, $25 non-resident adult (age
16+), $16 senior, $12 youth. http://www.alaskazoo.org/ 7 minute drive from temple. LOTS OF PLACES TO SIT.
□ Potter’s Marsh, 1st left turn
South of Anchorage with well-maintained boardwalk. Wildlife, swans early
spring, bear during salmon run, and moose. Don’t leave valuables in the car,
notorious parking lot for break-ins! 6 minute drive from temple. SHORT WALK – LOTS OF PLACES TO SIT
□ Kincaid Park, walking paths and access to Coastal trails,end
of Raspberry. 20 min. drive from temple.
□ Anchorage Botanical Garden, 4601 Campbell Airstrip Rd, (907)770-3692 10-7 M-S https://www.alaskabg.org/plan-your-visit. Awesome in winter before Christmas. The light show is awesome after dark. It’s a nature walk. Beautiful in summer. The Aurora Collection Movie of northern Lights in the summer—if you missed them during the winter. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts-Sydney Laurence Theatre. 13 minute drive from temple.
□ Alaska
Railroad to Seward,
https://www.alaskatravel.com/ SHORT WALK.
□ Ocean View Bluff Park, 1200 Oceanview Dr. https://www.mypacer.com/parks/168794/ocean-view-park-anchorage
□ Carr-Gottstein Park, 3130 Discovery Bay Dr. .6 mile loop. SHORT WALK.
□ Lake Hood
Harbor, 185
Aircraft Drive, See float planes take off and land! 18 min.
drive from temple. SHORT WALK.
□ Captain Cook Monument, 300 L St. Resolution Park SHORT WALK.
South of Anchorage
□
Girdwood & Turnagain Arm
□ Ice Flows/Formations—Frozen
waterfalls coming from the rocks on East side of road in Winter SHORT WALK.
□ Bore Tide- Get Tide app or look online to see when it comes in. SHORT WALK. The Alaska bore tide in Turnagain Arm, a clash of tides reaching up to 10 feet high, is a mesmerizing natural phenomenon. The tide attracts onlookers driving the Turnagain Arm as well as thrill-seekers, including surfers, kiteboarders, and paddleboarders. There are many pull outs along the highway perfect for viewing the bore tide so check the tide book and stake out a spot to catch a view of this phenomenon. Beluga Point 13 min. from temple.
Beluga Point - Best time to see beluga whales in from mid-July through August when salmon are running in Cook Inlet. Bring binoculars. STAY Off Mud Flats.
□ McHugh Creek Falls, Hike Seward Highway, Mile marker 112 south of Anchorage. Falls to right of lower and middle parking lots. SHORT WALK.
□ Virgin Creek
Falls, in Girdwood https://hikingalaska.net/2022/03/26/virgin-creek-falls/
SHORT WALK, BUT CHALLENGING
□ Alyeska North Face Trail, https://www.alaska.org/detail/alyeska-north-face-trail If you hike
the 2.5 mile, 2,300 ft. up, tram is free to take back down😊Bring water,
hat, no restrooms until top. Amazing views. Sister Badger hiked it last summer.
□ Alyeska Aerial Tram - 7 Glaciers – https://www.alyeskaresort.com/alyeska-aerial-tram/ Open May 22 tentatively. Check webcam before going. 8 minute ride up in summer. 41 min. drive from temple. adult 19-69 $48, Online $43 Youth/Military $38, Online $33 Senior 65+ $30, Online $30 Child (5&Under) Free SHORT WALK.
□ Beluga Point,
Beluga whale watching, Mt Goat or Dall Sheep on cliffs above. 13 min. drive
from temple. SHORT WALK.
Belugas are often seen south of Anchorage along Turnagain Arm
from mid-July through August when salmon are running. Excellent spot to watch
the bore tide. The incoming tide crosses the width of Turnagain Arm and can be
six feet high as it rushes in. Look for beluga whales rolling in the surf.
