Two Nights in Palmer, Alaska

Alaska is a wild and beautiful state full of mountains and wilderness as far as the eye can see. A trip here will always be an adventure. Palmer is a small town just an hour northeast of Anchorage. I spent two nights in Palmer while I was in Alaska. This is a perfect place to base yourself to see some of the best aspects of Alaska. Here is how you can get the most out of two nights in Palmer, Alaska.

Day 1: The Road to Palmer

Thunderbird Falls

Our first excursion was actually on the way to Palmer. We made a quick stop at Thunderbird Falls which is a part of Chugach State Park and is only about half an hour from Anchorage. It is an easy hike to the overlook (unless you are out of shape like me and you are winded after climbing a single hill).

This is where we got our first feel for hiking in Alaska. Fellow hikers will say hello in passing, and you may even be able to strike up a conversation with some like-minded individuals. Take some detours off the main path when you see a small trail leading off to the side. They usually lead to incredible views. We didn’t go all the way down to the falls but just went to the overlook to take some pictures. Thunderbird Falls is a lovely short hike, and I recommend making a stop to get out of the car and stretch your legs.

I should also mention, that at a lot of these trails there is a fee station that you will need to pay if you plan on parking your car there for a certain amount of time. It was only $5 at all of the ones that we encountered.

Lunch in Palmer

Once in Palmer, we were ready to eat lunch and decided to hit up The Noisy Goose. I definitely recommend eating here. It has a nice atmosphere, and there was a bit of a wait which I think attests to the popularity of the place. I had a Ranch wrap with onion rings, which was awesome. Others in my group ordered a chicken salad sandwich, clam chowder, club melt with beer battered fries (so good), and a hot beef(which looked amazing). All the food seemed to disappear and the service was excellent. You should absolutely make a stop here if you find yourself in Palmer around a meal time.

Fishhook

After lunch, we took a drive to see the Independence Mine State Historical Park. Unfortunately, it was still too snowy for us to walk over and see the old mining town. We did see some people cross country skiing by the town and even some people with better-equipped footwear for walking in deep snow. It is definitely possible to get to the mine if you are properly prepared with equipment for traversing the snow. Although we were not prepared, the drive from Palmer to the mine provides incredible views of mountains. 

At this point, we also realized that we wouldn’t be able to see Hatcher Pass, also due to snow. This is not too surprising since we were traveling in late May. It would probably be another month or so before the snow melted. Nevertheless, it was a stunning drive, and we caught a glimpse of a ground squirrel and a Magpie. We also were surprised to see a little duck floating down the rapids of the Little Susitna River.

Dinner at Jimbo’s Food Bus

Guys, this place is great. Don’t let looks deceive you. Just down the road from our Cabin was a place called Fishhook Bar & Liquor, and right next to that is a bright blue bus. This is Jimbo’s Food Bus. His menu is amazing. I had a pulled pork sandwich and it was phenomenal. I’m from Tennessee and I can be picky about my barbecue, but this was top notch. My Dad and Brother both had cheeseburgers and only had good things to say, and my Mom had fish and chips that were pretty darn good (I had a taste). He served all of his plates with a piece of watermelon and cantaloupe and was even nice enough to pack it for us to go. If you are in Palmer, go out of your way to try Jimbo’s food. The experience is worth it.

Our Lodging

While we were in Palmer we stayed at Hatcher Pass Bed and Breakfast. We had our own cabin complete with eggs and sausage and bagels and homemade muffins for breakfast. Our host even called to say that she was going to put us in a larger cabin at no extra charge. There were two full sized beds upstairs and there was a queen bed in the bedroom downstairs. The cabin also had a living and dining area and a full kitchen. The whole place was very clean. In slightly warmer weather, you could utilize the fire pit and grill outside. All in all, we had a great stay at Hatcher Pass Bed and Breakfast and I recommend it to anyone staying in the area.

Day 2: Matanuska Glacier and Musk Ox

Matanuska Glacier

About an hour from our bed and breakfast in Palmer lies the largest glacier that can be accessed by car in the United States. Matanuska Glacier is 27 miles long by 4 miles wide and its terminus feeds into the Matanuska River. We drove through Chickaloon and were able to see the Matanuska River along the way. The drives in Alaska never seemed as long as they were. The scenery is so striking that you don’t even realize the distance you have traveled. The Matanuska Glacier viewpoint provides a spectacular view of the glacier and surrounding valley. There are some trails that you can take to get slightly different vantage points. This stop also has a fee station that you will need to pay if you plan on staying longer than 30 minutes. 

 

Lunch at the Lone Rifle Lodge

The Lone Rifle Lodge is a restaurant just down the road from the glacier viewing point. It has an amazing view of the glacier, so it is certainly a lunch with a view. The food is great too. I had salmon tacos with chipotle blueberry sauce. The others had a salmon salad, a beef burrito, and a chicken burrito. All food was eaten with much gusto. We even had dessert, which was warm rhubarb pie with vanilla ice cream on top. So good! Make a stop here for some good eats and good views. You could also meet some fellow Alaska enthusiasts while you dine. 

 

Palmer Musk Ox Farm

On the way back to Palmer from the Matanuska Valley, you will see signs for the Musk Ox Farm. This farm boasts 83 musk ox on 75 acres of land. Sherry, our tour guide, gave us a great tour of the farm and got us up close to some of the musk oxen. Musk oxen are primarily raised for qiviut. Qiviut is the soft underwool that is beneath the longer outer wool of the musk ox. Qiviut is gathered by simply brushing the ox. Then the fibers can be knitted into hats and scarves and the like. It is softer than cashmere and does not shrink. I felt some while I was there and it is indeed very soft. We had a great tour and really enjoyed our time to learn about these awesome animals that are being reintroduced to Alaska.

If you are interested in musk oxen, I encourage you to read up on the musk ox farm here: https://www.muskoxfarm.org/ They are fascinating creatures!

Dinner in Downtown Palmer

Downtown Palmer has some excellent dining options. Before dinner, we stopped by Market Mondays to see some local artisans’ work, and we also visited  Fireside Bookshop, because I am incapable of walking past a bookshop without going in. Downtown Palmer is full of charm and you will love strolling down the few streets and seeing it all. We had dinner at a Mediterranean inspired restaurant called Turkey Red.

After an appetizer of hummus, and some bread and oil, we split two pizzas. One portobello and ham, the other pepperoni and feta. After the main course, we split two desserts, chocolate mousse with lemon, and carrot cake with walnuts. At this point, I’m sure you can tell that we did not starve on this trip, and you won’t either! There are so many great things to eat in Alaska!

 

That concludes my two-day, two-night itinerary for Palmer Alaska. If you have a chance to spend more time in the Palmer area, you will have even more hiking and exploring to do. These suggestions can get you started! After Palmer, we headed up to Denali National Park and Preserve. The drive from Palmer to Denali is a long one, so we left early our last morning in Palmer. 

 

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about Palmer, Alaska. If you are planning a trip to Alaska I would love to help out in any way that I can!

Have you been to Palmer, Alaska? What did you do while you were there? Let me know in the comments!

 

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