Matanuska Glacier, located about two hours northeast of Anchorage, is one of the few in Alaska you can actually walk on without a helicopter or serious gear. Guided hikes take you right onto the ice—past crevasses, bright blue melt pools, and rugged, frozen terrain.

There’s a reason why it’s called Earthquake Park. This is where parts of Anchorage slid into the inlet during the 1964 quake—the strongest ever recorded in North America. A short trail loops through the area, with signs explaining what happened. If you look closely, you can still spot some of the ground shifts and tilted trees. On clear days, there’s a wide view over the water—and sometimes even Denali, the tallest mountain in North America, way off in the distance.

The National Gallery of Art has a huge collection spanning centuries. The Neo-Classical West Building houses European paintings and sculptures, while the modern East Building focuses on 20th- and 21st-century art. Outside, the Sculpture Garden features large-scale works and is a nice spot to take a break.

The tulips from Tasmania's north west coast are so good that the bulbs are exported all the way back to Holland! Come and see the tulips in full bloom in Wynyard in October when the rows and rows of spectacular tulips adorn Table Cape.