Known as Alaska’s sixth-largest city, Wasilla in the Matanuska-Sustina Valley in Southcentral Alaska is a small and picturesque yet a bustling city known for its dog sled racing contests. There are myriad of family-friendly attractions for those that are planning to visit the city. There are many museums and recreational areas that everyone will surely love and enjoy. Natural attractions such as breathtaking lakes and snowcapped mountains also surround the city. Wasilla, Alaska, has surely something to offer to tourists any time of the year. Planning to visit the city soon? Here are just but a few of the best things to do in Wasilla, Alaska.
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1. Let your dogs run around Lake Lucile Dog Park
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Lake Lucile Dog Park is a great place for you to spend some quality time with your dog. The park is 300 ft (91 m) long and 60 ft (18 m) wide which is plenty of space for your dogs to run around and play.
Do note though that there are several rules that must be followed if you plan to bring your dogs here. Only dogs are allowed entry into the park, aggressive dogs and female dogs in heat are not allowed, and no food is allowed in the park.
Lake Lucile Dog Park
Address: 1401 S Endeavor St, Wasilla, AK 99654, United States
Website: Lake Lucile Dog Park
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)
2. Enjoy some pastries and coffee at Crema Coffee House & Pastries
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
Posted by Crema Coffee House and Pastries on Monday, August 7, 2017
Crema Coffee House & Pastries is a locally-owned coffee shop and bakery that serves a variety of pastries and drinks. They take pride in serving Kaladi Brothers Coffee, Octavia Tea, and European-inspired sweets. Customers praise the coffee shop’s atmosphere and delicious treats. Many also stated how the staff was very accommodating, friendly, and efficient. The outdoor patio is a great hangout spot on summers, while the cozy fireplace inside is a nice place to savor hot beverage in the winter.
Crema Coffee House & Pastries
Address: 1201 S Roger, S Rogers Cir, Wasilla, AK 99654, United States
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 7am - 7pm; Sun: 8am - 6pm
3. Delve into local history at the Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center
Come discover and learn more about the history of the city by visiting the Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center. Get to experience interactive dog mushing and gold mining exhibits while you are in the museum. The museum has the largest collection of artifacts, articles and other stuff about the history of Wasilla, Knik and Willow Creek Mining Areas. The buildings in the museum are considered to be very historic as well. In fact, two of them are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. That’s already history as soon as you step inside the museum!
Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center
Address: 323 N, Main St, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Wasilla Museum & Visitor Center
Opening hours: Tue - Fri: 9am - 5pm (closed from Sat - Mon)
4. Enjoy the surprising miniature trains at Alaska Live Steamers
If you are a train lover, then this place will surely be like heaven for you. The Alaska Live Steamers is a nonprofit organization that works to preserve and educate everyone about the history of trains and railroads. They offer a very fun place for everyone, regardless of their age. Anyone can ride their miniature trains, including those that require special needs. All of the money that they raise from the train rides and the donations from anonymous persons and guests are used for the maintenance of the facility. They also take the initiative to extend the track.
Alaska Live Steamers
Address: 1300 S Island St, Wasilla, AK 99654
Website: Alaska Live Steamers
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 10am - 4pm (closed from Mon - Fri)
5. Awaken the history buff in you at the Museum of Alaska Transportation
You must get the hype of riding trains after you have visited the Alaska Live Steamers. Extend the train and railroad experience by visiting the Museum of Alaska Transportation. The museum offers a very interesting experience even for those that are not really into trains, planes, or machinery. Stroll through old train cars, commercial fishing boats, and see how old farm machinery works. This museum is indeed a fun place for families as kids get to enjoy vintage cars and train displays. The museum is also a self-guided one, with placards and displays available wherever you go.
Museum of Alaska Transportation
Address: 3800 W Museum Dr, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Museum of Alaska Transportation
6. Explore Alaska's wilderness with Alaska Adventure Unlimited
Are you interested in making the most out of your trip to Alaska and Wasilla? Then joining a guided tour might be the best choice for you. If you are looking for the best tours in Wasila, then Alaska Adventure Unlimited is the one. Owned and operated by Alaskans, enjoy a very authentic tour with local Alaskans as your guides. They offer a lot of tours for curious tourists like you. The tours that they offer can also be customized depending on your schedule and preferences. They also provide amenities to ensure that you have a great experience.
Alaska Adventure Unlimited
Address: 3750 N Caribou St, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Alaska Adventure Unlimited
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
7. Relax in nature's lap at Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
Nancy Lakes Recreation Area offers a very unique experience compared to other park areas in the whole of Alaska. It is considered as one of the few flat landscapes with a lake in Alaska. The park is now being preserved for recreational use. Its clear waters are surrounded by virgin forests and is the perfect venue for activities like canoeing, camping, fishing, and hiking. During winters, the Nancy Lakes Recreation Area also offers a great venue for your cross-country skiing, dog mushing, and snow machining activities.
Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
Address: Milepost 67.3, Parks Hwy, Wasilla, Alaska
Website: Nancy Lake State Recreation Area
8. Interact with the locals at Bearpaw River Brewing Company
Being one of the 50 fastest-growing craft breweries in the whole of Alaska, as recounted by Forbes Magazine, Bearpaw River Brewing Company makes the best hand-crafted Alaskan beer for everyone. Their taproom serves a variety of beer styles that are sold by draft, kegs, growlers, and even in bottles and cans for takeout. You can also have some small talks with the locals and the brewers while you taste their beers. Plus, the drink they serve contains no substitutes to ensure that you are only drinking pure Alaskan beer.
Bearpaw River Brewing Company
Address: 4605 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Bearpaw River Brewing Company
Opening hours: Sun - Wed: 3pm - 8pm; Thu - Sat: 12pm - 8pm
9. Tour the interesting and informative Iditarod Headquarters
Wasilla is known for their dog mushing and dog sled racing contests. But have you wondered how this started in the city? Well, your curiosity will now be quenched when you visit the Iditarod Headquarters in the city. Get to learn about the history of the Iditarod and how dogs became an integral part of the establishment of the city and the state of Alaska as well. There’s also a lot of exhibits and displays explaining Iditarod and its past, present, and even the predicted future.
Iditarod Headquarters
Address: 2100 S Knik-Goose Bay Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Iditarod Headquarters
Opening hours: Mid-May - Mid-Sep: 8am - 7pm (daily); winters: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
10. Go back in time at the Knik Museum and Musher's Hall of Fame
Are you looking for something fun and different to do in the Matanuska Valley tomorrow, Sunday July 21st? Come join us...
Posted by Knik Museum on Saturday, 20 July 2019
Situated on the world-famous Iditarod Trail, Knik Museum is the best place to learn more about how the dog mushing and dog sledding culture in Wassila began. Housed in one of the two building left from the Knik’s original townsite, the Knik Museum is filled with displays, photos, exhibits and artifacts from the old times. The second floor of the museum is also home to the Sled Dog Musher’s Hall of Fame.
Knik Museum and Musher's Hall of Fame
Address: Mile 13.9 Knik-Goosebay Road, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Knik Museum and Musher’s Hall of Fame
Opening hours: Wed - Sun: 1pm - 6pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
11. Hike through the scenic Wasilla Creek Wetlands Trail
The Wasilla Creek Wetlands Trail is one of the best nature trails in the city. It is an elevated trail above Wasilla Creek’s wetlands and flows through the Palmer Hay Flats. Its boardwalk is approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) long and is almost parallel to the creek in the hay flats where there is another wide elevated platform. Walking through the trail is absolutely no sweat. Wheelchairs can even pass through it. Get to enjoy the amazing views of the mountains, water, and marsh around you. If you are lucky, you may also get to see migratory birds, fish, moose and other animals taking the trail with you.
Wasilla Creek Wetlands Trail
Address: 5990 E Nelson Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
12. Shop farm fresh at Wasilla Farmer's Market
The Wasilla Farmer’s Market is a seasonal market intended for nature and organic lovers. It is an event sponsored by the Wasilla Knik Historical Society that is held all throughout the summer from June to September. It provides local farmers, gardeners, bakers, artisans and the like a venue to sell all of their locally sourced and produced products to interested buyers. If you are a supporter of locally produced products and items, then you should head to the Wasilla Farmer’s Market now.
Wasilla Farmer's Market
Address: Wonderland Park, Wasilla, Alaska 99654
Website: Wasilla Farmer’s Market
Opening hours: 10am - 5pm (daily)
13. Enjoy ice skating at Brett Memorial Ice Arena
So thankful for the abundance of ice that the Brett Ice Arena blessed us with this summer, but there is nothing quite like being on home ice!! ❤️
Posted by Natasha Bowers on Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Skating is one of our loved activities during winter. But what if its summertime? The best place to get your skating fix is at the Brett Memorial Ice Arena in Wasilla. The ice arena has just undergone a major renovation, including a new sheet of ice for a nicer skating experience. They offer one-on-one coaching with one of their professional skating instructors. There’s also a theater on ice workshops, figure skating training, learn to skate classes and hockey games.
Brett Memorial Ice Arena
Address: 746 E Bogard Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Brett Memorial Ice Arena
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 6pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
14. Spot reptiles at the Valley Aquatics and Reptile Rescue
Posted by Valley Aquatics & Reptile Rescue on Thursday, 25 May 2017
Kids and animal lovers will surely love to pay a visit at the Valley Aquatics and Reptile Rescue in Wasilla. It is a locally owned and operated reptile sanctuary that is open to the general public. If you want to see exotic animals such as American Alligators, Savanah monitor lizards, iguanas, snakes, and komodo dragons, then you must surely visit. There are geckos, fishes, and turtles, which are very appealing to kids and the kids-at-heart.
