Small Is Beautiful

If you have a motorboat, want to go jet skiing or enjoy other water sports, the Mat-Su Valley just north of Anchorage is a highly popular destination to enjoy that brand of aquatic adventure. There is also the very popular Nancy Lakes Recreation Area where you can light out on your own or perhaps take a jet boat tour of the northern and southern parts of Anchorage.

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 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.