Anchorage Attractions
Anchorage Attractions
 | Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum 4721 Aircraft Drive Anchorage, AK • 907-248-5352 This aviation museum is a neat stop, especially for history buffs and those who want to strap themselves into the cockpit of a fully functional flight simulator. The museum maintains more than 25 aircraft, ranging from a 1942 Douglas World Cruiser "Seattle" to a 1943 PBY 5A Catalina Canso to a 1960 UH-I H Iroquois helicopter. Alaska Airlines even donated a 1981 Boeing 737-290C to the facility. You can also watch volunteers at Restoration Hangar as they restore a 1931 American Pilgrim N709Y; the goal is to make it flight-worthy. Cost: $10, adults; $8, seniors and students; $6, ages 5 through 12; free for kids under 4. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Alaska Botanical Garden 4601 Campbell Airstrip Road Anchorage, AK • 907-770-3692 A fantastic place to take in the beauty of both cultivated gardens and forest trails, there are six gardens -- entrance garden, three perennial displays, an herb garden and a rock garden -- as well as a wildflower trail and the 1.1-mile Lowenfels Family Nature Trail. The site features 150 native plants and more than 1,100 species of perennials. For kids ages four to nine, borrow a "Discovery Duffel" from a nursery staff member upon entering the garden. The bag is stuffed with activities and books that guide families through the exhibits. As an added bonus, this is a perfect spot for a family photo for next year's holiday greeting card. Cost: $5 per person; free for kids under 2. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Alaska Native Heritage Center 8800 Heritage Center Drive Anchorage, AK • 907-330-8000 Like so many other parts of the United States, Anchorage is a mix of cultures and many of them come together at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Your family will visit six native villages on Lake Tiulana that illustrate how the Athabascan, Inupiaq/St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Yup'ik/Cup'ik, Aleut, Alutiiq, and the Eyak, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian tribes once lived in this area. The Center also showcases native dance, indigenous crafts, and storytelling. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Alaska SeaLife Center 301 Railway Avenue Seward, AK • 907-224-6300 If you'd love to get acquainted with Gulf of Alaska marine life but just the thought of getting on a boat makes you seasick, head to the Alaska SeaLife Center instead. Located 125 miles south of Anchorage at Milepost 0 of the Seward Highway, the center is home to sea lions, seals, seabirds, and more. The Marine Mammals Family Program, for $15 apiece, is a private one-hour interactive presentation that introduces children to the marine mammals that live in Alaskan waters. Do your kids prefer getting up close and personal with animals? Consider one of the by-reservation-only animal encounters with puffins, seals, and octopus. (An extra fee applies.) Cost: $20, adults; $17 students (12 through 17); $10, ages 4 to 11; free for kids under 3. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Alaska Zoo 4731 O'Malley Road Anchorage, AK • 907-346-3242 Many of the animals living at this 26-acre wildlife rehabilitation complex were nursed back to health here after being found injured or abandoned. While the attraction once included two elephants, the focus is now on native species and others that do well in the Alaskan climate. It's an excellent place to introduce small children to wildlife. Current exhibits include snow leopard, polar bear, Amur tiger, black and brown beers, Tibetan yak, Sitka black-tailed deer, wolverines, Dall sheep, reindeer, and much more. There's also a nice petting zoo. Cost: $12, adults; $9, seniors; $6, ages 3 through 17; free for kids under age 2. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Anchorage Museum 625 C Street Anchorage, AK • 907-929-9200 When you visit this museum at Rasmuson Center, there's no doubt that you're in a vital city with world-class venues for the appreciation of history and art. The gleaming four-floor glass-and-steel structure in downtown Anchorage holds over 20 exhibits and offers all kinds of art classes and lectures throughout the year. In addition to permanent exhibits, the museum is known for presenting special installations, like 2010's "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination" that featured film memorabilia, special videos, and interactive exhibits. Don't miss the 48-seat Thomas Planetarium. Cost: $10, adults; $8, seniors and students; free for children 17 and under (a $2 donation is suggested). Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Denali National Park & Reserve Alaska Route 3 Denali, AK • 907-683-2294 On a clear day you can see the 20,320-foot Mount McKinley from Anchorage. You'll want to get closer than that though, so make the four-hour drive north to Denali National Park & Reserve, home of America's highest peak. Here you can drive the 92-miles of Park Road to view wildlife ranging from grizzly bears to wolves and Dall sheep to caribou. You can also backpack, camp, and mountain climb. Ranger-led tours are available as is a special Junior Ranger Program, which enlists children to complete a variety of educational tasks during their visit. Cost: $10 per person or $20 per vehicle for a seven-day pass. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Eagle River Nature Center 32750 Eagle River Road Eagle River, AK • 907-694-2108 Anchorage lies at the foothills of the Chugach Mountains and it's just a 40-minute drive northeast to Chugach State Park and the Eagle River Nature Center. Start at the log cabin visitor center, where you'll get the lay of the land -- literally. Guides will tell you about the hiking trails and point you toward recent wildlife sightings and viewing platforms. Trails include everything from a short introductory loop to an aggressive 26-mile route through the park. There's a free Junior Naturalist Program for kids in K through 6th grade and a Kneehigh Naturalist Program for children ages 3 through 5. Cost: $5 parking fee per vehicle. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | H2Oasis Water Park 1520 O'Malley Road Anchorage, AK • 907-522-4420 You probably aren't going all the way to Alaska to spend time indoors, but kids of all ages will beg to spend a few hours at this indoor water park that's billed as "a tropical island in the last frontier." Daredevils are drawn to the Master Blaster uphill water coaster, wave pool, water cannons, body slide, and flume. More tame pursuits include the lazy river, water drop fountain, and children's lagoon and pirate ship. Visiting in the winter? Have no fear. The water park's air temperature always hovers around 86 degrees with water at a feel-good 80 degrees. An on-site snack bar serves pizza, hamburgers and hotdogs, salads, and more. Cost: $23.99, adults; $18.99, ages 3 through 12; free for children under 2. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race Fourth Avenue Anchorage, AK • 907-248-6874 The Iditarod is an annual test of endurance where man and canine throw their lots together to battle Mother Nature on a 1,150-mile race across Alaska, from Anchorage to Nome. The race hosts a ceremonial kick off on Fourth Avenue in downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March. You'll cheer on teams of mushers and sled dogs that must fight below-zero temperatures, snowstorms, bitterly cold wind, and more in their quest for glory. Cost: free. Best For: Kids (3-6)•Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
 | Portage Glacier Anchorage, AK • 907-783-2326 Part of Alaska's allure are her spectacular glaciers, so don't miss the opportunity to drive 50 miles southeast of Anchorage to Portage Glacier in the Chugach National Forest on the Kenai Peninsula. The six-mile-long glacier is retreating from Lake Portage so to get close to the face it's necessary to board sightseeing boat m/v Ptarmigan. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center offers educational tours with park rangers as well as exhibits and the movie, Voices from the Ice. Cost: $3, adults; free for children 15 and under. Best For: Kids (7-9)•Tweens (10-12)•Teens (13+) |
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