Valley Aquatics and Reptile Rescue
Address: 8835 Waldal Dr, Wasilla, AK 99623, USA
Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 11am - 7pm (closed from Mon - Fri)
15. Children can enjoy at the Extreme Fun Center
There’s nothing better to do on a kids’ day out than the Extreme Fun Center in Wasilla. There are a lot of games and activities for your kids to spend their whole day at the Extreme Fun Center. Attractions include cart racing, laser tag, arcade games, kids soft play, laser shooting, mini bowling, rock climbing wall, spin bumper cars, and the newest one which is the XD dark ride. Parents and grownups can also enjoy a nice time in the Extreme Fun Center at their Sky Lounge. After hours of having fun, kids will surely love to eat and drink in the fun center that offers an array of food items and snacks for everyone. The Extreme Fun Center also offers a great venue for birthday parties and celebrations.
Extreme Fun Center
Address: 3501 E Old Matanuska Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Extreme Fun Center
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 11am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm
16. Explore kayaking in Wasilla Lake
If you are in the mood for a peaceful and calm activity in Wasilla, then you might want to visit Wasilla Lake. Enjoy a very quiet moment with yourself as you kayak through the serene Lake. At the shores of the lake is also the Newcomb Park Wasilla Lake that provides a venue for families to play, jog, swim, fish and relax. There are picnic tables, benches, pavilion and restrooms available in the park too. During winter, the Wasilla Lake freezes and becomes a perfect venue to skate and just play with ice and snow.
Kayaking in Wasilla Lake
Address: Wasilla Lake, Alaska 99654, USA
17. Take a stroll through Carter Park
Carter Park is a kid-friendly park located near Lake Lucile. Children will surely love the presence of ducks and playgrounds where they can play for hours outdoors. There’s also a number of picnic tables for a nice afternoon day-out with your family. There are also some benches, grasslands, and restrooms all over the park for your convenience.
Carter Park
Address: 600 S Lake St, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Carter Park
Opening hours: 8am - 10pm (daily)
18. Pamper your taste buds at Evangelo's Restaurant
If you are looking for some nice food made from healthy and organic ingredients, then this place is the perfect one for you. Evangelo’s Restaurant in Wasilla serves the best healthy food in the city. They specialize in Italian and Latin cuisine. There’s also gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly dishes, even for dessert. Plus, you will surely fall in love with their homely, laidback ambiance. When you’re in Evangelo’s Restaurant, make sure to try their bestsellers such as pizza, salads, fettuccine alfredo, fried zucchini, Greek salad, chicken fettuccine, Neptune seafood dish, eggplant parmesan, and chocolate cake.
Evangelo's Restaurant
Address: 2530 E Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Evangelo’s Restaurant
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10:30am - 9pm; Fri - Sat: 10:30am - 10pm
19. Make the most of the night at Knik Bar
Make plans now to join us Saturday for live music with The AK Acoustic Projekt starting at 9pm.
Posted by Knik Bar on Friday, 26 May 2017
Of course, the tourist experience in a different city won’t be complete without experiencing the local nightlife. The best place to spend the night with fun and laughter is at Knik Bar. The bar serves quality cocktails, beers, and other drinks to complete the night. It is best served with their signature Knik burger and the Patti Melt Hamburger. In fact, their burgers are really their bestsellers among locals. Their pizzas are surely a bomb as well. You can also mingle with the friendly locals. There’s a pool table, electronic bowling, and jukebox for an even fun night at the bar.
Knik Bar
Address: Mile 13.5 Knik Road, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Knik Bar
Opening hours: Sun - Thu: 10am - 11pm; Sat - Sun: 10am - 12am
20. Play one round at the Sleepy Hollow Golf Course
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
What a beautiful crisp fall day! Yes it’s fall season but still gorgeous out! Only 3 more days after today until the end of the season. And just a reminder we will be open on Labor Day.
Posted by Sleepy Hollow Golf Course on Friday, September 4, 2020
Golf is a sport for all ages. When you are on a trip to Wasilla, don’t forget to stop by and enjoy a couple of tees at the Sleepy Hollow Golf Course. The course is a nine-hole, par 27 golf course that is located 7 miles (11 kilometers) north of Wasilla. The Sleepy Hollow Golf course offers a driving range and a mini pro shop that sells basic golf equipment such as tees, balls, bags, and clubs. Refreshments such as snacks and soft drinks are also sold within the golf course. The course itself has some water and bunkers. The grass is also even while their longest hole might be at a few hundred yards, but newbies can still keep up with it.
Sleepy Hollow Golf Course
Address: 2721 E Sleepy Hollow Cir, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Website: Sleepy Hollow Golf Course
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 9am - 7:30pm (closed on Mon)
Enjoy the quaint city of Wasilla
With its very rich history, various activities and places of interest, Wasilla indeed is a must-visit place for both Alaskans and tourists from other states and countries. Whether its summer or winter, Wasilla has something to offer for you. Visit Wasilla, Alaska now!
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Adrianna .about 1 year ago
Okay, as a local, i can definitely for sure say that Nancy's lake is a no-go.
0 . Reply