Wasilla
The community of Wasilla was founded in 1917 as a service hub to the nearby communities of Knik and Willow, as well as the mining ventures in Hatchers Pass, Willow, and Cache Creek. Centrally located near a railroad depot, it also served as a hub for local agriculture that was brought to the Matanuska Susitna Valley by the US government during the 1930s from primarily Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Wasilla suffered from the same economic slump that many areas of the US suffered from. This was soon turned around in the mid 1990s and in 1994, a voter initiative to move the state capital to Wasilla was defeated by only 20,000 votes. In more recent years, rapid growth in the Matanuska Susitna Valley has seen Wasilla grow by 43.2% during the last census period.
There are many outdoors activities in Wasilla and the surrounding area. Hatchers Pass is an all time favorite for many people looking for a hike or drive to pick blue berries or low bush cranberries. In the winter time, it is an ideal local area for snow machining adventures. Mount Baldy is another location visited both summer and winter for ATV adventures located only a few miles west of Hatchers Pass. To the south, adventurous visitors can watch dipnetting in Fish Creek during years of high salmon escapement, the most recent being 2014. Aviation has strong roots in the community as well, and on nearly any day year round there will be small planes departing the many lakes and airstrips that dot the community and surrounding areas.
For more information:
Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
There are many outdoors activities in Wasilla and the surrounding area. Hatchers Pass is an all time favorite for many people looking for a hike or drive to pick blue berries or low bush cranberries. In the winter time, it is an ideal local area for snow machining adventures. Mount Baldy is another location visited both summer and winter for ATV adventures located only a few miles west of Hatchers Pass. To the south, adventurous visitors can watch dipnetting in Fish Creek during years of high salmon escapement, the most recent being 2014. Aviation has strong roots in the community as well, and on nearly any day year round there will be small planes departing the many lakes and airstrips that dot the community and surrounding areas.
For more information:
Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
Palmer
Palmer's heritage goes back to Dena'ina and Ahtna Athabaskan trade routes which dotted the area prior to modern settlement. The city's namesake, George Palmer effectively founded the community with a trading post on the Matanuska River in the 1880s. In early years a homestead community, over 200 families moved to the area in the 1930s and drew lots for 40 acre parcels. Some of these families are still in the area today. Prior to the rapid growth in the sister community of Wasilla in the 1970s through 1990s, Palmer was often considered to be the community that would out grow Wasilla. Because of it's deep agricultural roots, however, the community has been able to retain it's small town appeal.
Local events and activities in Palmer include the Alaska State Fair held at the fairgrounds on the Glenn Highway, Hatcher Pass recreational area, Knik River recreational area featuring Knik Glacier, and access from Palmer airport to nearby (by air) Lake George and Chugach National Forrest.
For more information:
Palmer Chamber of Commerce
Local events and activities in Palmer include the Alaska State Fair held at the fairgrounds on the Glenn Highway, Hatcher Pass recreational area, Knik River recreational area featuring Knik Glacier, and access from Palmer airport to nearby (by air) Lake George and Chugach National Forrest.
For more information:
Palmer Chamber of Commerce
Big Lake
Big Lake is called the "Playground of the Valley" by some locals for good reason. The rapidly growing community features boating activities of all sorts during the summer and during the winter is where the Iron Dog begins the race to Nome. There is ice fishing, moose hunting, and plenty of access to ATV trails all leading west of this community which was recently granted the status of second class city.
For more information:
Travel Alaska overview
For more information:
Travel Alaska overview
Eagle River
One of the fastest growing communities within the Municipality of Anchorage, Eagle River is located at the foot of Chugach State Park. One of the more recently founded cities, it is an ideal place to live in for working in North or East Anchorage. Some of the homes build on the mountainside in Eagle River give beautiful views of the valley it is built in. Nearby recreational areas include Eklutna Lake (which is a beautiful place to kayak, hike, or canoe), Chugach State Park, or a short drive from recreational activies in Palmer, Wasilla, or Anchorage.
For more information:
Chugiak Eagle River Chamber of Commerce
For more information:
Chugiak Eagle River Chamber of Commerce
Anchorage
The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage located on Cook Inlet where Knik River, Ship Creek, Susitna River, and several other smaller rivers flow to the ocean. Despite this, Anchorage was not initially located as a fish camp. Incorporated in 1920, Anchorage was an ideal hub for commerce and a perfect location for the Alaska Railroad to house it's headquarters. It soon became an economic hub for the railroad, shipping, and in more recent years, international aviation. With double digit and triple digit growth in census numbers in every census except 1970, Anchorage has grown to over 300,000 residents. It features the largest seaplane base in the world at Lake Hood. An adventurer can set out on numerous fly out experiences from here with many of the tourism outfits, featuring everything from bear watching to fishing to flight seeing. In addition to Lake Hood, Merrill Field, and Ted Stevens International Airport, the city has ten smaller private airports within city limits. Small planes can be seen in the skies nearly any day of the year headed out to numerous destinations.
