Alaska factories to visit and tour

Alaska has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.

In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!

These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?

Here are some of the top factory tours in Alaska and contact information and tips about visiting them.

Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Alaska

 

1. ULU Factory  - Knife maker
   211 West Ship Creek Avenue, Anchorage, AK 99501. Phone: (907) 276-3119. Email: info@theulufactory.com. Open: Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM, Sat & Sun: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
   The ULU Factory invites you to a truly interesting experience at Alaska’s most unique manufacturing facility. Watch the knives being made, the blade and handle assembled and packaged. A staff member will be happy to take you on a personal tour.  See a demonstration on how to use, sharpen, and care for a ULU knife and cutting bowls.
   We have an extensive gift shop to shop our products along with many other Alaskan made gifts.
   They make knives historically used by the Eskimos, the ulu. This is a curved blade used to cut through salmon flanks or walrus blubber.
   
   

Alaska Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas

• Alaska Public Lands - Anchorage, AK. Alaska’s parks, forests, and refuges are rich and varied. The Alaska Public Lands Information Centers help visitors and residents to have meaningful, safe, enjoyable experiences on public lands, and encourages them to sustain the natural and cultural resources of Alaska. These centers provide trip-planning, interpretation, and education for all ages.
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps
• Aleutian Islands World War II National Historic Area - Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, AK. During World War II the remote Aleutian Islands, home to the Unangax (Aleut) people for over 8,000 years, became a fiercely contested battleground in the Pacific. This thousand-mile-long archipelago saw invasion by Japanese forces, the occupation of two islands; a mass relocation of Unangax civilians; a 15-month air war; and one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific Theater.
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps
• Cape Krusenstern National Monument - Kotzebue, AK. North of the Arctic Circle, the monument forms 70 miles of shoreline on the Chukchi Sea. More than 114 beach ridges provide evidence of human use for 5,000 years. The Inupiat continue to use the area today. Vast wetlands provide habitat for shorebirds from as far away as South America. Hikers and boaters can see carpets of wildflowers among shrubs containing wisps of qiviut from muskoxen.
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps
• Iñupiat Heritage Center - Barrow , AK. On the rooftop of the world, the Iñupiat Heritage Center in Barrow, Alaska, tells the story of the Iñupiat people. They have thrived for thousands of years in one of the harshest climates on Earth, hunting the bowhead, or "Agviq." In the 19th century, these lonely seas swarmed with commercial whalemen from New England, who also sought the bowhead for its valuable baleen and blubber.
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps
• Katmai National Park and Preserve - King Salmon, AK. A landscape is alive underneath our feet, filled with creatures that remind us what it is to be wild. Katmai was established in 1918 to protect the volcanically devastated region surrounding Novarupta and the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. Today, Katmai National Park and Preserve also protects 9,000 years of human history and important habitat for salmon and thousands of brown bears.
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Park maps
• Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Skagway, AK. Headlines screamed "Gold!" The dream of a better life catapulted thousands of people to Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Their journey shaped them, and changed the people they encountered and the north forever. Today, the park remembers the trails, boomtowns, and stories of the Klondike Gold Rush.
  • Alerts and Current Conditions
  • Info about the park
  • Park event calendar
  • Klondike Gold Rush Maps

Alaska

Alaska State historic sites and parks

These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement

 See below for state parks trail maps.

Chugach State Park

Anchorage Hillside Trail System Anchorage Hillside Bike Trail System Bird Ridge Trail Bird Valley Trail System Chugach Bike Map Crow Pass Trail Eagle River Nature Center Trail System Eklutna Lake Trail System Falls Creek Trail Flattop Mountain Trail Guide

Indian to Girdwood Bike Path Indian Valley Trail Guide McHugh and Rabbit Lake Trails Peters Creek Valley Trail South Fork Eagle River Trail Thunderbird Falls Trail Turnagain Arm Trail Wolverine and Williwaw Trail System

Denali State Park

K'esugi Ridge Trail System North Upper Troublesome Creek Trail

K'esugi Ridge Trail System South

Kachemak Bay State Park

Alpine Ridge Trail China Poot Lake Trail Emerald Lake Loop and Mallard Bay Trail Glacier Lake, Saddle and Blue Ice Trail Grace Ridge Trail

Moose Valley Trail Poot Peak Trail Sadie Knob Trail Wosnesenski River Trail Kachemak Bay State Park Map

Kodiak Area Parks

Shuyak Island Trail Map
Shuyak Island Kayak and Packrafting Routes

Caines Head State Recreation Area

Caines Head Trail

Alpine, South Beach, and Loop Trails

Chena River State Recreation Area

Angel Creek Hillside and Winter Trail Angel Rocks Trail Angel Rocks to Chena Hot Springs Trail Chena Dome Trail

