Alaska Guide

Days worth planning around

Guides built from the questions guests actually ask. Each one tells you how long the drive really takes, which property it works best from, and what we will not promise you.

Anchorage · Low-Effort Arrival DayAn easy first day in AlaskaWhat to do the day you land, what to skip, and how to arrive without burning the trip's first evening.Read guide →
Hatcher Pass · Mat-Su ValleyHatcher Pass & Independence MineThe Valley's alpine backyard — mine ruins, ridgelines, and wildflowers above treeline.Read guide →
Talkeetna · Parks HighwayA day in TalkeetnaA character-heavy river town with some of the best unobstructed Denali views in the state — when the mountain is out.Read guide →
Whittier · Prince William SoundA day in WhittierA one-lane tunnel through a mountain into a small port town on Prince William Sound.Read guide →
Eklutna Lake · Chugach State ParkA day at Eklutna LakeA long turquoise lake in the Chugach with an easy shoreline trail, roughly between Anchorage and the Valley.Read guide →
Blodgett Lake · Fishing, No Drive RequiredFishing near Blodgett LakeCasual lake fishing from the dock, plus how to think about Mat-Su water without driving to the Kenai.Read guide →
Denali National Park · Parks HighwayDenali National Park, from SouthcentralA real destination in its own right — the tundra, wilderness, and Park Road experience, not a substitute for seeing the mountain.Read guide →
Seward · Kenai PeninsulaSeward — Gateway and Harbor TownWhere mountains, ice, and ocean meet — a working harbor town with strong fishing and Kenai Fjords National Park right there.Read guide →
Matanuska Glacier · Glenn HighwayMatanuska Glacier, up closeMost Alaska glaciers you see from a boat, a plane, or a distance in the mountains. This one you can get genuinely close to.Read guide →
Girdwood · Turnagain ArmGirdwood and AlyeskaA genuine flexible destination at the foot of a mountain resort, not just the first stop on the drive south.Read guide →
Turnagain Arm · Scenic Drive CorridorThe Turnagain Arm / Seward Highway driveOne of Alaska's strongest scenic drives on its own terms — a federally designated All-American Road along Turnagain Arm.Read guide →
Palmer · Mat-Su ValleyPalmer — the Valley's junction and its own destinationThe farm end of the Mat-Su Valley, going back to the 1935 Matanuska Colony — a real crossroads and a real place in its own right.Read guide →
Musk Ox Farm · PalmerMusk Ox FarmA nonprofit farm near Palmer raising musk oxen for their qiviut wool, with guided tours that get guests close to a genuinely unusual Arctic animal.Read guide →
Reindeer Farm · PalmerReindeer FarmA family-run Palmer-area farm, open since 1987, where guests can hand-feed and walk among reindeer — a straightforward, family-friendly animal experience.Read guide →
Nancy Lake · Mat-Su ValleyNancy Lake State Recreation AreaA 22,685-acre lake-studded state recreation area off the Parks Highway, built around a real canoe-trail system connecting dozens of lakes — the Valley's best-known paddling destination.Read guide →
Knik Glacier · Mat-Su Valley BackcountryKnik Glacier — remote, and worth planning forClose to the Valley on the map, but there is no ordinary road to the glacier face. Getting there is part of the experience.Read guide →
Hope · Turnagain ArmHope, across Turnagain ArmA small former gold-rush town on the quiet side of Turnagain Arm — a slower destination, not a headline attraction.Read guide →
Byron Glacier · Portage ValleyByron GlacierOne of the easiest real glacier-valley walks in Portage Valley — no reservation, no tour, just a short creekside trail into a dramatic view.Read guide →
Portage Valley · Turnagain ArmPortage Glacier and the Valley Around ItThe free, flexible version of Portage — the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center and the valley itself — with the boat cruise offered as an upgrade, not the default.Read guide →
Reed Lakes · Hatcher PassReed Lakes TrailOne of the bigger hikes out of Hatcher Pass — alpine scenery, alpine lakes, and a boulder section that makes it a real mountain hike.Read guide →
Exit Glacier · Kenai FjordsExit GlacierThe easiest way to see a glacier up close near Seward without a boat — a well-built path from the Nature Center, with a much more serious icefield hike also starting from the same trailhead.Read guide →
Rabbit Lake · Chugach State ParkRabbit LakeA genuine alpine-lake hike in Chugach State Park, climbing through the Rabbit Creek Valley to a real alpine lake at the top.Read guide →
Trail of Blue Ice · Portage ValleyTrail of Blue IceAn easy way to actually experience Portage Valley instead of just driving through it — a developed path good for walking or biking, useful in sections.Read guide →
Explorer Glacier · Portage ValleyExplorer GlacierOne of the easiest glacier sightings on the whole Portage drive — visible along the approach, no walking or stopping required.Read guide →
Anchorage · Glen AlpsFlattop MountainOne of Anchorage's easiest gateways into the Chugach — broad views from the Glen Alps overlook with very little walking, plus a real mountain hike from the same trailhead for guests who want one.Read guide →
Kincaid Park · Anchorage Coastal TrailKincaid ParkA big stretch of coastal forest inside Anchorage itself — trails for walking, running, biking, and cross-country skiing, with room to fill a few hours or a whole afternoon.Read guide →
Lake Hood · SpenardLake Hood Seaplane BaseThe world's busiest seaplane base, minutes from Spenard — a real, working slice of Alaska aviation you can watch from public shoreline.Read guide →
