Children from all over love to check out the animals of Alaska. Whether you have kiddos in tow or are a kid at heart, you definitely need to check out Anchorage’s wildlife scene on your next trip to Alaska. Known for its wilderness areas, nature preserves, and zoos, Anchorage, AK is home to some of North America’s most iconic and interesting creatures, including moose, polar bears, humpbacked whales, grizzly bears, and gray wolves—to name just a few species! In this post, we will give you some advice for checking out the greater Anchorage-area animals.
If you want to see animals in their natural habitats, you may want to consider taking a wildlife excursion. You can travel into Kenai Fjords National Park on a boat tour designed for visitors who want to see Alaska’s great selection of wildlife. Animals you may spot along the way include whales, sea lions, bald eagles, and an array of other birds.
Visitors who plan to get an Alaska RV rental and travel around the state may want to consider stopping in Homer. Here you can take an air tour of some of AK’s most untouched wilderness areas along the North Pacific Coast. Tours in this region often specialize in bear-viewing excursions; plus, you can also check out the volcanoes in this area from an aerial perspective!
If you don’t want to take an official tour, then you will want to travel in your motorhome rental in Alaska to one of Anchorage’s nearby parks, including Chugach State Park. This top-notch Alaska park has a variety of animals roaming throughout, including moose, bears, eagles, wolves, and many other species. Unlike a tour or trip to a nature center, you will likely need to be patient with your wildlife viewing at AK’s state and national parks. Unlike a zoo, the animals roam free and are not as predictable. Therefore, the longer you stay at the park, the more likely you are to see more wildlife.
However, if you just want to catch a glimpse of the Anchorage area animals without going to too much hassle or paying for a full-day expedition, then we recommend that you check out the Alaska Zoo or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, both located in Anchorage. The Alaska Zoo features the best of AK wildlife, including polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves, and more; plus, you can also check out some exotic wildlife from around the world, such as Amur tigers and camels. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a bit more open than the zoo, and the animals here are definitely made up of Alaska’s finest: bears, elk, moose, coyote, musk ox, eagles, and much more. (Check out our February 2010 post specifically on the AWCC for more details!)
Whether you decide to make wildlife viewing a focal point of your Alaskan adventure or just a stop along the way, be sure to take time to see the animals of Anchorage, AK. No where else can you see such majestic North American creatures in a more beautiful setting.
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