Compeau Trail and Colorado Creek Winter Trail Granite Tors Trail Stiles Creek Trail

Southeast State Parks

Point Bridget State Park Trails

Snowmachine trail maps

Big Lake Area Caribou Hills South Denali Highway Juneau Area Lower Susitna-Yentna Area Petersville Area Trails Yukon Quest

Caribou Hills North Chena Area Hatcher Pass Management Area Lake Louise Area Mid Susitna Valley Trails Willow Area

Camping tips

Below is a list of state campgrounds available sorted by park area. Not all fees are listed on this page, so please check for additional campground fees on Alaska State Parks Facility Fees page prior to heading out on your camping trip. There are also private campgrounds in Alaska.

State campground fees:

Annual camping passes are no longer available. The program was discontinued in 2004.

• Nightly camping: $10 to $45 per night
• Daily parking: $5 to $10 per vehicle
• Boat launches: $10 to $25 per day
• Sanitary dump station: $10
• Firewood: $10 maximum per bundle where available
• Guided tours of historic sites: $6 to $30

See a listing of fees by facility. The state also has a Camping FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions page.

Non-camping annual passes:

• Daily Parking Pass: $60
• Boat Launch Pass: $150
• Disabled Veteran's Annual Camping Pass - Free (Check eligibility requirements)

These passes are good for the calendar year and are honored in most state parks.

ALL CAMPGROUNDS ARE FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED AND CANNOT BE RESERVED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE COLUMN 'CAN RESERVE CAMPSITES'. If there is a 'YES' in the column, click the 'YES' for more information.

Be sure to check the park open status before heading out!

Chugach State Park

Unit Name

Fee

No. of Campsites

Can Reserve Campsites?

Picnic Sites

Toilets

Drinking Water

Trails

Historical Features

Boat Launch

Fishing

Cabins

Nearest Community

Location

Bird Creek Campground

$20

27

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Girdwood

Mi. 101.2 Seward Hwy.

Bird Creek Overflow

$20

20

NO

⚫

♿

♿

♿

⚫

Eagle River Campground*

$20

57

YES*

⚫

♿

♿

⚫

Eagle River

Mi. 12.6 Glenn Hwy.

Eklutna Campground & Trailhead

$20

58

NO

♿

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

2

Eklutna

Mi. 26.5 Glenn Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks = RV/Camper Parking

Northern Area Parks

Unit Name

Fee

No. of Campsites

Can Reserve Campsites?

Picnic Sites

Toilets

Drinking Water

Trails

Historical Features

Boat Launch

Fishing

Cabins

Nearest Community

Location

Big Delta SHP

$20

25

NO

⚫

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

1

Delta Junction

Mi. 274.5 Richardson Hwy.

Birch Lake SRS

$20

19♿

CampgroundsNO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 305.5 Richardson Hwy.

Chena River SRA

7

Fairbanks

Mi 26.7 to Mi. 51 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Red Squirrel Campground

$20

5

NO

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

Fairbanks

Mi. 43 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Rosehip Campground

$20

37

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Fairbanks

Mi. 27 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Granite Tors Trail Campground

$20

24

NO

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 39 Chena Hot Sp. Rd.

Chena River SRS

$20 - $30

61♿

YES

♿

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

Fairbanks

3530 Geraghty Ave.

Clearwater SRS

$15

16

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Delta Junction

Remington Rd.

Delta SRS*

$15

24

NO

⚫

♿

♿

Delta Junction

Mi. 267 Richardson Hwy.

Donnelly Creek SRS

$15

12

NO

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

1

Delta Junction

Mi. 238 Richardson Hwy.

Eagle Trail SRS*

$20

35

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Tok

Mi. 109.5 Tok Cutoff

Fielding Lake SRS

$15

17

NO

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

1

Delta Junction

Mi. 200.5 Richardson Hwy.

Harding Lake SRA

$20

81

NO

♿

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

Fairbanks

Mi. 321.4 Richardson Hwy.

Moon Lake SRS*

$20

17

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

Tok

Mi. 1,332 Alaska Hwy.

Quartz Lake SRA*

Delta Junction

Mi. 277.8 Richardson Hwy.

Lost Lake Campground

$15

11

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Delta Junction

Mi. 277.8 Richardson Hwy.

Quartz Lake Campground

$15

80

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

2

Delta Junction

Mi. 277.8 Richardson Hwy.

Salcha River SRS

$20

6

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 323.0 Richardson Hwy.

Tok River SRS*

$20

24

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Tok

Mi. 1,309 Alaska Hwy.

Upper Chatanika River SRS

$20

24

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Fairbanks

Mi. 39 Steese Hwy.

