The Perfect Weekend Getaway from Anchorage

STAY: 

-Sheep Mountain Lodge : this is such a beautiful setting.  There are several options for lodging, you can even camp.  I would recommend booking a private room/cabin with a shared bathroom, that's all you need. The bathroom is so clean and there are multiple so you will never have to wait. There is also a hot tub with a nice mountain view. Have dinner at the restaurant on site; I had reindeer nachos that did not disappoint. After dinner, hit up the hot tub,  then have a fire.  There was free firewood when we were there.  Bring warm clothes and hang out around the fire! The views are insane and it's quiet and peaceful. Look up at the mountain right by the lodge.  There’s a reason why it’s called Sheep Mountain.  There’s even a viewing telescope you can look into.  Wander around the property; there’s a lot to see here including a " Volvo Graveyard" - exactly what it sounds like: a yard full of Volvos. 

Moose near the Volvo Graveyard

DO: 

-Do this glacier guided hike. Back when we did this it was about $100 per person (tip not included, we left $40 tip total for all 4 of us); I am guessing the prices have gone up.  It was a 2-3 hour hike that was not physically demanding, but can be treacherous.  They provide you with Crampons that work really well; sometimes you have to make small little jumps over crevasses. We liked our guides a lot. It was a really cool experience with beautiful scenery. Get there early (ie. at least 20 minutes) as you have some paperwork to fill out and you have to drive down to the glacier, which can be a little rough in a non-4wheel drive car. This was a super cool experience. Just google Matanuska Glacier and you'll see how pretty it is! There are several different outfitters to choose from, we were happy with ours. 

Matanuska Glacier

-If you are an experienced glacial hiker, you can do it on your own too.

-There is also ziplining in this area 

STOP/EAT: 

*On the way to/from the north eat lunch at this place: Humdinger's Gourmet Pizza Co in Palmer, AK. They had delicious food and it was a cute place with good service.  

*Another option to do on the way to/from the North: Hatcher Pass. 

-->Some hiking options there.

-->The times we went there, we went through the Mine and hiked around the Mine. We also would just pull off the road and hike around wherever we thought it looked pretty. This is a really scenic area, but you can just drive it too if you don't feel like getting out of the car. 

-->An Outbound adventure at the Mine 

Hatcher Pass