Anchorage · Coastal TrailTony Knowles Coastal TrailA paved multi-use trail along Anchorage's coastline — flexible enough for an hour or an entire afternoon, on foot or on a bike.Read guide →
Virgin Creek Falls · GirdwoodVirgin Creek FallsA short, high-reward waterfall walk in Girdwood — about ten minutes in, through coastal rainforest, to a mossy falls overlook.Read guide →
Portage Valley · Wildlife ViewingAlaska Wildlife Conservation CenterA wildlife and conservation center along the Placer River near Portage — a dependable way to see Alaska animals up close without counting on a roadside sighting.Read guide →
Mat-Su Valley & Anchorage · Farm Guide CollectionAlaska Grown: Farms, Markets & Local FoodThe gateway into Southcentral Alaska's local agriculture — visit a working farm, shop a market, and bring Alaska-grown ingredients back to cook at Cozihaus.Read guide →
Palmer · Late August Through Early SeptemberAlaska State FairOne of Southcentral Alaska's signature late-summer experiences — Alaska-grown crops, giant vegetables, agricultural exhibits, and Fair food together in Palmer.Read guide →
Palmer · Mat-Su Valley FarmMoonstone FarmA family-owned working farm in the Matanuska Valley, built around a farm market and other visitor experiences — a real working-farm stop, not just a produce stand.Read guide →
Palmer · Pioneer PeakPyrah's Pioneer Peak FarmA working Alaska farm and U-Pick experience near Pioneer Peak, when conditions and season allow — harvest or buy local vegetables and bring them back to Cozihaus to cook.Read guide →
Anchorage · Mountain View Farm & MarketGrow North FarmAn urban agriculture and community farm in Anchorage's Mountain View neighborhood — a different kind of local-food experience than the Valley farms, grown by farmers from a range of cultural backgrounds.Read guide →
Anchorage · Southcentral AlaskaAnchorageMore than the arrival point — neighborhoods, food, coastal trails, wildlife, museums, and Chugach access, all within one metropolitan area.Read guide →
Wasilla · Mat-Su ValleyWasillaThe practical center of the western Mat-Su Valley — provisions, local food, and Valley orientation, right next to Cozihaus on Blodgett Lake.Read guide →
Denali State Park · Parks HighwayDenali State ParkNot Denali National Park — a separate Alaska State Park along the Parks Highway, with roadside viewpoints, campgrounds, lakes, trails, and Denali views when the mountain is out.Read guide →
Southcentral Alaska · FishingFishing in Southcentral AlaskaHow Southcentral fishing actually varies by water, species, season, and access — where it works from a Cozihaus stay, and what to check before you go.Read guide →
Cooper Landing · Sterling HighwayCooper LandingThe Upper Kenai gateway — a small Sterling Highway community at the north end of Kenai Lake, and a real decision point for fishing, rafting, hiking, and the rest of the Kenai Peninsula.Read guide →
Russian River · Cooper LandingRussian RiverOne of Southcentral Alaska's most recognizable salmon-fishing areas, but more than a fishing hole — the Russian River system includes Russian River Falls, the Russian Lakes Trail, and the confluence with the Kenai River, all near Cooper Landing.Read guide →
Soldotna · Kenai RiverSoldotnaA central Kenai Peninsula hub built around the Kenai River — the most heavily fished river in Alaska — and a practical base for continuing toward Kenai or Homer.Read guide →
Homer · Kachemak BayHomerA major Kenai Peninsula destination on Kachemak Bay — the Homer Spit, serious halibut fishing, marine wildlife, and a genuine arts community. Best planned as an overnight, not a day trip.Read guide →
Moose Pass · Seward HighwayMoose PassA small mountain community on the Seward Highway, on the shore of Upper Trail Lake — an outdoor gateway with trails, lake access, fishing, and real Chugach National Forest character.Read guide →
Blodgett Lake · Seasonal WildlifeSockeye Salmon Spawning at Blodgett LakeA seasonal wildlife moment right at the dock — sockeye salmon gathering in the shallows and gravel to spawn, completing a life cycle years in the making.Read guide →
Summit Lake · Hatcher PassSummit Lake at Hatcher PassA small alpine tarn near the top of Hatcher Pass Road, with a short, easy trail around the shore and a bluff view beyond — one of the easiest ways to get the high-alpine Hatcher Pass experience without committing to a hike.Read guide →
April Bowl · Hatcher PassApril BowlA real alpine hike from the Summit Lake trailhead — switchbacks into a small valley with a cirque lake and several ponds, then a narrow, rough ridge trail ending at Hatch Peak. The more active side of a Hatcher Pass day.Read guide →
Skeetawk · Hatcher PassSkeetawk Ski AreaA small, community-run alpine ski area in Hatcher Pass — a beginner-friendly chairlift and lessons in winter, a weekend yurt café and trail access in summer.Read guide →

Where these days happen

Alaska, relative to both stays

Most of these guides work from either home. Which one is the easier base depends on which way the day points.

Approximate areas, drawn for direction rather than to scale. Exact addresses are shared once a stay is confirmed.

Cozihaus on Blodgett LakeA natural base for Valley and northbound exploring — Hatcher Pass, Palmer, Talkeetna, and beyond.
Cozihaus in SpenardA natural base for Anchorage and Turnagain Arm — city experiences, the Chugach, Girdwood, Portage, and Whittier.

Where these stays reach

Hover a place to see which stay it sits closest to. Tap or click any place with a guide to open it.