Lower Chatanika SRA

Fairbanks

Mi. 10.5-11 Elliot Hwy.

Whitefish Campground

$20

25

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Fairbanks

Mi. 11 Elliot Hwy.

Olnes Pond Campground

$20

15

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

1

Fairbanks

Mi. 10.5 Elliot Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management = Indicates RV/Camper Parking

Kenai Peninsula Area

Unit Name

Fee

No. of Campsites

Can Reserve Campsites?

Picnic Sites

Toilets

Drinking Water

Trails

Historical Features

Boat Launch

Fishing

Cabins

Nearest Community

Location

Anchor River SRA*

$20

138♿

CampgroundNO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Anchor Point

Mi. 157 Sterling Hwy.

Blueberry Lake SRS*

$20

15

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Valdez

Mi. 23 Richardson Hwy.

Caines Head SRA

4

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

1

Seward

Resurrection Bay

Captain Cook SRA*

$20

52

NO

⚫

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

Nikiski

Kenai Spur Hwy.

Clam Gulch SRA

$20

116

NO

⚫

♿

♿

⚫

Soldotna

Mi. 117 Sterling Hwy.

Crooked Creek SRS

$20

79♿

NO

⚫

♿

♿

♿

⚫

Kasilof

Coho Loop

Deep Creek SRA

Ninilchik

Mi. 138 Sterling Hwy.

Deep Creek Beach Campground

$20

80♿

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Ninilchik

Mi. 137.3 Sterling Hwy.

Deep Creek South Campground

$20

15

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Ninilchik

Mi. 136.7 Sterling Hwy.

Deep Creek North Campground

$20

15

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Ninilchik

Mi. 136.7 Sterling Hwy.

Johnson Lake SRA

$20

50

NO

⚫

♿

♿

⚫

Kasilof

Mi. 110 Sterling Hwy.

Kachemak Bay SP/MP

21

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

♿

Homer

Kachemak Bay

Kenai River Special Management Area

Bings Landing

$20

37♿

NO

⚫

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

Sterling

Mi. 79 Sterling Hwy.

Funny River

$20

10

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Sterling

Mi. 10 Funny River Rd.

Izaak Walton

$20

26♿

NO

♿

♿

⚫

Sterling

Mi. 81 Sterling Hwy.

Morgans Landing

$20

42♿

NO

⚫

♿

♿

♿

⚫

Sterling

Mi. 85 Sterling Hwy.

Ninilchik SRA

Ninilchik River Campground

$20

48♿

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Ninilchik

Mi. 135 Sterling Hwy.

Ninilchik View Campground

$20

14

NO

Ninilchik

Mi. 136.5 Sterling Hwy.

Ninilchik Overlook Campground

$20

30

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Ninilchik

Mi. 135.2 Sterling Hwy.

Stariski SRS*

$20

13

NO

♿

⚫

Anchor Point

Mi. 151 Sterling Hwy.

Decision Point SMP

10

NO

⚫

⚫

1

Whittier

Passage Canal

Jack Bay SMP

3

NO

⚫

⚫

Valdez

Valdez Arm

Sawmill Bay SMP

3

NO

⚫

⚫

Valdez

Valdez Arm

Shoup Bay SMP

2

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

1♿

Valdez

Valdez Arm

South Esther Island SMP

5

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Whittier

Esther Island

Surprise Cove SMP

6

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Whittier

Cochrane Bay

Thumb Cove

3

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

1♿

Seward

Resurrection Bay

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks = RV/Camper Parking

Kodiak Island Area

Unit Name

Fee

No. of Campsites

Can Reserve Campsites?

Picnic Sites

Toilets

Drinking Water

Trails

Historical Features

Boat Launch

Fishing

Cabins

Nearest Community

Location

Buskin River SRS

$20

15

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

1

Kodiak

Mi. 4.5 W. Rezanof Dr.

Ft. Abercrombie SHP

$20

10

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Kodiak

Mi. 4 E. Rezanof Dr.

Pasagshak River SRS

$20

10

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Kodiak

Mi. 4.5 Rezanof Dr.

Mat-Su Area

Unit Name

Fee

No. of Campsites

Can Reserve Campsites?

Picnic Sites

Toilets

Drinking Water

Trails

Historical Features

Boat Launch

Fishing

Cabins

Nearest Community

Location

Big Lake North SRS*

$20-$30

60

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Big Lake

Mi. 5 N. Big Lake Rd

Big Lake South SRS*

$20-$25

20

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Big Lake

Mi. 5.2 N. Big Lake Rd.

Denali SP

K'esugi Ken Campground

$20 - $30

42

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

3

Trapper Creek

Mi. 135.4 Parks Hwy

Byers Lake Campground

$20

73

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

3

Trapper Creek

Mi. 147.0 Parks Hwy.

