Derek is an administrator at a local high school which means we can't go on many big adventures August through May. But that doesn't stop us from taking advantage of our beautiful south central Alaska. We live about 20 minutes north of Anchorage. Today we did a midtown field trip - We dreamed of float planes returning on Lake Hood, checked out the (scary) muskox and bears and other critters in the Lakefront Inn, climbed all over the Cuddy Family Park playground, and ate some delicious pizza at The Moose's Tooth.
This post is for families who live here or might travel here with their (younger) kids. It's basically a list of our family's favorite day trips organized by region. Some parameters:
These are not all-day trips because one-year-old Autumn naps mid-day. We can do most of these in two hours, three if you include drive time. I have included a few longer day trips in the last section in case you're up for that.
Given the time restrictions (see parameter 1), we mostly stay near our house. So the further from "north of the city" that you go, the less I can tell you. :)
I've tried to include ideas that are free or mostly free as much as possible.
There are so many playgrounds in Anchorage. We know the ones near us, you know? Please share your favorite Anchorage parks in the comments. Thanks!
North of the City (our neighborhood!)
Eagle River Nature Center - $5 daily fee; membership $50/year
Eklutna Lake - $5; State Parks pass $60/year
Mirror & Edmonds Lakes - free (trails and picnic facilities accessible year-round; lake access for swimming or boating in summer only)
Mirror Lake Middle School trails (after school, weekends, and summer) - free
Peters Creek Disc Golf park - free
Playgrounds we like (all free) - Chugiak Elementary; Eagle River Elementary; Eagle River Town Center; Oberg Park
Chugiak-Eagle River Library (toddler story time is 10:30am on Fridays) - free
Reflections Lake - $5
Barbara Falls - free (I think? Shoot. Are we supposed to pay here? :) )
The MAC (the Harry J. MacDonald Memorial Center) - an indoor track, play field, and ice rink; great for terribly cold or rainy days - $3 to walk or push a stroller on the track; $5/kid to play on the turf; not sure about skating fees. - This is also where my amazing moms exercise group - Sweat Like a Mother (SLAM) - Anchorage - meets all winter. We bring our kids. It's a super supportive community and the workouts are as tough or as laid back as you'd like them to be.
The City & East Anchorage
Coastal Trail - free
Chester Creek Trail - free
Westchester Lagoon - free
Anchorage Museum - free for kids under 5; 6-12 $10; 12+ $15-$20 OR buy a membership (prices vary, but we have the individual basic one since our kids are free and Derek can't join on weekdays - $70/year)
Public Lands Information Center (a small, informative museum and gift shop) - free
Alaska Museum of Science and Nature - kids 3-18 $6; adults $8
Playgrounds - We have enjoyed Elderberry Park. The playground at Westchester is for slightly older kids than ours.
Midtown (& East-Midtown)
Lake Hood (float planes when the water is open) & The Lakefront Hotel (stuffed Alaska animals on display) - free - The Deck is a restaurant here. It is open in the afternoons/evenings and has picture windows and fabulous outdoor seating when the weather's good.
Playgrounds. We know and like Cuddy Family Park - free
Campbell Creek Trail - free
Beartooth Theatrepub (movie theater and yummy restaurant)
Campbell Air Strip & Far North Bicentennial Park - free
South of the City
Kincaid Park - free
Glen Alps trailhead (access to Powerline Pass, Blueberry Hill and Flattop) - $5; State Parks pass $60/year
Rabbit Lake trail (this is also the parking lot for the "backside of Flattop" trail"- significantly easier with kids) - $5; State Parks pass $60/year
Alaska Zoo - 3-17 $10; $13-$17 adults
Fuller-day trips
North
General Palmer day trip - small museum, three breweries, yummy lunch at Vagabond Blues & fabulous kid-friendly dinner (or bakery goods) at Turkey Red
Alaska State Fair (mid-August to Labor Day) - advanced tickets ages 6-12 & seniors $7-8; ages 13+ $11-13
Matanuska Lakes State Recreation Area - $5; Parks Pass $60/year
Matanuska River Park - free, I think?
The Butte - $5; Parks Pass $60/year
Reindeer Farm (we haven't done this one yet, but many friends recommend it)
South
Alyeska Resort (skiing/snowboarding in winter; hiking & biking in summer)
Winner Creek Trail - free
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center - ages 5-17 $14; adults $16-18
Portage Glacier & Begich, Boggs Information Center (IC open seasonally) - $5
Byron Glacier - $5; Parks Pass $60/year
Driving the Turnagain Arm - free
What would you add to this list? Post your ideas in the comments below to share your family's favorite places, either around Anchorage or in your hometown. See you out there!
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