Hackney & Hackney

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!

Enjoy Anchorage's crisp weather by taking the family for a picnic and an afternoon of fun at Valley of the Moon Park. This is one of the city's most popular and well-used recreation areas that features excellent spots to have a picnic, inviting play areas, open fields and the city's tallest play structure, boasting a climbing tower that looks like a castle. The playground also features two slides, lots of swings, a large soccer field, a walking path and lots more. You and the kids will absolutely love this Anchorage attraction.

One of the state's most popular events is the Great Alaska Beer and Barley Wine Festival, held every January. This year, the festival marks its 15 year anniversary, and it brings together not only the people who enjoy imbibing but also the people who create the beers, wines, and other assorted beverages. Demonstrations, lectures, exhibits, and of course, samples all make this event an extremely popular tradition.