Page 156 - Vacation Country Travel Guide

Eagle River
Location: Part of the Municipality of Anchorage,
about 15 miles north of downtown on the
Glenn Hwy. Population of the Eagle River/
Chugiak area: 30,000. Visitor Information:
Chugiak Eagle River Chamber, 12001 Business
Boulevard in downtown Eagle River; Website:
www.cer.org

Eagle River is a community within the Municipality
Bootleggers Cove, Anchorage of Anchorage situated on the Eagle River for which it
is named, between Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
and Chugach State Park in the Chugach Mountains.
The popular Bear Paw Festival is held in July.
The Eagle River Nature Center furthers the
educational and interpretive opportunities available
to Chugach State Park.

GLENN HWY 1 TO PALMER & GLENNALLEN
Palmer
Location: Mile 40 on the Glenn Highway,
approximately 42 miles northeast of Anchorage.
Population: 6,304. Visitor Information Center,
723 S. Valley Way, Palmer, Alaska 99645, (907)
745-7882
Celebrate the outdoors and embrace the natural
beauty of Alaska by visiting the town of Palmer. The
area, which is located a short drive from Anchorage
in the Matanuska Valley, which is famous for its
spectacular scenery and its equally impressive
agriculture. The fertile ground in Palmer combined
with meticulous care, 20 hours of summer sun and
a little horticultural magic, results in some of their
vegetables reaching astonishing sizes.
Next to the Visitor Center and Museum is a garden
that showcases a cornucopia of flowers and vegetables,
including the “Mat-Su-Giants”, an outdoor sculpture
garden displaying replicas of the award-winning
produce such as the colossal 138 pound cabbage and
a whopping 64 pound carrot. The Visitor Center has
plenty of parking that can accommodate RVs and a
well manicured, grassy area that is perfect for picnics.
The knowledgeable staff at the visitor’s center can
recommend day trips, activities, accommodations
and dining facilities. There is also a gift shop and a
museum that tells the story of Palmer through art,
exhibits and immersive tours.

A little over an hour from Palmer is the Matanuska
Glacier. A 20 mile river of ice slowly advances
from the mountains, spilling its ice age secrets into
the valley floor. There are tours to the glacier, but
it is also possible to park your car and walk right
up and touch the frozen crystals. A hike to a 200 ft
waterfall is located along the drive to the glacier.
Hatcher Pass Road is another stunning drive with lots
of opportunities for scenic picture taking. Located
right off the Glenn Highway outside of Palmer, the
drive will delight you with bursting fields of summer
wildflowers painting the landscape in a kaleidoscope
of colors.

For a unique and educational experience, visit The
Musk Ox Farm located two miles north of Palmer,
just off the Glenn Highway. The Colony farm,
dedicated to the gentle husbandry of this distinctive
ice-age animal, dates back to the 1930s-era. Visitors
to the farm can enjoy guided tours every half hour,
along with a picnic area and a museum. In the gift
shop, you can find luxurious, hand-combed musk
ox fibers called “qiviut”. These fibers produce some

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