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THERE’S NO LIMIT TO THE FUN YOU
CAN HAVE IN ALASKA!
Whether you want an afternoon adventure in Anchorage or a three day trip to Kodiak, Alaska has it all: mountain walks, beach vistas and scenic road trips that will take your breath away! Museums’ Alaska, our statewide museum association invites you to explore our state by bus, car or plane. This information is arranged by location and includes average drive time; at least one web site or telephone number is included. Please contact each location directly for detailed information. If the site is a general one, use the location name in the search function; smaller attractions may not be open after September 15. Rental Cars
Most of the national car rental companies do business in Alaska.
Many destinations on the Alaska road system are also accessible by air transportation. Alaska Airlines, the major air carrier into and around larger Alaskan cities, offers a travel discount for WMA Conference attendees flying into or around the state. Use the Conference Rate number from your registration packet when making reservations. Regional air carriers serve smaller Alaskan communities.
The Alaska Railroad runs two primary passenger services
during the summer season. North of Anchorage, the Denali Star
operates daily between Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Talkeetna
and Anchorage. To the south, the Coastal Classic operates daily
between Anchorage and Whittier or Seward. The area between Cook Inlet on the west and the Chugach Mountains on the east is called the Anchorage Bowl. It includes almost everything within the city limits. Some of these destinations are accessible by the Anchorage’s People Mover City mass transit system (www.muni.org), others need a private car. Anchorage Museums It you missed any of the receptions or Saturday’s museum shuttle, check out these museums:
Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery Some of Anchorage’s most notable citizens are buried in the downtown cemetery. The headstones can be quite interesting, especially the whale rib bones that mark the graves of Alaskan Native whaling captains. Oomingmak This Alaska Native co-operative makes and markets Qiviut (pronounced "kiv-ee-ute") knit products. Qiviut is the downy-soft underwool from the Arctic musk ox; it’s eight times warmer than wool and extraordinarily lightweight. You can also visit the Musk Ox Farm, you’ll find details in the NORTH OUT OF ANCHORAGE: PALMER SECTION. Westchester Lagoon Built in the early 1970’s by slowing Chester Creek as it flows into Cook Inlet, Westchester Lagoon is a favorite recreational. You’ll see walkers, roller bladders and more against a backdrop of the 13,000 foot tall Chugach Mountains or walk towards Cook Inlet and pass under the Alaska Railroad tracks and onto the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail The Coastal Trail is a paved multi-use trail that hugs the coastlines of Knik Arm and Cook Inlet from 2nd Avenue in downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park 10+ miles away. Starting from downtown, you can walk past Elderberry Park and the Oscar Anderson House (Anchorage’s only house museum, see Anchorage Museums above). About 2 miles from downtown, the trail meets Westchester Lagoon (above). Along the way you can see views of Knik Arm, Mt. Susitna and Fire Island. Alaska Botanical Garden The Alaska Botanical Garden has 110 acres showcasing northern horticulture and native plants in a spruce and birch forest. Alaska Zoo If there’s a specific Alaskan animal you’re hoping to see, the Alaska Zoo may be your safest bet. In addition to some impressive exotic animals, the Zoo has a wonderful range of Alaskan native species: fox, bear, dall sheep, seal, moose, musk ox, reindeer and wolves. Call for a free shuttle ride from your hotel. Wild Berry Theater & Park Stroll the Wild Berry trail, pet the reindeer, see the film “Alaska: The Land Beyond”, or take a photo with the 20-foot stone Inukshuk statue. Call for a free shuttle ride from your hotel. Kincaid Park www.alaskazoo.org Accessible west at the end of Raspberry Road or via the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, Kincaid Park has 43 miles of maintained trails throughout 1,400 acres. Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary This no-fee 2,300-acre protected wetland, just south of the city, has a 1,550-foot board walk with interpretive signs that lets you access the wetland without disturbing birds such as the Pacific Loon, American Wigeon, Canada Goose, Goldeneye Species, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Wandering Tattler and more. Flattop Mountain & Powerline Pass
Trail Flattop Mountain Don’t panic if you haven’t packed your hiking boots, you can enjoy parts of this area in comfortable street shoes. Check out the awesome view of the Anchorage bowl from the parking lot lookout (at 2300 feet above sea level). Most folks can manage the first part of the trail to Blueberry Hill; hardy souls can walk all or part of the Flat Top trail (hiking boots definitely recommended for the final climb!). There’s a Flattop Mountain Shuttle from downtown to the trailhead and back for $22 per person. Check www.alaska-bike-rentals.com for more information.
