Tucked into 25 wooded acres on Anchorage's south side, the Alaska Zoo is the only zoo in the country dedicated to Arctic and sub-Arctic

wildlife — and it's an absolute delight from the moment you walk through the gate. Wander shaded forest trails between enclosures for polar

bears, brown and black bears, wolves, lynx, moose, musk ox, Dall sheep, sea otters, Amur tigers, and more than 85 species in all. Many animals

here are rescues or orphans the Zoo could not release back to the wild, and the keepers' obvious care shows in how active and curious the

residents are.

Kids love the snow leopards and the bactrian camels; photographers love the golden hour on the cranes, elk, and reindeer. Daily keeper talks at

the polar bear and tiger habitats are worth planning your visit around. The Zoo Coffee Shop in the middle of the trail system makes a perfect mid-walk

warm-up, and the gift shop stocks Alaska-made souvenirs. Summer hours run 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., so you can easily squeeze in a visit before or after another

Anchorage stop. It's alow-key, high-value half-day adventure that gets you closer to Alaska'siconic wildlife than almost anywhere else in the state.