Alaska Hotel, Motel Lodging and Vacation Rental between Palmer and Wasilla, north of Anchorage, Alaska.

There are several museums and points of interest which can fill several half days. Wasilla is the home of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

The Iditarod Headquarters (907-376-5155) is less than ten minutes from the Agate Inn. Learn about the Iditarod history, watch race videos on a large screen TV, check out the souvenirs, and take a real live sled dog ride. Several miles further down Knik Road, visit the Knik Museum and Mushers Hall of Fame (907-376-7758). Knik Road travels along Cook Inlet. Along the way, watch for Beluga and Killer Whales which occasionally follow the salmon upstream.

Downtown Wasilla holds the Dorothy Page Museum and Town Site Park. The museum has an excellent collection of memorabilia from natives and early settlers. Tour through the old Wasilla town site buildings. Afterwards, on a hot day a swim in Wasilla Lake is refreshing for those young at heart.

On the northern edge of Wasilla, the Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry (907-376-1211) is an interesting place to visit. There are seven acres of Alaskan aircraft, farm implements, railroad cars, fire trucks, antique autos, fishing vessels and the Whitney Section House. Inside the 8,500 square foot Don Sheldon Building walk through a large collection of aviation photos, aircraft, etc. Admission is about $3.00 per person.

The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (907-745-4212) is five minutes from the Inn. The Center is open for tours on Fridays at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Visit the center and learn how earthquakes are monitored and Tsunamis are predicted.

Eklutna Historical Park (907-688-6026), is a Native Alaska village with one of the oldest Russian Orthodox Churches (St. Nicholas) in this part of Alaska. The colorful Spirit houses in the cemetery are intriguing. There are half hour tours of the museum, church and spirit houses.

The Alaska Museum of Natural History is currently putting together new exhibits for the 2004 season - check their website for updates.

The Musk Ox Farm (907-745-4151) is a non-profit project that promotes musk ox husbandry and use of qiviut as a basis for an Arctic textile industry which provides economic and subsistence communities throughout Arctic Alaska.

The Llama Farm (907-376-7676), and Reindeer Farm (907-745-4000) are located within fifteen minutes from the Agate Inn. In conjunction with viewing the animals, stop at the downtown Palmer Visitors Center and walk through the Alaska garden display, and Colony museum. The Alaska State Fair (800-850-FAIR) just south of Palmer has wonderful gardens and a relocated Colony village.

UofA Plant Materials Center, Palmer

There are also numerous u-pick farms and farms open to public tour, including Pyrah's Pioneer Peak Farm (907-745-4511) and the State Dept. of Agriculture's Plant Materials Center on Bodenburg Loop.

Our 24 hours of daylight during the summer helps generate some fabulous flowers and vegetables, including the giant vegetables our Valley is famous for. Visit the impressive vegetable display at the State Fair the end of August.

UofA Plant Materials Center, Palmer