□ Alaska Conservation Center/Wildlife Center 45 minute drive from temple. SHORT WALK. https://alaskawildlife.org/education/tours/
It is a wildlife
preserve to see Alaska Wildlife in natural environments. Amateur photographers can
take award-winning photographs while animals display their natural behavior.
Open daily from 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., drive through in the comfort of your own
vehicle, or walk to each exhibit for up-close photographic opportunities. The
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center provides free educational programs, as well
as tours and programs.
General
Admission: $25
per person (ages 13 and up)
Youth: $20
per person (ages 4 to 12)
Child: Free
(3 and under)
Military: $22
per person (active US military with ID)
Alaska: $22
per person (Valid Alaska ID required. Year Round.)
Alaska Youth: $18
per person (ages 4 to 12. Valid Alaska ID required. Year Round.)
□ Portage Glacier - It’s a short, steep hike to Portage
Pass from the Whittier side of the tunnel, with a stunning head-on view of the
glacier and its rise into the mountains. Hikers can then descend to the beach
along Portage Lake. It’s 2 miles and 750-foot climb in elevation to the pass.
Be alert to black bears and go prepared for windy and wet weather.
□ Portage Glacier Tour Day Cruise, 1 hr. ,1500 Byron Glacier Rd., Girdwood. Adult: $49.00 Child:
$29.00 Must schedule 5 days in advance. https://www.graylinealaska.com/sightseeing/portage-glacier-cruise-tour-self-drive/
□ Beigich, Boggs Visitor Center, Portage Valley, $5.00 for adults [children 15 and younger are free!] Free w. pass. SHORT WALK.
□ Trail of Blue Ice, Connecting the Glaciers of Portage Valley. 5 miles wide asphalt/ gravel path, nice walk, good for bike riding. Beautiful view from bridge. Restrooms at Campsite.
□ Crow Creek Gold Mine – gold panning. Mine visits & gold panning do not
require a reservation. Open 10 am-6 pm, May 15th to September 15th. SHORT WALK.
□ Winner Creek Trail – 4.9 mile out-and-back trail. This is a relatively easy
hike through a thick, lush forest. There are foot bridges over several gorges
that are very cool to see, and a great place for photos.
Walking Trails in Anchorage
□
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail – great for walking, biking.
□ Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk -by Rabbit Creek SHORT WALK. https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm%3Fadfg=viewinglocations.pottermarsh 6 min. south of Anchorage.
□ Little O’Malley Peak – hike
□ Flattop Overlook & Hike SHORT WALK TO OVERLOOK.
□ Kincaid Park walking paths
and access to Coastal trails—end
of Raspberry
□ Bi-Centennial Park—miles of walking trails
□ Creekside walking trails
□ Campbell Creek-from Bi-Centennial Park to the Cook Inlet
□ Taku Lake-Chester Creek
□ Waterfall hikes – see Alaska.org for more walkable and easier to see waterfalls.
McHugh Creek falls - Seward Highway, 15 mins south of Anchorage
□
Virgin Creek
Falls - Girdwood, 45 minutes south of Anchorage
□ Thunderbird
Falls -
easy 1 mile hike in Eagle River SHORT WALK.
Other Anchorage Events
Winter
□
Snowzilla – giant snowman.
□
Iditarod ceremonial start in Anchorage.
□
Fur Rondy
– events & Parade
□
Fur Rendezvous Snow Sculpture Competition
□
Lots of Christmas
lights to discover—a lot of HUGE trees all lit up.
□
Hoar Frost
on the trees- ice crystals covering the trees.
□
New Year’s Eve fireworks. Starts at 8 p.m.!
□
Northern Lights
□
Ice skating
at the Dimond Mall – year round.
Restaurants Anchorage & others
□
Moose’s Tooth Pizza –Best
pizza in Alaska, Anchorage
□
Wild Berry
ice cream -Turnagain Arm Girdwood
□
Snow City
Café --Brunch
□
Sunrise
Café – on the way to Soldotna.
