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SEE ANCHORAGE

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Table of Contents:
 SCENERY
WILDLIFE
OTHER ANCHORAGE SIGHTS

You will see Anchorage is so close to wilderness and wildlife.

Anchorage is a well-kept secret. A majority of people visit Alaska on cruise ships that do not come within 500 miles of Anchorage. Or worse, the cruises “to Anchorage” where the cruise lines whisk them off to their “rustic lodges” in the wilderness. Here they are a captive audience having very little freedom to see Alaska on their own.

The only part of Anchorage they see is the airport.

Being a traveler, you will go to Alaska on your terms and see the scenery and potential wildlife sightings. You will immerse yourself in the 49th state.

Anchorage is a great place to start. By foot, car, bus, train, or plane. From Whittier or Homer, you can access the car-ferries of the Alaska State Ferry System. These ferries travel more than 3500 miles from Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands, to Bellingham, Washington, north of Seattle. Several of the mainline ships can take motorhomes with prior arrangements.

Accommodations are not luxurious, but they get you to where you want to go.
The Alaska ferries go to the major towns but also places bigger ships can’t fit.

Rooms onboard are limited and sell out months in advance, especially for summer sailings.

Now, let’s see Anchorage.

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See Anchorage Scenery

The first reason you go to Alaska is the scenery. Six hundred sixty-three thousand two hundred sixty-eight square miles of it from the top of the highest mountain in North America to sea level. There are Alpine Meadows, National forests, ice fields, tundra, and more.

Alaska may have more than 100,000 glaciers. Of these, 616 officially have names. Depending on the glacier, you can walk or ride in a dogsled on them. Fly over them by helicopter or plane. Or see them by boat or cruise ship. There are 60 glaciers within 50 miles of Anchorage.
The Glenn Highway runs 183 miles from Anchorage to the Richardson Highway (AlCan) Highway.
The Glenn scenic By-way follows the Matanuska River valley and passes glaciers.

 

Once while in Alaska, get up where you can look down and start to understand the scope and width of this wonderland.
Views of Turnagain Arm from the Alyeska Tram.

 

Not far from the city but 1000 miles from civilization which is sometimes,a great place to be.
Rabbit Creek Trail is just one of many hikes near Anchorage.

 

With more than 3 million lakes, where will you start exploring Alaska lakes?
Kenai Lake in Chugach National Forest.

 

The Portage, Girdwood area has much to see.
Crow Creek Historic Gold Mine near Portage, south of Anchorage.

 

A healthy hike will bring you near the Exit Glacier.
Exit Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward,

 

There are seven types of glacier as well as ice aprons, sheets and fields.
The Byron Glacier near Alyeska.

 

Like I said, there are 60 glaciers just in the area near Anchorage.
The Portage Glacier from Portage Pass, near Whittier.

 

You can see Anchorage is surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Potter Marsh is 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage.

 

See Anchorage, but also see the rest of Alaska.
Mt Denali (formerly McKinley) is approximately an hour’s flight from Anchorage.

As you can see, Anchorage has a lot of striking scenery in its back yard. It also has transportation to take you to see the landscape further away.

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See Anchorage Wildlife

Pictures do not do justice to these magnificent creatures.
Bald Headed Eagles are everywhere near water.

 

Black bears are also scavengers and like to go through peoples garbage. Whatever the bear wants...
It is not unusual to see Black bears just outside of town. Always stay away from the cubs.

 

They rescue animals that have been hurt or abandoned by their mothers.
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a great place to see wildlife and a great cause to support.

 

Seeing the animals in a natural setting is so much better than a zoo.
At the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, as close as I want to get to a Grizzly.

 

A chance to learn and ask questions from experts.
Seward’s SeaLife Center is also a learning center. A great view of Alaska marine life.

 

It is an excellent research and teaching environment.
The Sealife Center is excellent for all ages.

 

The Sealife Center overlooks Resurrection Bay, gateway to Kenai National Park.
Then cruise the Kenai National Park to see marine life in the wild.

The Alaska Railroad offers summer tours from Anchorage. Programs include a visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Alaska SeaLife Center, or a marine life cruise.

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See Anchorage’s Other Sites

Anchorage has several fascinating museums and lots of green space.

 

The clean crisp air makes for great sunsets.
And don’t miss an Anchorage sunset.

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