Accessed from the Flattop Mountain parking lot (above), the Powerline Pass Trail is an old service road used to access a power line as it crosses over the Chugach Mountains. It’s an easy walk even in street shoes and the scenery along the road is very beautiful. You’ll share the trail with other hikers and mountain bikers and hopefully see some moose, dall sheep or bear. Far North Bicentennial Park Drive east on Tudor, right onto Campbell Airstrip Rd.; park .75 mile in for lower sections, 1.5 miles in for the Spencer Loop and upper sections. Far North Bicentennial Park encompasses 4000 acres of wilderness in the Anchorage Bowl. The lower parking lot accesses flat land while trails run along creeks and through forests.
Thunderbird Falls is a short one mile hike through a birch forest just off the Glenn Highway. The last part of the trail is a boardwalk ending at a viewing platform facing Thunderbird Falls.
The Eklutna Village site has been inhabited by the Dena'ina Athabascan Indians since about 1650. You can learn about their traditional lifestyle and visit the Eklutna Cemetery, known for its colorfully decorated burial or "spirit houses." Eagle River Nature Center The Eagle River Nature Center is a beautiful state park at the back of Eagle River Valley. You can take a short, self-guided nature trail to a viewing platform built into the river and a beaver pond. Other trails are longer and have great mountain views. The general terrain is mostly flat; most everyone can navigate some part of the park. PALMER www.cityofpalmer.org Palmer began in 1916 as a railway station on the Matanuska branch of the Alaska Railroad. In 1935, the Emergency Relief Administration established the Matanuska Colony. Palmer is also home to the southcentral Alaska State Fair, home of the world famous giant cabbage contest. Winners top 75 pounds. Colony House Museum The Matanuska Colony, the largest New Deal Resettlement project, involved moving 204 families from the Midwest to the Matanuska Valley to establish a farming community. This restored original Colony house and outbuildings display rural life in the Matanuska Valley during the Colony’s heyday. Palmer Museum The Palmer Museums displays items from early Palmer days with objects donated by the original colony families. Muskox Farm The Muskox Farm is dedicated to the development and domestication of musk ox, for the purpose of providing additional subsistence income opportunities for Alaska’s Native people. Oomingmak (above in the ANCHORAGE BOWL section and www.qiviut.com) markets Alaska Native knit qiviut items. The Dorothy Page Museum preserves the area’s regional history of mining, homesteading, Iditarod Trail and dog mushing.
Located on the world-famous Iditarod Trail and housed in one of the two remaining buildings from Knik's original townsite, the Knik Museum features the Sled Dog Musher's Hall of Fame on the second floor. This museum may be closed for the winter months.
MATI was established to exhibit historical transportation and industrial remnants; it tells the stories of the people and the machines that opened Alaska to exploration and growth.
Located in the Hatcher Pass area, Independence Mine was originally the Alaska Free Gold Mine on Skyscraper Mountain, and Independence Mine on Granite Mountain. The two mines merged in 1938 to become the largest gold producer in the Willow Creek Mining District, covering more than 1,350 acres. Independence Mine entered the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. 271 acres were donated to the State of Alaska as an historic park.
