Janet's Guidebook
Food scene
Cadillac Cafe
49 W Parks HwyBest burgers, fish tacos, pizza and more.
Perfect destination for a night out, food and brew after hike or a group celebration. Good food: hand made fire rock pizzas, hand pressed burgers, great tossed salads and over 45 draft beers to choose from. Check out their Outdoor Summer Music Series on Facebook.
79 residents recomanen
Palmer City Alehouse
320 E Dahlia AvePerfect destination for a night out, food and brew after hike or a group celebration. Good food: hand made fire rock pizzas, hand pressed burgers, great tossed salads and over 45 draft beers to choose from. Check out their Outdoor Summer Music Series on Facebook.
All locally brewed beverages on-tap. Unique tasty menu. Great place to stop after hiking or just to visit.
17 residents recomanen
Bleeding Heart Brewery
562 S Denali StAll locally brewed beverages on-tap. Unique tasty menu. Great place to stop after hiking or just to visit.
Turkey Red
550 S Alaska StGood food.
Snow City Cafe
1034 W 4th AveBreakfast and lunch in Anchorage.
Middle Way Cafe
1200 W Northern Lights BlvdBreakfast and lunch in Anchorage
Great food and view. Lunch and dinner in Anchorage.
185 residents recomanen
Simon & Seafort's Saloon & Grill
420 L StreetGreat food and view. Lunch and dinner in Anchorage.
Glacier Brewhouse
737 W 5th AveLunch and dinner in Anchorage.
Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant
4333 Spenard RdLunch in Anchorage.
Lunch, dinner and a great view in Anchorage.
191 residents recomanen
49th State Brewing Co - Anchorage
717 W 3rd AveLunch, dinner and a great view in Anchorage.
Bear Tooth Theatrepub
1230 W 27th AveLunch, dinner, atmosphere and movie in Anchorage.
F Street Station
325 F StGreat atmosphere, lunch & dinner bar food in Anchorage.
Grocery Store
Great place to stop for groceries, alcoholic beverages, clothing, supplies.
Fred Meyer
1501 E Parks HwyBest grocery store in the area.
THREE BEARS ALASKA
14468 W Hollywood RdOur closest grocery store and gas station.
Walmart Supercenter
1350 S Seward Meridian PkwyGroceries, supplies and more.
Carrs
1501 Huffman RdAnchorage
New Sagaya Midtown Market
3700 Old Seward HwyBest place for Asian food in Anchorage.
New Sagaya City Market
900 W 13th AveNatural Pantry
3680 Barrow StAnchorage.
Activities
Things to do and places to visit
Martin Buser, four-time Iditarod Champion. Make reservations ahead of time at http://buster dog.com/. 3 miles from our apartment.
10 residents recomanen
Happy Trails Kennel
19391 W Lakes BlvdMartin Buser, four-time Iditarod Champion. Make reservations ahead of time at http://buster dog.com/. 3 miles from our apartment.
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race
2100 S Knik-Goose Bay RdMust visit for Iditarod Trail History
Granja de Ren
5561 Bodenburg LoopThis place is GREAT! Combine it with a hike up the Butte Trail.
Alaska State Fair in Palmer is the largest fair in Alaska. It’s a 12-day event at the end of August through Labor Day. Check their website for details.
40 residents recomanen
Alaska State Fair Inc
2075 Glenn HwyAlaska State Fair in Palmer is the largest fair in Alaska. It’s a 12-day event at the end of August through Labor Day. Check their website for details.
Hiking
Hiking trails
There are many great trails throughout the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. A favorite for the novice is the Butte outside Palmer, or hikes in Hatcher Pass also outside Palmer. For the more adventurous hikers look at Lazy Mountain or Matanuska Peak also outside Palmer. Eklutna has great walking & biking trails as well as trails up Twin Peaks ans Pioneer Peak.
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
There are many great trails throughout the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. A favorite for the novice is the Butte outside Palmer, or hikes in Hatcher Pass also outside Palmer. For the more adventurous hikers look at Lazy Mountain or Matanuska Peak also outside Palmer. Eklutna has great walking & biking trails as well as trails up Twin Peaks ans Pioneer Peak.
Sightseeing
Matanuska Glacier is easy to view from the Glenn Highway at about Milepost 101 on Glenn Highway north of Palmer. There are also tours you can book to walk on the glacier.
105 residents recomanen
Matanuska Glacier
30820 West Glenn HighwayMatanuska Glacier is easy to view from the Glenn Highway at about Milepost 101 on Glenn Highway north of Palmer. There are also tours you can book to walk on the glacier.
In the Talkeetna Mountains between the towns of Willow and Palmer, Hatcher Pass is a local favorite for recreation or a scenic drive. Hike in alpine tundra dotted with wildflowers and ptarmigan, ski fresh, deep powder or visit Independence Mine Historic State Park.
You can also hit Hatcher Pass on the way to Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks but you’ll probably want to spend more time along the way.
You can get there via Hatcher Pass Road (aka Palmer Fishhook Road out of Palmer), which winds through the mountains for roughly 60 miles between Palmer and Willow. In winter, the State maintains the road to Independence Bowl, giving recreationalists easy access to snowy mountains. The pass gets some of the earliest snow in the state, and used to be the training grounds for the Junior Olympic ski team.
Travel to the top of the pass to Independence Mine. Learn about gold mining, home trails, or enjoy a scenic picnic lunch at 4,000 feet. Look for paragliders launching off steep hillsides, and keep an eye out for whistling marmots, pikas, and golden eagles. In late summer, there’s terrific blueberry picking. In good weather, you’ll see the Chugach Mountain Range, Alaska Range, and Palmer’s Pioneer Peek.
146 residents recomanen
Hatcher Pass
In the Talkeetna Mountains between the towns of Willow and Palmer, Hatcher Pass is a local favorite for recreation or a scenic drive. Hike in alpine tundra dotted with wildflowers and ptarmigan, ski fresh, deep powder or visit Independence Mine Historic State Park.
You can also hit Hatcher Pass on the way to Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks but you’ll probably want to spend more time along the way.
You can get there via Hatcher Pass Road (aka Palmer Fishhook Road out of Palmer), which winds through the mountains for roughly 60 miles between Palmer and Willow. In winter, the State maintains the road to Independence Bowl, giving recreationalists easy access to snowy mountains. The pass gets some of the earliest snow in the state, and used to be the training grounds for the Junior Olympic ski team.
Travel to the top of the pass to Independence Mine. Learn about gold mining, home trails, or enjoy a scenic picnic lunch at 4,000 feet. Look for paragliders launching off steep hillsides, and keep an eye out for whistling marmots, pikas, and golden eagles. In late summer, there’s terrific blueberry picking. In good weather, you’ll see the Chugach Mountain Range, Alaska Range, and Palmer’s Pioneer Peek.
The town of Talkeetna is located approximately 115 road miles north of Anchorage, about 14 miles off the Parks Highway at the end of Talkeetna Spur Road and said to be the inspiration of the show “Northern Exposure”. The town is also the staging area for for climbers waiting to start their Mt. Denali ascents, and is probably the best location to view “the Mountain”.
130 residents recomanen
Talkeetna
The town of Talkeetna is located approximately 115 road miles north of Anchorage, about 14 miles off the Parks Highway at the end of Talkeetna Spur Road and said to be the inspiration of the show “Northern Exposure”. The town is also the staging area for for climbers waiting to start their Mt. Denali ascents, and is probably the best location to view “the Mountain”.