Cruise Diva Goes Ashore in ALASKA
Sights to see & things to do
Anchorage, Alaska
Many cruisers consider Anchorage simply a city to fly into on the way to their ship docked 125 miles away in Seward. Those who choose to spend some pre- or post-cruise time here won’t be disappointed. Following the discovery of oil on the Kenai Peninsula in the 1950’s, Anchorage began to move from a remote railroad town to the hub it is today with an international airport, some fine restaurants, museums, and even a zoo.
Diversions
Begin your tour with a stop at the Log Cabin Visitors Information Center at Fourth Avenue and F Street. From there, the Old City Hall at Fourth Avenue and E Street is a short walk. In the lobby are early streetscape dioramas and an interesting display of city history. Meeting daily in the Old City Hall lobby, Anchorage Historic Properties offers a guided walking tour that explores historic downtown.
The Anchorage Museum of History and Art contains an Alaska Gallery explaining the history and anthropology of the state. At Oscar Anderson House, visitors to the home and garden are treated to an example of an early Swedish butcher’s life.
For independent walkers, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail runs through town and along the water for approximately twelve miles from the western end of Second Avenue to Kincaid Park. For kids, the Imaginarium is a fun learning experience with Alaska-themed displays and a popular indoor tide pool.
Leaving the city behind, Portage Glacier is about 50 miles south on the Seward Highway. Although it has receded in recent years to the point that you must board a tour boat at the visitors’ center to get close to it, if you haven’t had enough of glaciers post-cruise, or this is your first pre-cruise glacier sighting, it may be worth the visit. The visitors’ center contains a glacier museum and is an excellent place to learn about glaciers.
For a comprehensive history of the cultures of the five major Alaska Native groups, a stop at The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a must. The central “welcome house” contains a museum, theater, crafts workshop, and a rotunda where presentations of storytelling, dance, and music take place during the day. Surrounding a small lake are five traditional dwellings representing the Native groups. Native staffers are on hand to answer questions and provide information.
Cool Cruising -- Spring! It's in the air and cruisers' fancies turn north. North to Alaska, with thoughts of majestic scenery, frontiers to explore, and what to pack.
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