□
Humpy’s
Restaurant
□
Alaska Taste
of Thai $$
□
Arctic
Roadrunner – good hamburgers – cash only-no cards- on Old Seward and off
International (5300 Old Seward)
□
Seward’s Folly Café—On Abbot
□
Bear Paw Bar & Grill—Tudor
& C Street
□
Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant—Northern Lights
□
Sami’s City Diner—3000 Minnesota Parkway Back to
the 50’s diner
□
Gwennie’s Restaurant
□
Simon &
Seafort's Saloon & Grill, $$$$ pricey, but the fish was excellent. Beautiful
views. Make reservations. Locate validated parking beforehand.
□
Rustic Goat,
$$$ good food, atmosphere.
Kenai Peninsula
On the drive there:
□ Russian Falls
– hike to platform to see bears catching salmon, 2.5 miles to Falls. Gradual uphill, wide easy path. Approximate dates – June 24-27, and July
24-August 5, 2024 – depends on when the salmon are running.
□ Confluence of Russian River and Kenai River
□ Cooper Landing – (same area as
Russian Falls) stop at Wild Mans for scoop ice cream – very large scoop!
JJ Brown of Kenai River Trout Anglers is a well-known fly fishing guide in Cooper Landing, Alaska. 24 yrs. experience. Backrests on boat. All the gear provided. Bring a lunch. JJ and Matt great guides.
□ Dip net July 10-32 resident Plus Harvest permit required.
Skilak Lake, Beautiful teal blue water. Huge. Stop at lookout.
□ View of Kenai River & Kenai Lake, the most beautiful blue color. SHORT WALK.
□ The Kenai Peninsula (Dena'ina: Yaghenen) is a
large peninsula jutting from the coast of Southcentral Alaska. The name Kenai
(/ˈkiːnaɪ/, KEE-ny) is derived from the word "Kenaitze" or
"Kenaitze Indian Tribe", the name of the Native Athabascan Alaskan
tribe, the Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina ("People along the Kahtnu (Kenai
River)"), who historically inhabited the area. They called the Kenai
Peninsula Yaghanen ("the good land"). Wiki
Soldotna
□
Salmon Run
- Last week of July.
□
Bobbie Jackson
farm —halibut. Garden farm SHORT WALK.
□
River Boardwalk
Homer
□ Homer Spit—drive
out to Land’s End. End of Hwy 1 &
Kenai Peninsula SHORT WALK.
□
Homer -reservation at Halibut cove- boat ride. To a
Restaurant and cute little town
□ Pratt Museum
□ Look
for the eagles
□ On the way to Homer – watch for dip net fishing – look between
Ames Bridge and Ocean Hotel in Kenai – 3rd week of July is best time
for viewing.
Seward
□
Drive to
Seward is wonderful. Seward located on the Gulf of Alaska Coast.
□
Kenai Lake—you
can pull off into park office & campground to get to the shore—beautiful.
□
Train from
Anchorage—Go down in morning, return evening. https://www.alaskarailroad.com/
□
Wildlife Tour of Resurrection Bay
□
Seward Spring
Wildlife Cruise
Kenai Fjords National Park Glacier & Wildlife Cruise
Major Marine Tours: Alaska Cruise Tours of Kenai Fjords
□
Boat Harbor Shops & Restaurants—quaint
harbor town
□ Alaska Sea Life Center https://www.alaskasealife.org/
LOTS
OF PLACES TO SIT
Rescued sea life, excellent exhibits. Family memberships available. 2 hours 10 min. from temple.
□
Kenai
Fjord National Park https://www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/hours.htm
□
Exit Glacier,
The Exit Glacier Area is open year-round. In
late-October to mid-May, the road to Exit Glacier is inaccessible to cars,
usually due to snow. The road often remains closed through early May, so be
sure to check current conditions if you are visiting during the off season
(fall through spring).
Whittier
□ Tunnel to Whittier – for tunnel times look for latest schedule. 57 minutes from temple. https://dot.alaska.gov/creg/whittiertunnel/schedule.shtml $13 round-trip
□ Portage
Glacier – hike, there is a parking area on Whittier side. Must use
tunnel. Check for times. 1 hr. 5 min. from temple plus tunnel time. SHORT WALK - GREAT VIEW FROM PARKING LOT.
