Hayley & Stephen
Things To Do
Eagle River Nature Center
The Eagle River Nature Center in Chugach (choo-gatsch) State Park is the perfect place to see the Alaskan wilderness without needing to be a pro hiker. Only a 35 minute drive from Anchorage, the Nature Center has easy trails and day hikes, unparalleled views of the Chugach mountains, beaver dam boardwalks, picnic areas, and a main building with a great resources for kids to learn about bears, moose, wolves, beavers, and other Alaskan creatures. Day parking is $5, and there are restrooms in the main center building.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Learn about Alaska's varied indigenous cultures at the Alaska Native Heritage Center! Great for families, walk around a small lake to see six authentic life-sized Native dwellings situated in a wooded area around a beautiful lake. Each village site has a traditional structure along with artifacts that each group used in their daily lives. Make sure to stop by the whale bones at the Iñupiaq site– it’s one of the best spots to snap a photo during your visit!
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Just 20 minutes from Girdwood, this is the best place to see Alaskan animals. Rescued wolves, moose, lynx, grizzlies, black bears, wood bison, and more are able to bee seen by foot or by car. Check out their website to book an encounter with a bear or moose!
Independence Mine State Historical Park Visitor Center
One of our favorite places to visit, Hatcher's Pass and Independence Mine offer beautiful mountainside views, and let you explore the history of Independence Mine! Located about an hour and 15 minutes from Anchorage, it's a beautiful drive.
Alyeska Tramway
We went skiing at Alyeska for our first date, and although you won't be skiing any powder in June, it's a fantastic place to get top-of-the-world views! The Alyeska Tramway provides a one-of-a-kind lookout over the Chugach Mountain Range and Cook Inlet. Fine dining and ski-lodge fare at the top, with a cute museum in the original Roundhouse. Depending on the snow melt, hiking and mountainbiking are great ways to see the trails in the summer! Just down the road from the venue in Girdwood, this is a great place to play and relax.
Winner Creek Trail
Winner Creek Trail was where Stephen proposed! Located in Girdwood, it's a fairly easy 3-mile hike with a few hills at the very end. It's a great walk amongst towering hemlock spruce to see water rushing through Winner Creek Gorge.