Exploring the Road Less Traveled

Traveling along the winding road of Seward Highway, south of Anchorage, Alaska, is enchanting. The mountains embrace Cook Inlet and all its inhabitants, creating an intimate feel that brings an instant sense of adventure. No matter what the weather is, this drive never disappoints. There are so many nooks and crannies to explore along this drive to the end of the inlet. Today’s destination: Mile 79, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center or AWCC.

At Mile 79, there is a gate with a sign indicating the entrance to AWCC. If you are not alert, you can zoom by. Though the entrance is labeled, the road is not paved. Bumping along over rocks and potholes along the drive in may be disconcerting to first time visitors, yet it adds to the charm of this rustic place.

AWCC’s mission is to conserve, educate and provide quality care for Alaska wildlife. They provide care to injured, orphaned and ill wildlife, and provide permanent homes for the wildlife that cannot be re-released. Their mission is noble and their actions are having an impact, yet it doesn’t describe the unique and enriching atmosphere one experiences at AWCC. Imagine being nose to nose with a moose or watching a heard of muskox graze in a large field while their babies play around them. Imagine walking on a sky bridge over a grizzly bear eating lunch or listening to elk call to each other while surrounded by two mountain ranges that eco their calls. This is the atmosphere of AWCC.

I buy my ticket at the entrance and start off on the self-guided tour. Despite manmade structures like fences, the enclosures for the residents of AWCC resemble their natural environment. As I slowly drive around the center, I stop at viewing areas to observe the animals. Each area has a description of the animal, why they are at the center, and what the center is doing in their conservation efforts for the species. The tour ends at the visitor’s center where you can purchase gifts, take guided tours and participate in educational programs.

People travel to Alaska to see Alaskan wildlife. They take wildlife tours in hopes of seeing a grizzly bear or a moose and return disappointed having not seen much. AWCC not only brings Alaska and its animals to its visitors, it allows its visitors to give back to the Alaska wildlife through their fees, gift shop purchases and donations. From the 47-mile drive to the center to exploring the center itself, AWCC is an interactive and enriching way to experience the Alaskan Frontier.