Talkeetna is a wonderfully “rustic” Alaskan community filled with Alaskan history. Its air strip is the unofficial jumping off point for climbers attempting to summit Mt. McKinley, North America’s highest peak. Talkeetna Historical Society Museum The Museum staff will start you on a walking tour that guides you through the Museum and several historic railroad depot buildings. A highlight is a room-size model of the Alaska Mountain Range including Mr. McKinley. TRAPPER CREEK Trapper Creek, Alaska, lies between mile 107 and 133 of the George Parks Highway, in the Mat-Su Borough. Trapper Creek is separated from Talkeetna by the big Susitna River. It's a 31-mile road trip to Talkeetna, which is four miles away by air. Federal homesteading began in 1948 and in 1959, the "Fifty-Niners," a group of settlers from Detroit, Michigan, moved to Talkeetna and then on to Trapper Creek to find homesteads. Trapper Creek Museum Take a fanciful journey back to the time of Alaska's earliest pioneers amidst many artifacts, pictures and stories depicting the rugged life of local gold miners, fur trappers, homesteaders and other adventurers VALDEZ During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-98, prospectors came to Valdez believing the Copper River and Valdez Glacier to be the entry to the interior gold fields. From 1910 to 1916, copper and gold mining flourished in the area. In the early 1970's, Valdez became the staging area for work on the lower portion of the Trans Alaska Pipeline. Today, Valdez hosts the Valdez Marine Terminal, which is the southernmost end of the 800-mile pipeline. Maxine and Jesse Whitney Museum Maxine & Jesse Whitney donated their extensive private collection of Alaska Native art and artifacts to the Prince William Sound Community College in 1998. Valdez Museum & Historical Archive The Valdez Museum & Historical Archive brings Valdez’s history come alive through programs and activities. There are two exhibit locations: The Valdez Museum at 217 Egan Drive and Remembering Old Valdez on the waterfront at 436 S. Hazelet.
One of Alaska’s most popular destinations, Denali National Park and Preserve is six million acres of pristine wilderness. Denali, at 20,320 feet, dominates the park when visible. The varied terrain includes crystal clear rivers, mountain lakes, expansive tundra, alpine meadows, sweeping vistas and abundant wildlife. FAIRBANKS Museum of the North www.uaf.edu/museum This collection explores 2000 years of traditional and modern Alaskan art and artifacts. Galleries focus on the major geographic regions and highlights artifacts from Alaska’s First People. Many fine examples of fine art by Alaskan painters are on display. Pioneer Air Museum Celebrated as the farthest north Air Museum in the United States, this museum displays actual aircraft and one of the largest piston engine displays ever assembled. Wickersham House Museum Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this small house museum celebrates the life of Judge James Wickersham, an early proponent of Alaska statehood. The museum is filled with authentic furnishings of the first decade of this century and photographic displays. Pioneer Museum located in Pioneer Park Sponsored by the Pioneers of Alaska organization, this museum displays mining tools, telegraphic items, examples of early transportation and handmade tools and appliances.
This no-fee 2,300-acre protected wetland, just south of the city, has a 1,550-foot board walk with interpretive signs that lets you access the wetland without disturbing birds such as the Pacific Loon, American Wigeon, Canada Goose, Goldeneye Species, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Wandering Tattler and more. Big Game Alaska Wildlife Center The 140-acre facility educates visitors about Alaska wildlife. You might see a Siberian boar, moose, caribou, Sitka black-tailed deer, eagles and musk ox.
Just 40 miles south of Anchorage, Girdwood is the end of a beautiful drive around the breathtaking Turnagain Arm. Girdwood includes Mt. Alyeska, Alaska’s only year-round resort. On the way you can watch for mountain sheep, eagles and Beluga whales. Girdwood offers restaurants, a book store, and the Kobuk Valley Jade Company.
Here’s your chance to pan for Alaskan gold! The site also includes historical buildings. Alyeska Ski Resort There’s plenty to do during this summer at this year round resort: miles of beautiful hiking, walking and hiking trails, the Alyeska Tramway and an 18 hole golf course.
Originally a military base with the world’s most northerly deep water ice-free port, Whittier is accessible by air, state ferry or a 2.5 mile one-way, alternating traffic drive through a mountain tunnel. Prince William Sound Gateway Museum Created in 2005, Whittier’s first historic museum shows items from Whittier’s unique Alaska military history. HOPE AND SUNRISE
Before Anchorage even existed, Hope had a population of 3000 during a short lived gold rush. As the story goes, Hope City got its name when the miners decided to name the town after the next person off the boat --and that was 17 year old prospector Percy Hope. Today, Hope lives on as Southcentral Alaska’s best preserved gold rush community. Sunrise City was named after the way the morning sun disappeared behind the mountains and made a second and third 'sunrise'. Sunrise’s last buildings disappeared in the 1964 Earthquake. Hope & Sunrise Historical & Mining
Museum The exhibits recall the Turnagain Arm Gold Rush of 1896-1899 and Hope's quiet maturity.
