Palmer

Visitor Center Flag

It rained Wednesday, we had planned to visit Palmer, a community in the Matanuska River Valley, about 40 miles north of Anchorage. We went anyway.
(See the South- Central Alaska Map.)

The first place we stopped was the hotel to warm up with some hot chocolate. The help there was preoccupied with something other than giving service to customers. But, eventually we got our hot chocolate.

Next we went to the visitor center, and the volunteers there, warmed us with their friendly attitude. They have a gift shop that features some unique local crafts, and they dispense great local information.

We soon learned that Palmer is the home of the Alaska State Fair, and that giant vegetables grown in this area during Alaska's long summer days.

Click for Palmer, Alaska Forecast
Sign at Palmer visitor center

The garden at the base of the Visitor Center sign was beautiful and typical of Alaska. But look at the size of the cabbage in the photo below. Maybe it wouldn't win first prize at the State Fair that was preparing to open at the south edge of Palmer, but it is a nice display for the cheechakos.



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