Anchorage Downtown Hotel

It doesn't matter if you want to watch the show or be in it, the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy gives you the opportunity to see or be the entertainment. If you have always aspired to learn to dance classical ballet but never knew where to start, the Academy can point you in the right direction. Whether you're a child or an adult, the company will work hard to find a place for you in one of their productions or you can just learn to dance for your own sense of accomplishment. Once the season gets underway, there are several productions that will be taking stage for you to enjoy, whether you are sitting in the audience or waiting in the wings for your cue.

When you visit Alaska, the wildlife will seem like it's everywhere! To familiarize yourself with your new surroundings, a visit to the Alaska Zoo might be in order. You'll marvel at the incredible diversity of creatures as well as how accurately they represent the animals you might encounter as you spend time in the state. The large viewing area features such popular zoo inhabitants as caribou, moose and Dall sheep grazing along together. Also, one of the zoo's most dramatic attractions is the 25-acre bear habitat where you'll see black bears, glacier bears, and brown bears, also known as grizzlies. Some of the zoo's other more notable inhabitants include a few camels, a Siberian tiger and an elephant that has the distinction of being the only one in the entire state!

Experience what it was like to pan for gold as you travel back in time to when Anchorage was the crossroads for gold rush adventurers. Maybe you'll hit the motherlode as you pan for gold in a setting that most closely resembles that of the early pioneers. It will be a fun afternoon of learning (and panning) for the whole family at Indian Valley Mine.

The Alaska Railroad Corporation is a great starting point for your journey. Alaska Railroad is the most scenic way to enjoy the 500 miles that stretch from Seward to Fairbanks up north. Buy your tickets for pre-planned tours or maybe customize your trip through your travel agent. Either way, before you get on board, check out the historic photos and other attractions and artifacts that are on display in the Depot. And don't forget to get a look outside at an authentic totem pole and a locomotive built in 1907.