By Denise Schoonhoven
Elmendorf Vacation Ideas
Elmendorf Air Force Base is situated near Anchorage, Alaska's largest city. Whether you are visiting someone stationed at Elmendorf or simply sightseeing, there are attractions and activities to keep every family member entertained. Among other things, visitors to Elmendorf can explore wildlife habitats, discover how native Alaskans live and observe modern military aircraft.
Ride the Alaska Railroad
Alaska Railroad
See the rugged beauty of Alaska's countryside through the picture windows of Alaska Railroad passenger cars. Take an excursion north from Anchorage, passing through Wasilla, to the Denali National Park (www.nps.gov/dena) for an overnight trip and sightseeing. From mid-May to mid-September, take a day trip by rail and the Klondike Express catamaran to see 26 glaciers from the sea (www.26glaciers.com).
Alaska Railroad---Anchorage Depot
411 West 1st Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska
www.alaskarailroad.com
(907) 265-2494
See Bears
Young grizzly bear
Watch bears play in their natural setting at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, an hour's drive south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. Visit the Bears of Alaska Discovery Center. Then get close enough to take photos of elk, bison, moose and other animals native to Alaska. The center is open seven days a week year-round.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
PO Box 949, Mile 79 Seward Highway
Portage Glacier, Alaska
www.awcc.org
(907) 783-2025
Tour Elmendorf Air Force Base
See the mighty F-15, F-22, AWACS and carrier aircraft based at Elmendorf AFB with an up-close and personal tour conducted by the 3rd Wing public affairs office. Schedule your tour at least 30 days in advance by calling the community relations office at (907) 552-4698.
Learn about Alaskan Native Heritage
Alaska native art
Get to know the history and lifestyles of Alaska's indigenous people at the Alaskan Native Heritage Center in northeast Anchorage. Watch dancing demonstrations and listen to a native storyteller. Tour the exhibits, then step outside to see native villages. Lunch on seafood and grilled game at one of the cafes. The center is open daily from mid-May through mid-September.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Muldoon Road North
Anchorage, Alaska
www.alaskanative.net
(907) 330-8000
Resources
About the Author:
A seasoned business traveler, Denise Schoonhoven specializes in food, travel, landscaping, design and personal development topics. She has lived and worked in London, San Francisco, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the Pacific Northwest. Schoonhoven hails from the corporate writing world where she authored marketing material, catalogs, presentations and training documents.
Photo Credits:
U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Dennis J. Henry Jr., Echo Forsberg, Jennifer Jordan, Frank K AlaskanDude
