First off, for people who say this is "just a tunnel", y'all need to learn about Alaskan history,…read morehow INCREDIBLY complicated EVERYTHING is here, including basic survival and construction, much less something like a single lane train tunnel to a deep port that is the HEART of Alaskan economy. (Educate yourself, its quite interesting. There's a really excellent Alaskan room at the Loussac Library in Anchorage, have fun.) This tunnel is long, and frankly kinda scary. Its longer than the 1.4 mile Baltimore Harbor Tunnel that goes underwater and used to scare the shit out of me when I was a kid. I used to imagine the white tile walls springing a leak and millions of gallons of waters simultaneously drowning and crushing me like some apocalyptic movie scene. This tunnel is similar, except there are no tiles, just bare stone walls and billions of tons of mountain over your head as you drive through... fully aware you're in a state notorious for humongous earthquakes. Yep, nothing to worry about. Don't panic, its not like the tunnel only has ONE FUCKING LANE and if you or anyone in line has a panic attack or medical event, you're all fucked. So yeah, driving through the tunnel is interesting. But Whittier, if you are an Alaskan nature lover, hiker, fisherman or berry picker, is absolutely worth the drive. The town itself is... weird. But its worth the drive if you understand the things that make her unique. For tourists, I recommend you read about Whittier before going so you know what to expect.

We went through this tunnel during our long, but incredibly scenic bus tour back from Denali…read moreWilderness Lodge to Whittier (to board a cruise ship)... I hope this is the right tunnel I'm referring to (?), but it was very long and very, very dark (as in total blackout). Quite scary in a way...but after the long passageway (possibly 2-3 miles?), it opened up beautifully to a scenic area, where our ship awaited us. I was really impressed with this cool segues from the bus to ship! I don't normally write about tunnels, but this made such an impression that I had to do a review.

If you've spent any time at all in North Anchorage "tropical paradise" is certainly not the first…read moreterm that comes to mind. This is truly a hidden gem inside Russian Jack Springs Park. You enter through the solarium, a little tropical oasis with two goldfish/koi ponds, an incredible display of tropical plants and trees, and a large birdcage with a tree in it. We enjoyed simply sitting on the bench here and taking it all in. Next is the main greenhouse. There is quite a collection in there, some of the plants and trees have clearly been there a very long time, there are cacti that practically touch the ceiling, trees spreading out overhead, and all manner of other tropical plants that you won't find anywhere outside within a thousand miles of here. And there are starts and seedlings as well, indicating this will continue to be the lovely hidden oasis it is for years to come. I've been to bigger and more grandiose tropical greenhouses, but to have this at all in Alaska is quite an accomplishment. And it's free. A great way to spend an hour or so.

Hidden Gem in the middle of winter. Wonderful place to…read morevisit, I can't believe I've never been here after so many years in Anchorage. (22+) Great for a field trip or just to observe and learn more! Perfect for an afternoon date in my opinion! There's Birds, Fishes & Endless Plants! Note, there's barely anyone on the weekdays but it may have just been my visit...Must!!! Plus: Mon-Sun //FREE Down: 8:00 AM-3:00 PM If you work full time during the week you'll need to plan a weekend visit, definitely worth it! Link to my VLOG http://youtu.be/nTvrMXsv4Vc

Years ago heard about this place and finally happened upon it. Anyone who has a fetish for the…read moreweird, old or abandoned, this is for you. This weathered old beauty just sits on the side of the road waiting for passers by to stop and take note. The peeling paint is glorious. There's a small placquard recounting the history of how the boat came to be abandoned in it's current location. Theres also another very cool and strange little building behind it that is part of the historical preservation site.

