Optional Saturday Afternoon tours:
We have a number of potential tours to host. But before we make arrangements for these, we’d like some feedback. If you’re interested in attending one of the following tours, please email Mariecris Gatlabayan with the tour name and how many people would be going with you. Please note that we can provide transportation for only a very few people: we won’t have shuttles for these tours. So if you’re renting a car, you may be called upon to help out with carpooling! You can reach Mariecris at: afmg4
Alaska Native Hospital
Arguably the finest collection of Alaska Native art in Anchorage exhibited in their public spaces. Well worth the visit.
Alaskan Air Defense Sector on Elmendorf AFB: Receive a behind the scenes tour at this 24 hour joint American and Canadian Air Force operations centre responsible for maintaining the air sovereignty of Alaska’s North American Air Defense Region. The sector not only does surveillance and identification of all aircraft flying within the region, but it also scrambles and directs the F-15 fighters to intercept unknown aircraft. Lately these intercepts have included escorting Russian bear bombers away from our air space. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THIS TOUR PLEASE EMAIL MARIECRIS BY THURSDAY, MAY 22nd.
Anchorage Historic Properties: Anchorage is a city with a short, but colorful past. This hour-long stroll will introduce you to the area that was, and still is, downtown Anchorage, and the first residential district. Along the way we'll consider Anchorage's beginnings, a few architectural highlights, and some of the cast of characters. Please e-mail Mariecris Gatlabayan in advance if you'd be interested in attending this tour on Saturday afternoon. The distance of the tour is approximately 12.5 blocks, including a couple of short inclines.
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center: details forthcoming
Alaska Heritage Museum at Wells Fargo:
The Alaska Heritage Museum at Wells Fargo displays an outstanding collection of over 900 Alaska Native artifacts and fine art by Alaskan artists. The collection includes prehistoric artifacts, carved ivory, a large basket collection and examples of traditional Native clothing. A 46 Troy ounce gold nugget celebrates Alaska’s mining heritage. www.wellsfargohistory.com choose MUSEUMS, then ALASKA
Bird-spotting at Potter Marsh:
A lot of migratory waterfowl stop over—and even stay—at Potter Marsh this time of year. Sandpipers, ducks, and various gulls. And of course moose for the non-bird inclined. We’re even told that an occasional fox, lynx, or coyote can be seen in the area. We can’t promise because our charismatic megafauna aren’t predictable, but it is a nice little outing on the south side of town.
Fauna-spotting at the Alaska Botanical Garden:
Wondering what all those purple flowers are or if you should worry about having landed in those spiky bushes? The Botanical Garden has great examples of plants native to the area without having to bushwhack through Devil’s Club.
Hiking at McHugh Creek Day Use Area:
Located just south of Anchorage at mile 112 of the Seward Highway, McHugh Creek provides stunning views of the Kenai Mountains and Turnagain Arm. Set along a picturesque creek this picnic area also serves as the start to many trails paralleling the Seward Highway. Moose calves with their mothers can be a common sight in spring and it also serves as a good spot to view Beluga whales and the bore tide.
Moose-spotting at Kincaid Park:
Okay, so we can’t promise moose. And for all the times we’ve gone to Kincaid Park and seen none just to find one eating our maple trees in the front yard when we get back home, the Park still has the best chances in the Anchorage bowl for meeting up with these guys. And the Park has a lot of great walking/biking/hiking trails anyhow.
Public Art tour: details forthcoming
Salmon-spotting at Ship Creek:
When people talk about combat fishing, this is one of those places. Ship Creek has regular salmon runs and people on their lunch breaks from downtown offices seeing what they can nab.
True Crime Tour of Anchorage:
From strip joints to Spenard (is that redundant?) we can show some of the places related to some of Anchorage’s most notorious crimes.
Walking the Coastal Trail:
Not quite the hiking of McHugh Creek, but a nice paved walkway along the Inlet from downtown out to Kincaid Park, passing through Earthquake Park and by the airport. Do a piece of it, do the long edition, maybe even rent bicycles for it too.
Walking Westchester Lagoon
One of our favorite small walks in town, you can see a lot of waterfowl, connect to the Coastal Trail, or maybe even spot our resident river otter.