Alaska Botanical Garden
Open year-round, the Alaska Botanical Garden is where you can bird watch, walk, hike and inspire your creative side. Explore 110 acres in this spruce and birch forest, but watch out! Moose and bears often wander into this sanctuary. Stick to the Wildflower Trail or meditate in the Herb Garden. See which perennials are blooming, or take a stroll along the 1.1-mile Lowenfels-Hoersting Family Nature Trail. You’ll spot interpretive signs along the way to help identify plants.
One of the few destinations open regardless of weather, the gardens are a popular spot in the winter for skiing and snowshoeing. For 2017, admission is just $7 for adults and $5 for children during the winter season (through May). The garden is open from dawn until dusk.
Alaska’s Bounty
You’ll likely spot photographers, painters and sketch artists along your journey. Many creatives are wildly inspired by the Alaska Botanical Garden, and you’ll see why. Here, you can discover a bounty of Alaska wild in one central location. Pack a picnic, and make a day of it.
The garden is also available for educational journeys, and field trips from local schools are a common site. If you’re an educator, reach out to the garden staff to see about creating a special outing for your group.