AAA Traveler - Summer 2015 - 19

ANCHORAGE
Alaska's largest city is a popular launching point for
visitors to the state. Outdoor enthusiasts head to
Anchorage's outfitters for fleece jackets and the other
gear they'll need for wilderness treks. Those eager to
learn about Alaska's history and culture begin with
an overview at the Anchorage Museum.
Exhibitions at the Anchorage Museum range from
ancient Alaska Native fishing gear to 18th-century
Russian religious icons and 19th-century gold mining
equipment. Beyond the museum's historical displays
are a large collection of rotating crafts and artwork.
Prehistoric and contemporary, crafted from natural
materials like sealskin or of modern art glass, all of
them represent the people and places that make up
Alaska.
Anchorage makes a good base for exploring
Chugach State Park as well. The third-largest state
park in the United States, Chugach contains 5,000foot mountain peaks and nearly half a million acres
of wilderness to explore via mountain bikes or hiking
boots. Just west of Anchorage, salmon thrive in the
deep blue waters of the Cook Inlet. It's easy to find
yourself surrounded in Alaska's untamed beauty just
30 minutes from Anchorage.

TALKEETNA
The purple-gray peaks of the Chugach Range fill
the eastern horizon, stretching 200 miles toward
Canada, as Route 1 makes its way to the Parks Highway, Route 3, just outside of Wasilla. A broad, open
expanse stretches ahead, a vast plain book-ended by
the snow-capped Chugach Mountains to the southeast and the Alaska Range to the north.
You'll know you've arrived in the funky village of
Talkeetna when you catch sight of the hand-painted
sign, "Welcome to Beautiful Downtown Talkeetna."
A carefree, creative spirit permeates this town, once a
supply center for gold miners. These days Talkeetna
serves as a gateway to Denali National Park, catering
to mountain climbers and serving as home base for
flight-seeing trips over Mount McKinley. Fill up on
Alaska salmon and an abundance of locally-grown
produce-the surrounding Mat-Su Valley is among

the most agriculturally rich in Alaska-before journeying to Fairbanks.

FAIRBANKS
Once a major supply center for gold miners, Fairbanks is today home to Army and Air Force bases
and is a major dog-mushing center.
The highlight of a visit to Alaska's second-largest
city is a stop at the Museum of the North. Affiliated
with the University of Alaska and generally considered one of the finest in the state, the Museum of the
North occupies a swooping white building reminiscent of glaciers. Inside, collections focus on Alaska
art, history and science. Head to the Rose Berry
Alaska Art Gallery for 2,000 years of artworks ranging from ancient carved ceremonial pieces to contemporary portraits. Visit the Gallery of Alaska to learn
about the wildlife and people of Alaska (and get your
picture taken in front of Otto, the taxidermied 8'9"
brown bear guarding the entrance.)

BY RAIL TO SEWARD
With soaring mountain peaks and gushing waterfalls
at every turn, there's plenty to keep a driver from
wishing he weren't driving. A trip on the Alaska
Railroad guarantees that everyone in the car has an
opportunity to unleash their inner shutterbug.
One of Alaska Railroad's most stunning routes
leads from Anchorage to Seward on the Resurrection Bay. Along the way, the tracks skirt Turnagain
Arm, a branch of the Cook Inlet famous for its fierce
tide swings of up to 40 feet. Five rail tunnels mark
the route, burrowing deep into the granite mountains , casting the train in total darkness for a time
before spilling the cars out into another spectacular Chugach Mountain view. The journey ends in
Seward, the most important port on the Kenai Peninsula and the gateway to the Kenai Fjords National
Park. Here, orange-billed puffins, humpback whales,
orcas and sea otters accompany sightseeing boats
for close-up views of the fjords' icebergs and calving
glaciers.
The journey by rail from Anchorage to Seward is
126 miles and takes 4 hours.

Take a drive on the wild and wonderful side! Call 1-800-750-5386 or visit your AAA office to speak with a
AAA Travel Specialist and put the wheels in motion for your next road trip.
TRAVELER SUMMER 2015

AAA Traveler - Summer 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AAA Traveler - Summer 2015