Anchorage on Cook Inlet

Anchorage is surrounded by the Chugach Mountain and is the largest city and commercial center of Alaska.

The Alaska Native Heritage Center explores the cultures of eleven Alaskan Indigenous groups. Here you can learn about the history and culture of Alaska. Six traditional dwellings surround the small Lake Tiulana. Each displays artifacts and offers various experiences. Visitors can enjoy cultural dances, games, and artist demonstrations. In the Hall of Cultures you can see local and regional artwork and a theater shows an educational film series.

The Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center has a broad range of art and historical items all of which are related to Alaska and the Arctic. The museum also features traveling exhibits from around the world.

Oscar Anderson House is the city's oldest house. It is the start of the coastal walking and biking trail stretching along the Anchorage shoreline. The trail ends at the Earthquake Park where information panels describe how the 1964 earthquake swallowed stretches of the shoreline.

The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is accessible from the heart of the city. It is an 11-mile track that stretches along the Pacific coast. It is popular for hiking, walking, and biking. In the winter you can go cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing. Along the route, you can see moose and Beluga whales. You will enjoy seeing the Chugach Mountains and the downtown skyline. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail ends at Kincaid Park with panoramic mountain views.

Chugach State Park is one of the four largest state parks in the US. The rugged terrain of mountains, rivers, lakes, and glaciers is home to wolves, moose, bears, beavers, lynx, and other wildlife. Visitors to the park enjoy hiking, skiing, and camping. The park borders the city to the est and meets the saltwater at various points along the Seward Highway.

The lands adjoining the Cugach National Forest where one of the highlights is the Portage Glacier.

The Kenai Peninsula is known for glaciers, coastal mountains, and the awesome scenery of Kenai Fjords National Park. The park centers on the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield. Visitors can enjoy walking on trails near the glacier or take a guided tour. This national park can be explored by air, boat, or on foot.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is located an hour southeast of Anchorage. It cares for injured or orphaned wildlife. Visitors can see resident animals like bison, bears, moose, owls, elks, eagles, wolves, and lynx. This is a nonprofit organization that helps to research these animals and educate the public about Alaskan wildlife. It offers classes, different programs, and tours.

Seward is located south of Anchorage at the northeast end of Resurrection Bay and is the last stop on the Seward Highway. It is a major access point to Kenai Fjords National Park. Seward is a fishing port and the terminus of the Alaska Railroad. The town was named for William H. Seward, who negotiated the purchase of Alaska. Visitors here can arrange for fishing, hunting, and sightseeing trips.

Among the main attractions in Seward is the Alaska SeaLife Center which is home to Stellar sea lions, harbor seals, and seabirds. At the center, you can see species particular to the Gulf of Alaska such as the king crab and impressive Giant Pacific octopus.

The Alaska Zoo has a variety of native wildlife species including brown bears, wolves, musk oxen, Dali sheep, and reindeer. There is also a small collection of exotic animals like Amur Tigers and Bactrian Camels. The zoo offers a wide range of events and special encounters like Zoo Lights and opportunities to feed the wolves.

Potter Marsh is the place for bird watchers. Here you can see Canadian geese, red-necked phalaropes, signet swans, and eagles in the wetlands. It is located on the edge of Seaward Highway, a short drive from Anchorage. The marsh is on the side of the Chugach Mountains with plenty of songbirds in the trees. There are winding boardwalks to hike on.