Page 81 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

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r Lake Hood and
Lake Spenard
Lakeshore Drive. Map E1. @ 7A.
Open 24 hrs. 7
Keeping Anchorage in touch
with the Alaska that exists
beyond its urban boundaries,
this is the largest and busiest
floatplane base in the US. It
handles up to 800 takeoffs and
landings per day and anyone
chartering a bush flight into
1928 Stearman on display, Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum a remote area will probably
depart from here. The best
dramatic bluff visible here. planes. There is detailed viewpoint to watch the flights
At the southern end of the coverage of the state’s World is behind the Department
trail, the 2 sq miles (5.7 sq km) War II history, including the of Transportation building.
Kincaid Park, a forested glacial Japanese invasion, along A lakeside park features a
moraine area, offers excellent with collections of artifacts, roped-off swimming area.
summer hiking and a network photo graphs, aviators’ clothing,
of Nordic ski trails in the winter. and newspaper accounts of
The park also has the city’s high lights in Alaskan aviation.
largest population of moose. The museum also preserves
an extensive collection of his-
e Alaska Aviation toric aircraft, including: a 1928
Stearman bush plane that was
Heritage Museum among the first to land on
Denali in 1932; one of only
4721 Aircraft Dr. Map E1. Tel 248-5325.
@ 7A. Open mid-May–mid-Sep: two remaining 1928 Hamilton
9am–5pm daily; mid-Sep–mid-May: Metalplanes; Merle “Mudhole”
9am–5pm Wed–Sun. & 7 = Smith’s 1929 Cordova Airways
∑ alaskaairmuseum.org TravelAir; a 1929 Loening
seaplane first flown to Alaska Anchorage’s Lake Hood and Lake Spenard
Located on the shores of Territory in 1946 by former floatplane base
Lake Hood, the Alaska Aviation governor Jay Hammond; and a
Heritage Museum is a must- 1931 Fairchild Pilgrim aircraft. A
see for anyone interested in 100-seat theater is available for t Spenard
the lives and achievements of view ing a library of film footage Map E1. @ 7.
traditional bush pilots and their about Alaska’s early pilots.
Anchorage’s funky Spenard
district was once a separate
town, connected to down-
town by the winding Spenard
Road. Visitors to the neigh-
borhood may come across a
scattering of less-than-reputa-
ble businesses, throwbacks
to Spenard’s grittier days.
Despite its past and its
somewhat unsavory reputa tion,
Floatplane taking off from the Lake Hood and Lake Spenard complex Spenard is rapidly becoming
a fashionable neighborhood.
Bush Flying in Alaska The derelict buildings and
trailer parks are giving way to
Visitors who wish to fly into a remote lodge or enjoy a wilderness houses, health food eateries,
fishing trip are likely to employ an Alaskan bush pilot. These legendary
aviators fly across untracked country, land on lakes and gravel bars, second-hand shops, motels,
and defy natural conditions that most conventional pilots prefer to and atmos pheric bars and
avoid. About 1 in 50 Alaskans has a pilot’s license, and the state sup- clubs. The corner of Spenard
ports over 290 charter companies. Careful preparations are essen tial and Northern Lights has a REI
as drop-offs and pickups are prescheduled and can be disrupted by store (see p93), along with a
bad weather or unforeseen circumstances. Kaladi Brothers coffee shop
and one of Alaska’s finest
bookstores, Title Wave Books.

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