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featuring their handicrafts and artwork, photography
studios, a restaurant, café, espresso bar, and nightclub.
Summer hours are 9 to 9 Monday through Saturday
and 11 to 6 on Sundays.
The greatest challenge to Anchorage visitors is
trying to determine which of many spectacular and
interesting activities to do first. Activities include
strolling, cycling, or rollerblading along the Tony
Knowles Coastal Trail, wildlife viewing at the Alaska
Zoo, where Alaska species and animals from other
subarctic regions are homed, touring the Alaska
Aviation Heritage Museum, fishing for rainbow
trout, arctic char and grayling, visiting the Anchorage
Museum at Rasmuson Center, Eagle River Nature
Center, Thunderbird Falls, Eklutna Historical Park
or exploring the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge,
discovering Portage Glacier or skiing at Alyeska
Resort, the state’s largest downhill ski area located
in Girdwood south of Anchorage. Youth theaters,
Anchorage Visitors Bureau the Anchorage Opera and Alaska Dance Theatre are
photo by: active and the city promotes weekly public musical
VC TRAVEL GUIDE
offerings.
Established in 1971, the Anchorage Coastal
such as Whittier, then take the highway or railway selling the fresh produce at neighborhood markets. Wildlife Refuge serves as home and/or migratory
to Anchorage from there. See the Alaska Marine The multinational atmosphere of the city extends to stopover to more than 220 species of birds. Every
Highway section of this guide for more information the amenities, with dozens of gourmet restaurants season is good for bird watching at the Refuge, but
or go to www.AlaskaFerry.com. proudly offering the cuisines of Europe and the Orient the best times for viewing migrating birds are late
The parks system within Anchorage showcases as well as traditional fare. April and early May. The Refuge is a unique blend of
some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world. The 4 Avenue Market Place, located on West 4 bird, mammal, and plant habitats in an area less than
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Virtually every aspect of Anchorage’s unique past is Avenue, between C and D Streets, hosts daily free live a mile square and offers an unequalled opportunity to
represented in the historic, cultural, or natural themes shows each summer, featuring Native performers from view many of Alaska’s bird species while surrounded
of these accessible parks. the Cook Inlet Tribal Council. Indoor and outdoor by the awe-inspiring beauty of south Anchorage’s
There are more than 135 miles of paved trails in stages provide a venue for local ensembles, musicians, Turnagain Arm.
Anchorage, many of which are lighted, as well as and storytellers, and the Alaska Experience Theater Explore Alaska’s military history at the Alaska
hundreds of backcountry treks. The grand Chugach makes its home inside the Market Place. Come dazzle Veterans Museum, which focuses on honoring the
State Park embraces the south side of the Anchorage your senses with the Alaska Experience, a 40-minute state’s servicemen and women. Every one of the five
Bowl and offers backcountry access literally minutes flyover of Alaska’s most beautiful sights. The 1964 Armed Services and the US Merchant Marines has
from downtown. Hundreds of trails cross through earthquake film provides a virtual adventure as you played a role in shaping Alaska.
wooded areas abundant with wildlife and vistas of the feel the earth move under your feet. Also, be sure to Discover the rich mixture of the area’s Russian and
Alaska Range and Denali. visit the free exhibit illustrating the devastation that Dena’ina Athabascan culture at Eklutna Historical
One of Anchorage’s more culturally diverse took place in the Good Friday Earthquake, and the Park, located at the head of the Knik Arm of Cook
neighborhoods is Mountain View, an area of new and pictorial history tour of Anchorage that runs along
rehabilitated restaurants, specialty retail store, and 4 Avenue at the mall. The largest Tlingit bear totem
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art galleries. Many Hmong mountain people from pole in downtown Anchorage stands in front of the
Thailand and Laos live in the neighborhood, and take Market Place, which provides shoppers with a variety
part in a community production gardening program, of merchants, including Russian and Native Alaskans

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