Denali View North

$20

23 ♿

NO

♿

♿

⚫

♿

Trapper Creek

Mi. 162.7 Parks Hwy.

Denali View South

$20

10

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Trapper Creek

Mi. 134.8 Parks Hwy.

Lower Troublesome Ck. Campground

$20

12

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Trapper Creek

Mi. 137.2 Parks Hwy.

Dry Creek SRS*

$20

28

NO

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Glennallen

Mi. 117.5 Richardson Hwy.

Finger Lake SRS*

$25-$35

24

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Palmer

Mi. 0.7 Bogard Rd.

Hatcher Pass Management Area

Gold Mint Trailhead

$15

10

NO

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

Palmer

Mi. 14 Hatcher Pass Rd.

Government Peak

$15

8

NO

♿

♿

Palmer

Mi. 11 Hatcher Pass Rd.

King Mountain SRS*

$25-$30

22

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

Palmer

Mi. 76 Glenn Hwy.

Lake Louise SRA

$20

68

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Glennallen

Mi. 16 Lake Louise Rd.

Liberty Falls

$25

10

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

Chitina

Mi. 23.5 Edgerton Hwy.

Matanuska Glacier*

$20

12

YES*

♿

♿

⚫

⚫

1

Palmer

Mi. 101 Glenn Hwy.

Matanuska Lakes SRA

$25

10

NO

♿

♿

♿

♿

⚫

Palmer

Mi. 36.4-38 Glenn Hwy.

Montana Creek SRS*

$20

36

YES*

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Trapper Creek

Mi. 96.6 Parks Hwy.

Nancy Lake SRA

4

Willow

Mi. 67.2 Parks Hwy.

Red Shirt Lake Trail

$20

6

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

4

Willow

Mi. 6.5 Nancy Lake Pkwy.

South Rolly Lake Campground

$20-$25

97

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Willow

Mi. 6.5 Nancy Lake Pkwy.

Tanaina Lake Canoe Trail

$20

18

NO

♿

⚫

⚫

Willow

Mi. 4.8 Nancy Lake Pkwy.

Nancy Lake SRS

$20

30

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Willow

Mi. 66.5 Parks Hwy.

Porcupine Creek SRS*

$25

10

YES*

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Slana

Mi. 64 Tok Cut-off

Rocky Lake SRS*

$20-$25

12

YES*

⚫

⚫

⚫

Big Lake

Mi. 3.5 Big Lake Rd.

Squirrel Creek*

$25

23

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Copper Center

Mi. 79.5 Richardson Hwy.

Willow Creek SRA

$20

131♿

NO

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

⚫

Willow

Mi. 70.8 Parks Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks = RV/Camper Parking

Southeast Area

Unit Name

Fee

No. of Campsites

Can Reserve Campsites?

Picnic Sites

Toilets

Drinking Water

Trails

Historical Features

Boat Launch

Fishing

Cabins

Nearest Community

Location

Chilkat SP

$20

35

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

⚫

Haines

Mi. 7 Mud Bay Rd.

Chilkoot Lake SRS

$20

32

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Haines

Mi. 10 Lutak Rd.

Eagle Beach SRA

$20

16

NO

♿

♿

♿

♿

⚫

1♿

Juneau

Mi. 29 Glacier Hwy.

Mosquito Lake SRS

$15

5

NO

⚫

⚫

⚫

Haines

Mi. 27.2 Haines Hwy.

Portage Cove SRS

$10

9

NO

⚫

♿

⚫

⚫

Haines

Mi. 1 Beach Rd.

Settler's Cove SRS

$20

13

NO

♿

♿

♿

♿

⚫

1

Ketchikan

Mi. 18 N. Tongass Hwy.

* = Indicates third party management; reservations are NOT managed by Alaska State Parks = RV/Camper Parking

Alaska Seasons, bugs, topography and climate

Alaska is huge and so has a diverse climate.

Spring - April - June

It is brief and variable. Late unexpected snows are common.

Summer - May through mid-August

 May is generally the driest month . Warmer daytime temperatures arrive in July, when the Interior can average in the 70's °F during the day, but sometinems even 80's or 90's. But the coastal areas and higher elevations rarely get above 65 °F. This only lasts until mid-August when Fall begins to return.

Autumn - September

That's it. It is brief - and variable. Snows can start in August... or not until late September.

Winter - October through March.

Of course, coastal areas are milder and usually do not get colder than 20 °F. Lots of snow in the South-central areas.

Winter is bitterly cold and snowy in the Interior and Arctic areas. But the Artic area is so dry, it rarely gets winter snows. Not enough moisture in the air due to the bitterly cold temps.