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 Anchorage Museum gathers together some of Alaska's most dramatic traditions and transforms them into exhibits and attractions that allow them to come alive in various multi-dimensional presentations. One of the museum's galleries features 600 Alaska Native artifacts that are on loan from the Smithsonian Institution. Some of these items include ceremonial masks, battle armor and waterproof clothing made from the intestines of a seal. The museum features 80 exhibits that include an aurora machine, a marine animal touch tank and the very popular earthquake shake table. New additions include a planetarium and an Alaska Native contemporary art gallery.
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail was named for the Anchorage mayor and Alaska governor. This trail extends for ten miles from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park. The paved thoroughfare is popular with all kinds of outdoorsmen and athletic-types like in-line skaters, bikers, and walkers. The section of the trail that stretches through Westchester Lagoon is tagged as the "fitness trail" and features chin-up bars, steps and other items that encourage cross training among the trail's visitors. Also, the trail is not without its natural beauty, as moose, whales and birds can be seen from several vantage points.