Anchorage

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is depicted by 10ha/25acres of poplar and birch forest, lined by a picturesque lake. — Michelin Guide

Displays include two dozen vintage bush planes, a restoration room, photos and a theater. — Michelin Guide

The zoo's best feature is the opportunity it affords to see familiar Alaskan animals up close. — Frommer's

Named for the 1980s mayor of Anchorage and present governor of Alaska, the trail passes Westchester Lagoon and several parks before ending at Kincaid Park near the airport. — Michelin Guide

This park is a must-see for bird watchers and feathered-friends enthusiasts. — Where

The garden is a colorful showcase for native species, where gentle paths lead you through... a wooded setting. — Lonely Planet

The nonprofit center teaches about this lovely natural spot, partly with indoor exhibits and programs but mostly with a set of nature trails at the head of the Eagle River Valley. — Frommer's

Films, special presentations, books, brochures, maps, exhibits and Park Service representatives available to assist you in accessing Alaska’s state and federal lands. — Where

This award-winning center features creative, hands-on exhibits that explain the northern lights, earthquakes, oil exploration and other Alaskan topics. — Lonely Planet

The storefront museum has exhibits that range from a beautifully restored 1952 Hudson Hornet cop car to state-issued sealskin cop boots. — Lonely Planet

During the summer, Alaskan surfers take advantage of this inlet’s unusual water patterns.  — Atlas Obscura

Visit the Heritage Library Museum for its displays of Alaska Native costumes, weapons and artwork. — Lonely Planet

Totem poles and a locomotive built in 1907 are outside the station, the headquarters of the Alaska Railroad since 1915. — Fodor's

Home to the world’s largest chocolate waterfall as well as a chocolate factory, theater and gift shop with Alaskan gift options. — Where

Housed in a rustic log cabin, the center's sod roof is festooned with huge hanging baskets of flowers. — Fodor's

For decades after the 1964 earthquake, this park remained a barren moonscape revealing the tectonic power that destroyed nearby Turnagain Heights. — Lonely Planet

This tiny park has a cantilevered viewing platform dominated by a monument to Captain Cook, whose explorations in 1778 led to the naming of Cook Inlet and many other geographic features in Alaska. — Fodor's