The Matanuska-Susitna Valley is known to historians and agriculturalists as a fertile farmland that was settled by families who came here from the lower 48 as part of the New Deal relief programs in the mid 1930’s. But as you depart Talkeetna after breakfast and travel along the celebrated George Parks and Glenn Highways into the Valley, you’ll soon discover that it’s also still a land of pure Alaska wilderness; indeed, its farms and communities are set amidst towering mountains and deep glacier valleys blessed with waterfalls, fish-filled rivers and abundant wildlife.
Your destination this morning is the Musk Ox Farm where our privately arranged visit offers a fun and educational up-close introduction to this Ice Age mammal that roamed the Earth alongside saber-toothed tigers and woolly mammoths! Today, this once-endangered animal is prized for its dense undercoat that produces qiviut, one of the world’s finest wools. Set on one of the 1930’s-era farms deep in the picturesque Matanuska Valley, this not-for-profit organization is dedicated to the preservation and domestication of the musk ox, and to the promotion of qiviut production as a gentle and sustainable agricultural practice in the Far North. With the largest herd of musk ox in the world, you’ll see frisky calves and seasoned old bulls as you explore the property and learn more about these giant prehistoric creatures.
The Valley’s colonial-era farms are not just historic, but known as well for their produce – which grow to incredible size due to the fertile soil and immense amount of summer sunlight. Taking a break from sightseeing, today’s lunch will feature this locally-sourced, farm-to-table bounty. In the afternoon, our visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center will be led by a native Alaskan eager to share their knowledge and passion for Alaska’s history and culture.
Continue along the Seward Highway, celebrated for spectacular views as it hugs the shoreline between the jutting peaks of the Chugach Mountains and the waters of the Turnagain Arm. Arrive in Girdwood and check in to the Hotel Alyeska, where your evening is free to enjoy the splendid setting of our resort. We also provide a ticket for the Alyeska Aerial Tram. Departing right from the hotel, the ride up to the 2,300-foot peak of Mt. Alyeska offers sweeping views in all directions – including the Turnagain Arm and several hanging glaciers in the Chugach Range. As you make the ascent to the summit, be sure to look down: Moose and bear sightings are common from the Tram! This evening enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers. Meals B+L+D