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!
The Anchorage Folk Festival is held every January and is an impressive showcase for local, regional and national talent. Folk songs often tell the tale of the triumph of the human spirit, and nearly everyone in Anchorage and the surrounding areas can relate to overcoming challenges to find a better way of life. In addition to performances on the main stage, there are also interesting workshops, dances and late night jams on the schedule of events.
The Eagle River Nature Center knows that nature doesn't take a break, so they don't either. The center is open year-round, so there is always something interesting happening. Take advantage of their schedule of guided nature walks, lectures and special presentations that are designed to educate visitors about Alaska's unique ecology. The main building features several exhibits and hands-on activities that are designed to tell several of nature's stories. You can plan to spend several days outdoors here, as there is great hiking available on the nearby trails and cabin rentals available as well.
The Phillips 26 Glacier Tour is nearly as formidable and impressive as a glacier itself. This incredible seven-hour tour allows you to get really up close and enjoy views that you may not get on any other tour. The tour travels over 135 miles into Prince William Sound where you will see 26 named glaciers as well as many more unnamed ones. You encounter these glaciers from the vantage point of a three-deck catamaran which allows you to cover many miles of scenery on this incredible, unforgettable tour.