In 1935, as part of the New Deal, 203 families from the Midwest traveled to Alaska to settle in Palmer. Wasilla and Palmer have since grown into the two largest towns in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, known locally as the Mat-Su. Talkeetna is a charming small town with excellent shopping, dining, and fun things to do. It serves as a base camp for tourists and climbers to access North America’s tallest peak, Denali (Mt. McKinley), and a flightseeing trip to the mountain is often a highlight for visitors. Wasilla is also home to the Iditarod Headquarters, where you can learn about the dogs and mushers who compete in this incredible annual race.
The many local farms will convince you this is the state’s agricultural center, yielding almost two-thirds of Alaska’s produce. The fertile area is known for growing huge, award-winning vegetables, many of which can be seen at the Alaska State Fair, held in Palmer every fall. Many of the original colony families still have descendants in the area.
The Mat-Su is one of Alaska’s foremost recreation areas, spanning over 23,000 square miles of unspoiled mountains, lakes, and glaciers with unlimited opportunities for camping, hiking, and adventure. Alaska State Parks in the area include Denali State Park, Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, Matanuska Glacier State Recreation Area, and Independence Mine State Historical Park. Smaller parks include the Matanuska River Park in Palmer, which has a very nice campground, Lake Lucille Park in Wasilla, and Little Susitna River in Houston. On a typical weekend, Anchorage residents desert that bustling “metropolis” in droves to converge on the Mat-Su for its outdoor recreation and natural beauty.
