The final days in Anchorage Alaska

From Denali we went back to Talkeetna  where we took the train back to Anchorage Alaska for our last day in Alaska.  This is the picture of the sunset over the bay in Anchorage Alaska taken from the 8th floor of our hotel room.  An inspirational ending for a day of beauty that one wants to be able to hold a lifetime.

The next morning we toured Anchorage.  I took the walking history tour of Anchorage and learned about Captain James Cook, a British explorer who explored Alaska and Antarctica. 

 We spent our afternoon at the Cultural Center.  We wished we had gone out earlier in the morning.  We wanted to go through all of the exhibits, all the presentations, dances and the Native American games.  What an amazing center.  If anyone goes to Anchorage, be SURE to spend an entire day here!  The Native Americans have been able to retain their way of life and values.  Here is a group who danced and sang for us.  All the time they danced their hands were covered with gloves.

 The elder in this picture is the one who remembered the dances and taught the other women. 

 At night we went the the famous Sourdough Mining Co. restaurant.  It usually has a show that happens "spontaneously" during the tourist season, but we were there on a Monday evening, so we had a great dinner and enjoyed the "wild environment"!

 A reindeer, bear, moose antlers and many wonderful antiques  from the mining days.   

 Outside the restaurant was an outdoor theater that was surrounded by beautiful flower gardens.  These are pictures of just a few  of them.

We went back to the hotel and early the next morning I took a cab to the airport and flew back to MN.  Heart grateful for the beauty, the time with wonderful friends and for a trip of a lifetime.

If you are ever able to go to Alaska...be sure you GO!!!

Thanks for reading and enjoying these blogs!  S. Sharon