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Budget some fun

There is plenty to do and see that won't dent your wallet

By STEVE EDWARDS
Anchorage Daily News

Published: April 22nd, 2008
Last Modified: April 24th, 2008 at 09:27 AM

Margaret Anderson reached into her messenger bag and pulled out a handful of crude, handmade sextants. She apologized to the nine people gathered nearby for the simplicity of the instruments and then explained what a sextant does.

And she hoped the June sun would shine through Anchorage's clouds.

If the sun had cooperated, she would have shown the guests on the Capt. James Cook walking tour how valuable the sextant was on the voyage of discovery to Alaska in the late 1770s. Instead, she had to explain how navigators used the sextant to determine their latitude, which was of special concern to Cook as he searched for the elusive Northwest Passage in Alaska's waters.

The Cook walking tour, which takes place at 11 a.m. daily during the summer, is one of several free activities scheduled through the Alaska Public Lands Information Center in downtown Anchorage. The center also is an excellent spot to plan adventures, with information about state and national parks.

Budget-minded visitors can make a day of fun at the center.

In addition to the hourlong Cook tour, there are special one-hour programs offered at 2 p.m. daily. They include a variety of speakers talking about topics including dog sleds, the Bird Treatment and Learning Center and the Alaska Zoo. In addition, there often are animals along for the show. At one summertime program, musher Erin McLarnon brought her canine companion Lily with her to help illustrate Alaska's wintertime activity. Lily, in full summer-relaxation mode, stole much of the audience's attention.

"When they walk through the door, the average tourist is absolutely ecstatic," said Ranger Ryan Smith. "They're not sure what to expect. When they walk in, to the right we have animal mounts -- otter, Dall sheep, bears. Or they'll see the great big relief map in the center of our facility.

"If they spend a little time here, they can see videos, cultural items and pictures. Once they get through that, they can see our movies and special programs. Plus, we have activities for kids. There is a lot going on."

The Capt. Cook tour started in front of the large Alaska topographic map in the center's lobby. Soon Anderson was leading guests along Fourth Avenue. The first stop was at a pair of totem poles in front of Nesbett Courthouse.

Next, the tour stopped by a large sculpture of a whale on K Street. It was here that Anderson pulled a sea otter pelt from her bag. She explained that the Russians had visited Alaska decades before Cook started his trip. The Russians were trading for sea otter pelts, and "Cook was sent to find out what the Russians were getting so much money from," Anderson said.

Finally the tour group walked to the Capt. Cook statue at Resolution Park, where Anderson unsuccessfully attempted to use her sextant.

"We have a number of people that lead the Capt. Cook tour, and each one is different," Smith said.

All activities are free. The center, 605 W. Fourth Ave., is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. (271-2737, www. nps.gov/aplic)

There are a variety of free or nearly free activities in the Anchorage area. Hiking, biking, birding, animal viewing or browsing through the many downtown shops and galleries are, of course, free. But there are other, more organized, activities or destinations too. They include:

• Alaska Heritage Museum at Wells Fargo: The museum has more than 900 Alaska Native artifacts and baskets that are hundreds of years old. Also on display is artwork by Sydney Laurence, Fred Machetanz, Eustace Ziegler, Ted Lambert and others. The museum has recently added a 46-troy-ounce gold nugget to its collection. The 5-inch nugget is the largest on display in Alaska. In addition, there is a noncirculating reference library of more than 2,600 books on Alaska subjects.

"We focus on just a couple of things; we don't try to cover the entire history," said museum curator Artemis BonaDea. "We're able to focus on artifacts and the artwork. People are able to pace themselves. I've seen people spend 15 minutes or 1 1/2 hours."

The museum, 301 W. Northern Lights Blvd., is open noon to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

• Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk: Visit the sun and the planets of the solar system -- including former planet Pluto -- on a walk or bike ride through downtown Anchorage and along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

The Planet Walk is a good reason to get out on the trail and enjoy some of the outstanding views of Knik Arm and Cook Inlet, the Alaska Range and Mount Susitna. If you walk the path and take one step per second, you'll travel the equivalent of the speed of light. There are informative signs at all the locations. Mercury is at Fifth Avenue and H Street; Venus is in front of the Hotel Captain Cook on Fifth Avenue; Earth is at Fifth Avenue and L Street; Mars is in Elderberry Park; Jupiter is at the Westchester Lagoon dam; Saturn is at Lyn Ary Park; Uranus is at the top of the Point Woronzof hill; Neptune is along the trail; and Pluto is near the Kincaid Park chalet.

• Earthquake Park: On the Planet Walk, you'll pass this park. Otherwise, you can drive to it on West Northern Lights Boulevard.

In 1964, the park was part of a community of homes. When the Good Friday earthquake struck, the homes were destroyed. Today, the peaceful park has a trail system with interpretive signs to help visitors understand the destructive power of the earthquake. On clear days, the view of the Alaska Range is outstanding.

• Potter Marsh: If you like birds, this is the place. More than 130 species have been sighted in the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge, and Potter Marsh is the most accessible part of the refuge. A boardwalk takes visitors into the heart of the wetland for easy bird watching. There are interpretive displays of the refuge's animals and plant life.

Potter Marsh is at Mile 115 Seward Highway, on the south edge of Anchorage.

• Wild Salmon on Parade: All around downtown, large molded salmon have been turned into colorful creations by local artists. Look for them in popular and unusual locations.

• Peratrovich Park: Music in the Park is presented at noon Wednesdays and Fridays from June through August. The park is at Fourth Avenue and E Street.

Special sections editor Steve Edwards can be reached at sedwards@adn.com or 257-4316. Visit his Alaska travel blog at www.alaska.com/alaskology.