B Blackstone Bay Vista Trailhead - great view of waterfalls and bay, saw a black bear. Wear good shoes, bring water, expect snow in areas.
Byron Glacier—short hike to glacier…trailhead almost to Boat Landing on right side of road.
□ July 4th
in Whittier – parade and BBQ SHORT WALK
□ Spencer
Glacier – take a Glacier Discovery train from Portage or anywhere on
the line.
https://www.alaskarailroad.com/
Valdez
□
Road to Valdez
□
Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Site https://www.alaska.org/detail/matanuska-glacier-state-recreation-site Great views!
1 hr. 58 minutes from temple.
□
Matanuska Glacier Scenic
Pullout MP 103 Great views. SHORT WALK.
□ Matanuska
Glacier, 66500 S Glacier Park
Rd, Sutton, AK 99674 USA,
Mile 102
https://www.alaska.org/detail/matanuska-glacier
Departures: 9AM-5PM,
Every Hour
Cost:
$150 Per Person, Ages
14 & Under: $30, US
Military: $50,
Residents: $50
Sponsored Friends
& Family: $60 To qualify for a
Sponsored Friends & Family discount, participants must be friends or family
in Alaska specifically to visit the sponsoring resident AND ACCOMPANIED by that
resident.
Included: All fees
& equipment
Duration: 1.5 to 2
hours (depending on conditions)
Description: Join one of our guides on a
once-in-a-lifetime excursion from the lodge out to the terminus of the
Matanuska Glacier. Guides will narrate the tour, share their knowledge and are
more than happy to stop for photos along the way. Book a Guided Glacier Tour Call: (907) 745-2534 Or Text: (907) 232-9046
□ Keystone Canyon, Scenic landscape and waterfalls. Highly recommend!
□ Columbia Glacier & Wildlife Tour or
Meares Glacier Cruise w. Stan Stephens
30% off coupons were available.
□ Hiking,
walking, or bike riding,
beautiful on a clear day
□
Fish Hatchery, Mid July salmon spawn. Beautiful waterfall
right across road from hatchery!
□
Halibut fishing
□
Old Valdez
*Make hotel reservations early. Limited sleeping accommodations. Consider bringing your own food, we didn’t find any good restaurants, & the grocery store was very pricey.
Juneau
□ The Juneau-Douglas City Museum SHORT WALK.
□ Sealaska
Headquarters, gift shop across the street. SHORT
WALK.
□ Mendenhall
Glacier, great museum SHORT WALK.
□ Alaska State Museum SHORT WALK.
□ Mount Roberts
Tramway, $$$ great views. SHORT WALK.
North of Anchorage
Eagle River
□
Eagle River Nature Center—Hiking and
Wildlife viewing. Private $5 parking
□
Thunderbird Falls—about 1-mile round trip—gentle incline up to the
falls viewpoint. Another trail takes you
to the bottom of the falls.
□
Eklutna Lake—Glacier fed lake. Can drive to the
shore—shoreline trail
□
Eklutna Cemetery
□
Bear Paw Festival
(July) – see the Salmon Olympics
Palmer/Wasilla
□
Hike the Butte
□
Colony Days – during the summer
□
Colony Christmas – usually 2nd week in December
□
Musk Ox Farm,
One hour tour, Summer 10-6, Last tour at 5.
Adults (Ages 18-64): $14 Seniors (Ages 65+): $12 Children (Ages 5-17): $8 Young Children (Ages 4 and Under): Free
□ Hatcher Pass – open from about 1 July-September can drive from Palmer to Willow. Gorgeous!!! 1 hr. 21 min. drive from the temple. SHORT WALK.
□ Independence Mine
State Historical Park – Hike, July – berries SHORT WALK, LOT OF PLACES TO SIT
□ Archangel
Trail, berry picking, hiking.
□ Alaska State
Fair, 2075 Glenn Hwy, Palmer.
