Northland Wood

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 Oscar Henderson House Museum has the distinction of being Anchorage's only historic house museum. The structure was built in 1915 by Oscar Henderson, one of the city's earliest residents, and the house has withstood the changing times in a city that has undergone staggering sprawling growth from the time that this home was originally built. Inside, you'll find an amazing collection of vintage furniture, photographs, books and other pieces that have been meticulously cared for and all help recreate a time that is still very much alive when you visit this quaint but significant structure.

The Thunderbird Falls Trail is a relatively easy, 1.6 mile recreational hike through rolling terrain and a birch forest that leads to a viewing platform of the 200-foot-high Thunderbird Falls. This is an excellent choice for the novice hiker or if you want to enjoy a good hike but don't have an entire day to do it.

There's lots of fun and recreation to be had indoors at Center Bowl, also known as Thunder Alley. Join your friends for a few frames in this state-of-the-art-bowling facility that offers a great place to improve your game; the kids will love the game room and you can take a break yourself by shooting pool or enjoying a snack and a beverage at the well-stocked concession counter.