Day 41 of Our RV Journey to Canada & Alaska 6/22/14 Explore Anchorage

We left this morning around 9:00 to go on a day trip to Anchorage.   Anchorage is Alaska's largest city; population is approx.. 297,000.  More than half of Alaska's population lives in Anchorage & the neighboring Matanuska-Susitna borough, which includes Palmer & Wasilla.  It is approx. 40 miles from where we are staying this week in Palmer.

We got there a few minutes early.  There were workers cleaning up and taking down equipment used in the city's "SOLSTICE Festival" that took place last night.  The longest day of summer (June 22)  is celebrated here in Alaska in many of it's cities and towns.

We went to the Anchorage Market & Festival.  It is Alaska's largest outdoor market.  It is a popular market that is open on Saturday & Sunday, mid-May through mid-Sept, in the downtown area.  There were vendors with art, jewelry, clothing, fruits & vegys, food, baked goods, clothing, Alaskan souvenirs and much more., all set up under white canopy tents.

After we got finished going through the market, we walked downtown and went to some of the gift shops.  The downtown area was lined with hanging flowers on both sides of the streets.  The parks were landscaped with beautiful flowers.  They really made their downtown welcoming to those visiting the city.

 The streets downtown were adorned with hanging flowers on both sides of the streets.

You can't take the kid out of a man ....Jesse having  a good time.

 

Bob & I posing with a $7,999.00 Stuffed Animal ...sorry to our grandkids, Pops and Gram didn't buy any

stuffed animals....LOL!!!

 This head mount of a moose hung in one of the shops we went to.  Notice it's approx. foot long beard....didn't know they  had beards!!

The park was landscaped with beautiful bright flowers.

This mural was on side of building next to the park. 

Since we were in Anchorage we also went to the Alaska Aviation Museum.  It is located on the south shore of Lake Hood and is the busiest seaplane base in the world.  They have displays of Alaska's aviation heritage displayed in 5 hangars.    

They had a flight simulator.

 

WIPE OUT!!!

 There was a cockpit of a plane on display.

 One of a few displays outside.

While there, we watched several floatplanes take-off & land on the lake.

This is an interesting sign along the highway on the edge of Palmer, close to where we are staying.  We were wondering if Alaska has a lot of moose related vehicle accidents....guess this answers our question.  I'm sure that hitting a moose with a vehicle would cause some huge damage.

We returned to the campground at 4:10. It was my day to cook, and with Bob's help we had dinner ready to eat at 5:00.  We had Pork Loin injected with apple butter & spices, cooked in the crock pot, Cheesy Mash Potato Casserole with Toasted Onions on top, Steamed Broccoli, and biscuits.

Souv 39.96 Cab/

Fd 14.00csh/

Adm 10.00 csh/

jl