Public Lands Center

Kitty-corner from the ACVB [1] is the old Federal Building, which now houses the Alaska Public Lands Information Center (605 W. 4th Ave., 907/644-3661 or 866/869-6887, www.alaskacenters.gov [2], daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. mid-May–early Sept., Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. early Sept.–mid-May). This is a great starting point to learn about federal lands in Alaska, including national parks and forests, wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management areas

Displays introduce you to Alaska [3]’s wildlife and wild places, daily historical walks are offered throughout the summer, the bookstore has a good selection of Alaskan titles, and the auditorium is used for nature videos and talks.

A few blocks away is the Department of Natural Resources Public Information Center (550 W. 7th Ave., 907/269-8400, www.alaskastateparks.org [4], Mon.–Fri.). Located on the 12th floor, the information center has helpful staff and details on state parks, public-use cabins, where to pan for gold, state land sales, and much more.