Located 125 miles south of Anchorage, the small coastal town of Seward is known for its scenic views, numerous visitor attractions, and as the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park. Exit Glacier www.nps.gov/kefj/planyourvisit/exit-glacier.htm Just 10 to 15-minute drive before the town of Seward, you can hike right up to Exit Glacier and feel the dense blue ice while listening to it crackles. Walk the lower trail (a gentle half mile) to get a good photo in front of the glacier face. The trail also provides access for people with disabilities. Alaska SeaLife Center www.alaskasealife.org
The Alaska SeaLife Center is dedicated to understanding and maintaining the integrity of the marine ecosystem of Alaska through research, rehabilitation and public education. Chugach Repository & Museum
Qutekcak Culture Center 907-224-3118 This growing museum features small display, focusing primarily on sharing Alaska Native culture through drumming and dancing events. Resurrection Bay Historical Society The museum presents Seward's history through photographs, artifacts and documents. There is also a fine collection of Native baskets and ivory carvings on display. During the summer there are two evening programs: The History of Seward and The History of the Iditarod Trail.
The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for the Cook Inlet and translates to "flat, barren land". Archaeological evidence suggests that the area was first occupied by the Kachemak people from about 3000 years ago until they were displaced by the Dena’ina Athabascan people around 1000 years ago. Challenger Learning Center of Alaska Alaska’s only Challenger Center is tasked with creating positive learning experiences and raising students’ expectations of success in mathematics, science, and technology. K’Beq Interpretive Site: Kenaitze
Indian Tribe At K’beq, Dena’ina Athabascans share their traditions and culture with visitors through interpretive walks featuring archaeological sites and traditional plant use. Explore Dena’ina culture by viewing artifacts over 500 years old, their story told by descendants of those who made and used them.
The Visitor’s Center houses museum exhibits and traveling art exhibits. Exhibits feature Athabascan, Aleut and Russian cultural exhibits, homesteading, mining, commercial fishing, and oil industry history displays, and a natural history room with mammal, bird and fish exhibits.
Homer is truly “the end of the road”. Just 225 scenic miles from Anchorage, the road to Homer is open year-round. The highway ends at the 4.5 mile Homer Spit and all you can see is Katchemak Bay. Pratt Museum The Museum's exhibits feature a wide range of Homer subjects and time periods. Foremost is "Darkened Waters," a nationally acclaimed and thought-provoking exploration of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The Museum’s quilt collection is heralded as one of the finest in Alaska. Each year more than two dozen quilters create two thematic quilts. One quilt remains in the museum's permanent collection and the other is raffled to a lucky museum visitor. Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center offers a window into the world of seabirds and other marine animals, as well as their island and ocean habitats. Stroll through exhibits inside and explore interpretive trails on the center's sixty-acre site.
Referred to as “Alaska’s Emerald Isle”, Kodiak has a rich maritime climate. The areas Alutiiq people were challenged by Russian colonization in the mid-1700s and Kodiak became the first capital of Russian America. It became a major staging area for North Pacific operations during World War II. After the war, Kodiak focused on the burgeoning fishing industry but was dealt a terrible blow on March 27, 1964 when a massive earthquake rocked Southcentral Alaska. The earthquake triggered a series of tsunamis; the largest wave crested at 35 feet above mean low tide, destroying many Native villages and much of downtown Kodiak. Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository This collection focuses on the prehistoric and historic traditions of the Alutiiq people, their language and culture.
Explore Kodiak's rich history, from Alutiiq culture and the Russian colonial period to the early American era, WWII and the present day. The Baranov Museum is located in Kodiak's 200-year-old National Historic Landmark building known as the Erskine House or the Russian American Magazine. Kodiak Military History Museum About 5.5 miles westbound on Rezanof Drive to the
park entrance then another half mile into the park. The museum is open anytime for vets or groups by
appointment. Call 907-486-7015 8:30 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00
weekdays. June through August hours are 1-4 PM Friday through
Monday. May and September regular open hours are 1:00 to 4:00
PM Saturdays and Sundays. |