Mid-August SHORT WALK, LOT OF PLACES TO SIT
□ Reindeer farm, 5561 Bodenburg Loop, Palmer
□ Glen Allen
Scenic Byway http://www.glennhighway.org/
□ Matanuska
Viewpoint, see Valdez
https://www.alaska.org/detail/matanuska-glacier
□ Matanuska
Glacier hike, reasonably priced if you go with an Alaskan Resident. Rough
road. Dress warm. see Valdez
Willow
□
Official start of Iditarod
□
LaDaSa - 22985 Downing Rd., LAtter-DAy SAint Church Camp.
(907)495-5090
□ Hatcher Pass—Wintertime activities side x side with trax,
snow machine rentals. Incredible views.
Talkeetna
□
Train Station stop on route to Denali
□ Quaint town with shops and
some restaurants SHORT WALK
□
Down by the
river, at the end of town, great view of Denali on a clear day SHORT WALK
□
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge - Great view of
Denali on a clear day! Consider Lunch or dinner if not spending the night. SHORT WALK
Denali National Park
□
Drive
the Parks Highway to Park Entrance https://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
□ Currently
can only go into the park 43 miles on Park shuttles. There is a landslide
blocking the next 100 miles into the park. SHORT
WALK
□
Train
to Denali Park-https://www.alaskarailroad.com/
SHORT WALK
Fairbanks/North Pole
6
hr. 20 min from temple
□
Chena Hot Springs
-
35 miles out of town
□
Ice Carvings downtown Fairbanks (Feb-March)
□ Museum of the
North, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1962 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks
(907)474-7505
□
Botanical Gardens – UAF
□
Tanana Valley State
Fair in July
□
Northern Lights, Nov-March SHORT WALK
□
Great Alaskan
Bowl Company
□
Alaskan
Pipeline Viewing Point – just outside of Fairbanks SHORT WALK
□
Santa Claus House,
101
ST. NICHOLAS DRIVE, NORTH POLE, AK 99705 SHORT WALK
□ The
Santa Claus House is a store in a town called North Pole where you can buy
decorations and ornaments for Christmas, try 30 different types of homemade
fudge, and send postcards to anywhere in the world with the postmark as North
Pole. A festive shop with live reindeer outside.
Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center
□
VISITOR CENTERS FAIRBANKS, AK
Wedgewood
Wildlife Sanctuary
□ NATURE & WILDLIFE AREAS212 WEDGEWOOD DRIVE, FAIRBANKS, AK 99701
□ NATURE & WILDLIFE
AREAS FAIRBANKS, AK
□ At the Large Animal Research
Station, visitors can see muskox, caribou, and reindeer. Visitors can shop in
the gift shop featuring raw and spun qiviut, muskox hair, along with related
clothing and souvenirs.
□ 220 Yankovich Road, Fairbanks, AK 99775
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
VISITOR CENTERS,101 DUNKEL
STREET, FAIRBANKS AK 99701
HISTORIC DISTRICTS,1755 OLD STEESE
HWY, FAIRBANKS AK 99712
Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
NATURE & WILDLIFE AREAS,1300 COLLEGE
ROAD, FAIRBANKS AK 99701
Restaurants in Fairbanks
□ Buffalo Farm
□ NASA Launch Site
□ Fishing
□ Grand Aleutian Hotel
– at Dutch Harbor – Dutch Harbor, where the
Japanese were stopped during WWII.
□ Fort Abercrombie
Must do or see
□
See Moose
□
Fishing. Catch Salmon & Halibut
□
See Northern Lights (in winter)
□
Pick blueberries (in summer)
□
Fur Rondy, Downtown
festivities. Not for everyone.
□
Ship Creek snow sculpture
□ Denali
– drive Denali highway
□ Wild Game Dinner
Temple View LDS Ward November
Misc.
Hope – on the way to Soldotna watch for the road
sign
24 July Resurrection Creek spinning rod rent.
Inexpensive,
probably been there😊
Been there
Looks like
fun
We have
a yearly State Parks Pass for our car
This list was started by Elder Cox.
President Smith gave us wonderful suggestions.
Nearly impossible to paste from Word normally:)
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