Anchorage to Glennallen: A Road Less Traveled

Marrying Russian Orthodox tradition and Indigenous practices, there's a graveyard that's part of Eklutna Historical Park that is filled with more than 100 burial sites, each topped with a small, colorful wooden abode, not unlike a doll house. They're known as Spirit Houses. The park is open 24/7.

On Spicy and Spike. On Olive and Ruby. On Daisy and Buttercup. On Jasper and Rufus. Oh, those aren't the reindeer you're familiar with? Well they're just some of the 150 reindeer at the Reindeer Farm. There are also roughly 30 Rocky Mountain elk, 20 horses, a bison, moose, and other animals. Tours are usually about an hour long and include the opportunity to feed the reindeer.
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This lively tavern is a fun spot to stop for lunch (their menu spans from salads to pizzas to Tex-Mex to burgers and sandwiches) and a beers (they have more than 40 on tap). There are often yard games set up in the backyard, so feel free to stay a while, especially if it's a nice day out.

While there are thousands of glaciers in Alaska (in fact, roughly five percent of the state is under glacial ice), most high up on mountains and are challenging, if not impossible, to get to. That's not the case with Matanuska Glacier, though. Here you're able to drive up to near the tongue of the glacier and take a short self-guided walk around on the ice.

It's a bit of a trek to Glenallen, but it'll put you in a good position to make it the rest of the way to McCarthy tomorrow. And Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge is one of the nicest accommodations in the area. Plan to get dinner here, too.
Official website