Quartersnack Vending

Sometimes, a bird's eye view is the best way to get a look at an area as picturesque and expansive as Alaska. The Wings Aero Tours allows you to get that perspective on a flying tour of the area. Some of the many highlights include soaring over Mt. McKinley, Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords, glaciers, mountains and valleys. You'll see all of these natural wonders and more from the comfort of an Alaskan Floatplane. Don't forget to look for some of the area's incredible wildlife like Dall sheep, moose, bears, birds, marine wildlife and more among the many rivers, lakes and dense forests.

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 Fur Rendezvous Festival held in late February or early March dates back to the early 1900s when trappers and miners came back from the wilderness to trade, socialize and compete in survival-type games. The event has been updated somewhat, and now those games consist of a weight pull, sled dog races, snowshoe softball games, ice sculpture competitions and lots more. There's also the popular Miners and Trappers costume ball, so make plans to be a part of this fun, week-long event.

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.