Destinations / The best places to visit in Alaska, USA / Wasilla

 

  Wasilla is a great town which is situated on the Northern side of Knik Arm. It represents the launching point for the enthusiasts on fishing, camping and amazing exploring trips. Wasilla is a sprawling town, comprising a population of about 6,000 people, being the midway between Matanuska and Susitna valleys, on the George Parks Highway. The town celebrates its ties to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, including the Iditarod Trail Days Festival, which is organized each February. One more event that takes place in the winter time is the Iron Dog Race, a contest where the teams race snowmobiles from Fairbanks to Nome, then to Big Lake to Wasilla. During the summer months  Wasilla is the base for the fishing contests that are organized in Susitna and Little Susitna valleys. The local economy of the city is diverse and thirty percent of the Wasilla inhabitants commute to Anchorage, and work in different positions. The tourism, agriculture, wood products, steel and concrete products are the main parts of the city’s economy.

 

 

  Wasilla has the name dedicated to a respected local Dene’ina Indian, Chief Wasilla. In the Indian dialect Wasilla means “breath of air”. Other sources think that the name of the chief derived from the Russian name “Vasilii”, which is a variation of the Russian name “Wiliam”. The town was founded in 1917, at the intersection between Knik-Willow mining trail and Alaska Railroad, newly constructed at that period of time. The city served  as a supply base for gold, coal mining in the region, during the World War II. The Matanuska Susitna valley was made by many homesteaders, representing a part of an experiment made in the 1930s. The development of the valley was sustained due to the agricultural crops and natural resources. In 1974 the city was incorporated.

 

 

  The Hatcher Pass, situated at 18 miles North of Palmer, offers amazing mountain summits, that are very high and look gorgeous. The cabins left from the Gold Rush still rest on the summit of the most high and beautiful peaks, running to the lowest area of the valley. The summer activities include hiking, biking, and admiring the wildlife. The Independence Mine State Historical Park, which is protected by the Alaska State Parks  is located at the Hatcher Pass. The Historical Park  opens  a great experience about how  the life was  like back in the Gold Rush. Inside of the mine the tourists can admire the displays about mining, natural history and the story about Independence Mine. Take advantage  of  the  guided tour which  offers and  which  opens some of the mining camps historic buildings. The Visitor Center is opened daily, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 

  The visitors can choose to enjoy some exciting moments while admiring the Iditarod Race. The anchorage is the starting point for this enchanting and famous race, well known in the whole world. The field of dog teams runs to the Eagle River in order to check the point. After a short restart in Wasilla, the participants leave the land of highways and run across the Susitna River to Skwentna and then go up to Nome. The Museum of Alaska Transportation covers over 20 acres and includes original displays. The museum boasts a train yard, outdoor artifacts, and an impressive exhibit hall. The museum was constructed  to offer a home to transportation and industrial artifacts, as well to relate the stories about the people and about the machines that opened Alaska to growth, development and exploration. The Wasilla Museum is a splendid old log museum, that appears along with a modern museum. It rises up between the fire station and the public library. It is opened seven days per week and it preserves the history of Wasilla, also featuring a gift shop and an information center for visitors. Wasilla is a spectacular city, one of the most fast growing in Alaska, that surprises tourists with beautiful landscapes and surprising  places. It is truly fantastic.

 

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