Day Trip to Hatcher Pass...May 23, 2011

Driving north from Anchorage isn't as instantly dramatic as going south, but within an hour you're immersed in stop-and-shoot scenery. The Glenn Highway runs northeast to agricultural Palmer, and from there you can take a mountain road to scenic Hatcher Pass. 

From Anchorage, it's a 3-hour road trip (roundtrip), and you can also hit Hatcher Pass on the way up to Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks-which adds about two hours to the total. You'll probably want to spend more time along the way, however-here are some of our recommended stops:

My children just have the best time picking up rocks and throwing them in the river.