Unfortunately, the snow load the last couple of years resulted in the boat needing to be taken down…read more& it's no longer there

This memorial use to be known as the WWII Memorial. I am glad that they expanded it to cover all…read morethe wars and honor local residents that gave the ultimate sacrifice during that conflict. It is located on the Delaney Park Strip and there is metered parking available within a reasonable walking distance. The memorial was dedicated in 2001 and just recently underwent major renovations including access for the disabled, concrete rehabilitation, vandal-proofing, plant and landscaping work, a lighting system, expanded water service, public event accessories, and other enhanced design features. The centerpiece of the memorial is a statue of WWII soldier in combat attire holding a rifle in his hands and standing on top of a cement base. You will find a plaque on the base that reads "To Those Alaska Veterans Whose Eyes Have Seen What The Protected Will Never Know". Behind the statue is a plaza, with walls on each side that has all the conflicts that the US has been involved in, including WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and the names of the Alaska resident that died during that respective conflict. At the top of the plaza are a monument to Purple Heart recipients and two 8 feet high by 20 feet long sculptures that are illuminated at night. They are very nice. One, titled Reflections on the Great One, depict an Honor Guard and Eagle Release. The other tiled, O'er Land and Sea a Beacon Bright, depicts a bugler (hands and bugle only) and folded presentation flag for the fallen solider. These sculptures were added during the memorial's renovation project. You will also find a solider's cross statue in the plaza as well which was also added during the renovation. sadly, this memorial has become a hot spot for urban campers to hangout and sleep. I find it sad that they have nowhere else to go, especially considering the temperature. This is a nice and respectful memorial dedicated to the Alaskan citizens that made the ultimate sacrifice. It has a nice sculpture, and plaza area with a couple of benches to sit. Behind the plaza area is a long patch of green space separating it from the MLK memorial. This is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. And next two the plaza in another patch of green space are picnic tables.

In Delaney Park strip. Was very nice with names of our veterans from the various wars on the wall.read more

Another beautiful Temple in a beautiful place. The grounds are immaculate as always. Everyone is…read morevery helpful and nice. I would definitely recommend visiting if you are in the area.

This property is beautiful! The flowers are gorgeous and the architecture is lovely. The temple is…read morenot always open so check for times online. Unfortunately, it was closed for the inside when we visited, but I hope to come back.

Great tribute to the history of Alaska…read more It is sad that people have vandalized it by breaking the marble and removing the placards. Too many people don't care about their history.

The Monument is on the way down the hill from the Downtown Hilton to the Alaska Railroad Depot…read more Locals call it "Ike on the Half Shell". I read the plaque, hung out at the "plaza" a bit, enjoyed the view, and wondered why there wasn't something more impressive to mark Alaska's entry into the Union.

Security is Tough!! Just wanted to see the Alaska Centers Wildlife Museum inside the federal…read morebuilding. Great gift shop with a multitude of information on the state of Alaska. Very educational and informative and free.

This is a great place to visit for learning more about what Alaska offers on public lands, as well…read moreas the wildlife across the state and some historical information. The rangers were helpful and very knowledgeable answering questions and the animals on display (via taxidermy) were simply amazing.

This is a nice, tasteful and respectfully done memorial. It does not have a designated parking…read morearea, but there is metered street parking available within a reasonable walking distance. It is located right next to Fire Station 1. This memorial, which was dedicated in 201, honors the State's first responders that have made the ultimate sacrifice. It features a bronze statue of a firefighter in turnout gear, hold a hose and ready to fight a fire. The statue is very detailed, you can actually see the icecicles hanging from the firefighter's helmet. They look so real. The statue has a cement pedestal in front of it with a bronze plaque with the Firefighters Prayer on it. There are 6 walls low brick walls that are surrounding the statue. Two walls are joined together at the center and has an EMS and firefighters cross above them along with a bell. The walls have bronze plaques on the with the name of each State hero engraved on them. There are a lot of blank space and hopefully, it will stay that way. The plaza that the memorial sits is well maintained and in excellent shape. It was constructed completely with private donations and funds. The ground is made of brick pavers and has some lights counter sunk into it to provide nighttime illumination. This is a fitting tribute to those everyday heroes. This is not a big time consumer, but is neat to see and could be coupled with visits to the Anchorage Firefighters Museum, the Alaska Law Enforcement Museum, and other nearby attractions.

The Seward Mariners Memorial is a distinct lighthouse structure that is located in the small boat…read moreharbor area. It was erected to honor the memory of Seward mariners who have lost their lives at sea or contributed to our local seafaring history and maritime history. I love historical monuments such as this and a short side walk will be well worth your time. The interior views inside the memorial are interesting and sobering, and are well accented by the stunning exterior water/mountain views from the plaza.