Anchorage also features two military bases that were recently combined into Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. As a military training activity and personnel live work and play primarily in Anchorage versus the surrounding areas.
Flattop Mountain, Chugach State Park, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and numerous other trail areas provide hikers plenty of areas to recreate. Other outdoors activities include: skiing at Arctic Valley, and Hilltop Ski Area, fishing at Ship Creek or Bird Creek, ice fishing at 30 stocked lakes within the Anchorage area including Jewel Lake, and numerous other activities that occur year round and would be difficult to detail in a comprehensive list, but Anchorage does have a very good website to start planning adventures, linked below.
For more information:
Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau
Anchorage also features two military bases that were recently combined into Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson. As a military training activity and personnel live work and play primarily in Anchorage versus the surrounding areas.
Flattop Mountain, Chugach State Park, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, and numerous other trail areas provide hikers plenty of areas to recreate. Other outdoors activities include: skiing at Arctic Valley, and Hilltop Ski Area, fishing at Ship Creek or Bird Creek, ice fishing at 30 stocked lakes within the Anchorage area including Jewel Lake, and numerous other activities that occur year round and would be difficult to detail in a comprehensive list, but Anchorage does have a very good website to start planning adventures, linked below.
For more information:
Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau
Girdwood
The skiing community of Girdwood lies 40 minutes south east of Anchorage and his home to Alyeska ski resort. Founded as a gold mining community shortly after the discovery of gold in Turnagain Arm, it was later incorporated as it's own community in 1970. Beginning in the 1950s, skiing became a primary draw of the city. At Alyeska Resort, guests can also dine at the top of mountain at Seven Glaciers. There also several other excellent events year round which include the Slush Cup - Spring Carnival, downhill mountain biking in summer time, and the Girdwood Forest Fair.
For more information:
Alyeska Resort
Girdwood Chamber of Commerce
For more information:
Alyeska Resort
Girdwood Chamber of Commerce
Valdez
At the southernmost end of the TransAlaska Pipeline System lies the city of Valdez. This small city is one Alaska's most important economic centers. From here, oil that is produced on the North Slope is put on ships for transport to refineries in the lower 48. In addition to oil, the port serves as a home to a commercial and sport fishing fleet, a base of tourism with sightseeing adventures, a freight hub for goods destined for interior Alaska, and an arrival and departure point for the Alaska Marine Highway and ferry system. Founded in 1898, Valdez was initially built as a support town for miners rushing to participate in the Klondike Gold Rush. Due to it's location, economic importance, and small size, the city has experienced periods of population growth and decline over the last century.
For more information:
Valdez Official Website
For more information:
Valdez Official Website
Whittier
The most utilized entrance to Prince William Sound from Anchorage is the city of Whittier. Passing through the second longest tunnel in North America, driving to Whittier is about an hour and a half from Anchorage. This community is unique in that nearly all of it's residence live in a single building, the Buckner Building. There are many activities that engage both out of state tourism and visitors from around the state participate in including kayaking, fishing, and hunting. Many Anchorage residents enjoy launching their watercraft from this port for single or multi day excursions around the expansive Prince William Sound. Tourists arriving on the many cruise ships during the summer time also may enjoy watching the commercial and sport fleets fishing for for salmon, herring, pacific cod, sablefish, polluck, shrimp, or Dungeness or Tanner crab.
For more information:
City of Whittier
For more information:
City of Whittier
Glennallen
Perhaps the least likely community to be considered a major destination of activity is Glennallen. This census-designated place is home to just under 500 people in 2010. Often called "The Hub of Alaska", very few people who explore the state will go long before they pass through here. In fact, one could (in theory) drive from Homer all the way to Canada without stopping if it weren't for the stop sign at the end of the Glenn Highway at it's junction with the Richardson Highway. Activities in the local area are fairly limited, but include hunting, fishing at the "nearby" community of Chitna, and off road ATV riding. Nearby Lake Lucille also provides an area for fishing and in the fall the Nelchina caribou herd passes directly through the area.
For more information:
Travel Alaska overview
For more information:
Travel Alaska overview