Back To Anchorage We Go

This community center meets an environmental NGO found within the Old Hardware Store and can teach you a thing or two about life in rural Alaska. In the summer, there are regular classes, ranging from arts programs for kids to interpretive walks for all ages.

What we love most about The Potato (formerly the Roadside Potatohead) is the dog-to-human ratio on the porch. Chances are it's three to one. However, a close second is the hand cut curly fries and the signature burritos. Stop in for a late breakfast or early lunch for you head out of town. While you wait, take a gander at the Mr. and Mrs. Potatohead toys on display in the window.

A good spot to stretch your legs after the long McCarthy Road. Often you'll see anglers trying to reel in salmon and trout. Also keep an eye out for eagles, moose, and bears.

Once upon a time, this building was a vitally important roadhouse for fortune seekers streaming into the 49th state, where they could get meals and lodging. Today it's a charming museum filled with mementos — ranging from photographs to letters to clothing — from pioneer days.

In the early 1900s, thousands of fortune seekers flooded into Alaska searching for gold. Independence Mine was one of the places the rare mineral was found in abundance. Here, you can get an idea of what living and working in one of Alaska's largest gold mining communities looked like through a self-guided tour.

Have you ever gotten "scoonered"? Do it here and you'll get a T-shirt (all it involves is drinking a large goblet of beer, of which there are many varieties to choose from). This casual pizza joint makes a variety of pizzas, pastas, and Italian desserts.