Palmer, Alaska Travel Guide
Welcome to Palmer, Alaska! Palmer is in southern Alaska and is home to nearly 6,000 residents. Residents and visitors describe this town as quite windy! Palmer is home to the Alaska State Fair and is on the Mantanuska River. Located near Anchorage, AK (50min, 45 miles), visitors can enjoy the natural beauty, shopping, farms, breweries, and museums that Palmer has to offer!
Like most of Alaska, Palmer is surrounded by beautiful wilderness and mountains. For outdoor adventures, head to Matanuska River Park for river access, trails, and camping. For skiing and hiking, try Government Peak Recreation Area. Other popular trails include Lazy Mountain Trail and Bodenburg Butte Trail.
Palmer is full of history too! Head to the Palmer Visitor Center to learn about the area and check out the lovely gardens. The Palmer Museum of History and Art highlights local history and art, while the Colony House Museum provides an overview of colony life in the 1930s. Palmer also has a gold rush history, and visitors can see Independence Mine State Historical Park to see an abandoned gold mine.
Palmer is home to lots of shops and farms. Head to Reindeer Farm to see reindeer and other large animals like highland cows, moose, and yaks. The Musk Ox Farm features musk ox for visitors to see. There are lots of shops to enjoy. Head to Backcountry Bike and Ski for outdoor gear and Fireside Books for your next favorite read. Shop gifts and artisan items at Poppy Lane, Cold Moon Collective, Whimsy Gift Shoppe, and Homespun Alley. For a new look, shop for clothes at Thrifters Rock and Mauve Street Boutique.
With all there is to do in Palmer, it sure works up an appetite! Start your day with coffee from Vagabond Blues or Elwood’s Drive Thru. For breakfast, get brunch from Feather and Flour or breakfast classics and reindeer sausage from Sunrise Grill. For lunch, grab cheesesteaks from AK Best Philly’s, burgers and onions rings The Butte Burger Place, paninis and cheesecake from Sweet Gypsy, or American classics from The Noisy Goose. Palmer has a big beer scene for a small town. Try local brews from Akrose Brewing, Bleeding Heart Brewery, or Matanuska Brewery and Tap Room. Palmer Ale House is popular dinner spot for tap beer, live music, and pub music. The Palmer Bar and Grill is a good dinner spot too, but be sure to finish the night off with Big Dipper Ice Cream!
Need a place to stay? Consider booking a room at Valley Hotel, Hyland Hotel, The Pioneer Motel, or Alaska Glacier Lodge. Want a bed and breakfast experience? Consider staying at Alaska Knotty Pine Bed and Breakfast or Lake Lucille Bed and Breakfast. Want a whole place to yourself? Consider booking a Vrbo. Here are some of our favorites: Forest Cottage for 2, Downtown Home for 4, and a Mountain Retreat for 8.
Want to visit Palmer but not sure when? Consider coming to the Alaska State Fair! Whatever you’re into, Palmer, Alaska has something worth seeing. We hope this travel guide gives you a glimpse into life in Alaska that can inspire a future visit.
Happy Travels!
The Modern Travel Guide
