Page 76 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

74  ALASK A AREA B Y AREA

15 national parks, the nation’s
2 largest national forests,
16 national wildlife refuges, and
millions of acres of other public
lands. This information center,
which is housed within the old
Federal Building, has displays
on Alaska’s wildlife and natural
areas, a plethora of books and
other publications, and an
auditorium for nature videos
and talks.
If you’re looking for advice on
anything from buses into Denali
or bush flights into the Arctic
The picturesque Log Cabin Visitor Information Center National Wildlife Refuge, this is
a great place to ask experienced
3 Anchorage spot for photos, and outside staff. Daily historical walks are
Market & Festival there are equally picturesque also offered. It is located across
signposts showing the distance the street from the Log Cabin
3rd Ave at E St. Map D4. Tel 272-5634. in miles to many international Visitor Information Center. There
@ to Downtown Transit Center. cities. The main visitor center are also branches in Fairbanks,
Open mid-May–mid-Sep: 10am– fills a second building. Here Tok, and Ketchikan.
6pm Sat & Sun. 7
you’ll find visitor brochures,
free guides to nearby parks, and 6 4th Avenue
A favorite of both locals and other publications, plus helpful
tourists, this weekend market staff to answer travel questions. Theater
attracts hundreds of people on 630 W 4th Ave. Map D4. @ to
summer weekends to a large Downtown Transit Center.
downtown parking lot across 5 Alaska Public Closed to the public.
from the Hilton Hotel. The event Lands Information
combines a farmers’ market, Center Designed in 1941 in classic Art
craft booths, food, and entertain- Deco style by B Marcus Priteca,
ment. You’ll find more than 300 605 W 4th Ave. Map D4. Tel 644-3661, the old 4th Avenue Theater,
vendors selling made-in-Alaska (866) 869-6887. @ to Downtown also known as the Lathrop
pottery, nature photo graphy, Transit Center. Open last Mon Building, is the quintessential
clothing, home-made jams and May (Memorial Day)–first Mon Anchorage land mark.
birch syrup, Alaskan keepsakes, Sep (Labor Day): 9am–5pm daily; Construction began in 1941
nesting dolls, colorful flowers, remainder of the year: 10am–5pm at the cost of one million
and an array of fresh Mat-Su Tue–Fri. Closed public hols. US dollars, and the building
Valley produce. There are ∑ alaskacenters.gov opened to the public with the
plenty of fast food stalls too, film The Al Jolson Story. With
selling a range of tasty snacks The Federal government 960 seats spread over its main
from pizza slices and Kachemak manages more than 60 percent floor and the balcony, the
Bay oysters to sweet funnel of Alaska lands, including 4th Avenue Theater served as
cakes. The market is open the city’s only movie house for
rain or shine. over four decades. Remarkably,
the theater survived the
4 Log Cabin Visitor enormously destructive 1964
Good Friday earthquake (see
Information Center p29), which leveled other
buildings along 4th Avenue.
546 W 4th Ave. Map D4. Tel 257-2363.
@ to Downtown Transit Center. A restoration project in the
Open mid-May–mid-Sep: 8am–7pm mid-1980s revived its opulent
daily; mid-Sep–mid-May: 9am–4pm Italian marble and walnut
daily. Closed public hols. 7 wood interiors, which are
∑ anchorage.net adorned with impressive
bronze relief murals depicting
Operated by the Anchorage scenes from Alaskan history.
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Though currently closed, there
this helpful center is in the are plans to redevelop the
heart of downtown Anchorage. building; however, the theater’s
The flower-bedecked, sod- Classic neon sign of Anchorage’s historic significance means that
roofed log cabin is a favorite 4th Avenue Theater this has met with opposition.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see p242 and pp250–51

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