Palmer/ Wasilla Alaska - Alaska travel and tours with Homer Travel & Tours

Palmer/Wasilla Area Lodging Musk Ox Farm Eklutna Historical Park Reindeer Farm	Palmer, located 42 miles northeast of Anchorage in the center of the lush farmlands of the Matanuska Valley, was established as a railway station around 1916. In 1935, the area became the site of one of the most unusual experiments in American history when the Federal Emergency Relief Administration planned The Matanuska Valley Agricultural Colony in Alaska and invited 203 families, mostly from Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, to join. The failure rate was high, but many of their descendants still live in the Mat-Su Valley today. The valley is renowned for the annual Alaska State Fair, where local farmers produce award-winning, (and huge!) vegetables. Palmer's economy is based on a diversity of retail and other services, city, borough, state and federal government, and some light manufacturing. Palmer is home to 200 musk ox whose underwool (qiviut) is knitted into garments by Alaska Native women from 12 rural villages. Access is by rail, road, and air. Float planes can land at Finger Lake. The average January temperatures range from 4 to 21 and average July temperatures average between 44 to 67. Annual precipitation is 16.5 inches, with 50 inches of snowfall. Wasilla, located midway between the Matanuska and Susitna Valleys, just 43 miles north of Anchorage, was established in 1917 at the intersection of of the Knik-Willow mining trail and the newly constructed Alaska Railroad.It is said that the area gets it name from respected local Dena'ina Indian, Chief Wasilla. In the Dena'ina Athabascan Indian dialect, "Wasilla" is said to mean "breath of air". A primarily non-Native community, residents enjoy a rural lifestyle, but approximately 30% of the Wasilla workforce commutes to Anchorage. The diverse local economy consists of a variety of city, borough, state, federal government, retail, and professional service positions. Tourism, agriculture, wood products, steel and concrete products also contribute to the economy. The Iditarod Trail Committee. also calls Wasilla home. Access is by road, rail and air. January temperatures range from 4 to 23; July temperatures vary from 47 to 68. The average annual precipitation is 17 inches.
Lodging	Relax Within Sight of the Glacier Located between Palmer and Glennallen on the scenic Glenn Highway, this is the perfect stopping point for those traveling to/from Anchorage on their way to/from Valdez, Kennicott, and Wrangell - St. Elias National Park! A warm welcome is what you'll receive from this host family. They have made this community their home since 1979, and enjoy sharing the beauty of this area with their guests. This BNB is the closest bed and breakfast to the Matanuska Glacier! Plan a visit, and take a walk on the glacier! Situated at the base of Sheep Mountain Reserve, observe dall sheep in their natural habitat from the yard! (May 20th - September 30th). Awake in the morning to your hearty continental breakfast of home-baked muffins bursting with fresh wild blueberries and cranberries. The private suite ( two bedrooms with one queen size bed, two twins, complete kitchen, private bath, second story unit-requires use of stairs) or cottage ( one queen size bed, kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator, large private bath) are separate buildings from the hosts' log home, to ensure guests' privacy. Rooms are charming country decor and guaranteed to be clean! Check with us about TRB. Mushing Experience Extraordinaire Enjoy the hospitality of the hosts in this charming home sharing 10 acres with birch, spruce, and aspen trees. Choose from a loft bedroom, complete with private bath and sleigh bed, or a lovely private room with semi-private bath, located within this wood-heated chalet home with remarkable southern views. Sit down to a piping hot of fresh coffee, herbed red potatoes, fruit, fresh muffins and eggs. Whether you favor long walks, or skiing, skijoring, or mushing, our groomed trails await you. Or just sit back and relax and enjoy the magnificent spectacle of the surrounding mountains and their glacier covered valleys. Open November through April, here is a Winter Wonderland where you may witness the splendor of the Aurora Borealis as it performs it's dance of lights. Dog sled rides are available by the half or full hour, with a kennel tour included. You sit comfortably in the sled, taking in all the glorious beauty, while a team of elated huskies are guided by an expert musher. OR you can choose the full dog mushing experience with adventure packages, from half day to five day excursions. No experience is necessary, and all trips include a basic introduction to dog care, safety, sled and dog handling. After you've got the basics down, you'll be give your own team of eager huskies to run. Hosts provide guides, dog teams, sledding equipment, lodging and meals. Ask for ATT Take a Llama aLlong to Carry the Lload ! Go on fully outfitted, guided hiking trips into Alaska's spectacular mountain backcountry with a lifelong Alaskan guide and llamas to carry the "lload". Enjoy spectacular scenery, wildlife viewing, photography, nature study, and exploring Alaska's wilderness areas while you buddy up to a llama on one of these unique backcountry trips. We're sure they'll leave you with warm memories of your Alaskan experience!! These natural history walking tours and mountain picnics make a memorable addition to any Alaskan visit. These outings include easy walking for distances of up to 4 miles roundtrip. The short Hatcher Pass history tour involves about 2 hours of trail walking near the Little Susitna River. Mountain picnics travel the same trail but provide a delicious buffet lunch in one of the valley's beautiful meadows; these trips require about 3 hours. Or schedule a picnic for your family or friends the next time you visit scenic Hatcher Pass, and make the day an outing the kids and adults will remember for years! The short hike and hearty lunch are a great complement to your trip into this historical mining area. per person. Longer 2-3-4 day outings are also availabe. Ask us about LBE for a great Alaskan Adventure.
Musk Ox Farm	Located 50 minutes from Anchorage and just outside of Palmer, Alaska, this unique farm is the site of a Musk Ox breeding program, begun in 1954, to revitalize a once extinct Alaskan population of musk oxen. This project promotes, not only musk ox husbandry, but the use of qiviut ( musk ox wool ) as the basis of an arctic textile industry. Visitors to this unusual farm, will not only get the chance to photograph the cows and bulls of this exotic prehistoric remnant, but also have the opportunity to watch the tamer youngsters at play. While you're here, visit the interpretive museum, and browse the gift shop. Open May to September.
Eklutna Historical Park	Eklutna is the oldest continually inhabited Athabascan site in the Anchorage vicinity., dating back to 1650. In the Eklutna Village Heritage House you'll find authentic native crafts, beautiful Russian merchandise, light refreshments and Alaskan souvenirs. View the colorful, decorated "Spirit Houses", which are placed over the grave of deceased relatives in the Eklutna Cemetery and the centuries-old Russian icons in the church.
Reindeer Farm	Located just 8 short miles from Palmer, in the lovely Butte area, this Farm is home to approximately 300 Reindeer, descended from a herd brought over from Russia in the 1800's. Here you can actually walk among, pet and feed these gentle creatures, kissing cousins of the Caribou, and don't forget the photographs! Some of these reindeer have even been trained to pull a sleigh! Just like Santa's reindeer! Bring the family for a wonderful adventure.
Return to top

Palmer and Wasilla