Attractions
Anchorage Museum of History and Art
The world-class Museum of History and Art is the largest museum in Alaska and is one of the most visited attractions in Anchorage. The exhibits cover Alaskan history, art and culture, from Native American beginnings to American colonization.
Address: 121 West 7th Avenue
Telephone: (907) 343 4326, or 343 6173 (recorded information)
E-mail: museum@AnchorageMuseum.org
Web site: www.anchoragemuseum.org
Opening time: Daily 9am to 6pm, until 9pm on Thursdays (15 May to 15 September); Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 6pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm (16 September to 14 May). Closed Mondays.
Admission: $8 (adults), $2 donation suggested for children 17 years and under
Denali National Park and Preserve
Famous for its spectacular mountain vistas, abundant wildlife, glaciers, vast expanses of sub-arctic tundra, and North America's highest mountain, Mt McKinley, Denali National Park and Preserve is a real wilderness area that attracts millions of visitors a year. More than six million acres encompass grizzly bears, caribou, moose, Dall sheep, wolves and numerous species of birds. The main attraction is the snow-covered massif of Mt McKinley, towering 20,320ft (6,096m) above the peaks of the Alaska Range, the definitive symbol of untamed Alaska. On a clear day its twin peaks can be seen from Anchorage, 149 miles (240km) away. The Alaska Range divides the park into north and south sides, the majority of visitors accessing the north where the main visitors center is located. Mountaineers seeking out the challenges of Mt McKinley need to access the park from the south side, and other peaks offer excellent climbing opportunities for those not wishing to risk the mountain that affords one of the world's most difficult climbs. The park region also offers a wide variety of activities including day hikes or backcountry hiking, camping, mountain biking, white-water rafting and ice climbing. Early June or late September is the best time to avoid the crowds.
Telephone: (907) 683 2294 (park headquarters)
Web site: www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
Transport: Denali is five hours by road from Anchorage; several buses and vans run a daily service to Fairbanks via Denali from Anchorage. Parks Highway Express leaves from the Anchorage Youth Hostel. The Alaska Railroad train leaves daily at 8.15am
Openingtime: Open daily, year-round. The Visitor Center is open 10am to 4pm daily (mid-September to May), 9am to 5pm (15-27 May), 9am to 9pm (28 May to 15 September)
Admission: $10 per person or $20 per family, valid for seven days
