Things To Do
Hatcher Pass
Hatcher Pass is a gorgeous place with many fun things to do. There are plentiful hikes of varying length and difficulty (Gold Cord Lake, Gold Mint Trail and Reed Lakes are some of our favorites), beautiful views (the vista from the Hatcher Pass Summit and Summit Lake come to mind) and a no-longer operating gold mine converted to a historical park (Independence Mine).
Palmer
Palmer is the nearest town to Wasilla and is a great place to stay and explore, especially since downtown Palmer is around 20 minutes from the wedding venue. There is a lovely main street area with an excellent coffee shop/bakery (Vagabond Blues), a local book store (Fireside Books) and a 24 hour diner/hotel where you can get greasy, delicious food any time your heart may desire (Valley Hotel and Cafe). There are several breweries and bars to wet your whistle (Matanuska Brewery, Palmer Alehouse, Klondike Mikes and more). Nearby, there is a Musk Ox farm and a Reindeer Farm and both are open to visitors, as well as on the map linked above. One of the quintessential local hikes is up Bodenburg Butte which provides an amazing view of the valley.
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the US (sorry, Texas) and offers a multitude of amazing destinations. If any of you decide to couple our wedding with a vacation, we would highly encourage it. Any list here will inevitably be incomplete, but some destinations that are relatively easy to reach (and some are on our map linked above) on the road system include: Matanuska Glacier - A bit over an hour from Palmer, an accessible glacier with tours available. Talkeetna - Gateway to Denali, a cute tourist town with delicious food and local art. Seward and Whittier - Fishing charters, whale watching tours and access to Kenai Fjords National Park. Kenai River - World famous fishing at its peak in July. Denali National Park - The tallest peak in North America, consider a train or bus tour if they are offered (the park road is not fully open due to washouts). Homer - A drinking town with a fishing problem, as they say.
