Mellow tours with an educational emphasis
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Palmer Town Bike Tour
2 hours, mellow
Perfect for travelers with limited time
During this town bike tour, we will discuss the geological transformation of the valley, Ahtna and Dena’ina stewardship of the land in this region, and present-day Palmer’s agricultural roots from homesteaders in the early 1900s to the Matanuska Colony Project of the 1930s. We’ll bike at a leisurely pace, sticking together as a group during the trip.
Other details: We’ll ride along a paved trail and sidewalks for about 3 miles, making stops and learning about Palmer along the way. Bike and helmet included.
Price: $129 per person
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Salve Making in the Boreal Forest
2 hours, mellow
A low impact walk and hands-on activity
Alaska’s boreal forest contains many edible and medicinal plants. Did you know that willows contain salicin, nature's aspirin? Or Devil’s Club can be harvested? This adventure starts with a walk around the boreal forest. Then we’ll enjoy a hands-on salve-making demonstration where participants will each make a 2oz. container of salve. A perfect souvenir or gift for someone back home.
Other details: We’ll walk on a well maintained trail for less than 1 mile.
Price: $129 per person
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Palmer Culture + History Tour
4 hours, mellow
Educational tour with 3 stops
We’ll start with a 1-mile, leisurely walk of the downtown Palmer area learning about the Matanuska Colony Project along the way. We’ll make a stop in the Colony House Museum for private tour of this restored Colony Home. Our final stop will take us on a short drive to a scenic view point, local farm, or historic landmark.
Other details: We will be walking on a flat sidewalk for less than 1 mile. We may walk on a briefly on a flat, maintained trail for less than .25 miles.
Price: $129 per person
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Half Day Private Guide
4 hours, custom
The most flexible trip option
Want an immersive, local experience catered to your interests and abilities? Our private guide service is designed for visitors who want the most flexibility. We can spend our time hiking or develop an itinerary specific to your interests and abilities, the options are endless. After booking this trip our team will follow up with you to build your itinerary.
Other details: We can combine pieces of our other trips or design a completely custom itinerary.
Price: $499 per group
“Had the opportunity to take the Palmer Culture and History Tour. We enjoyed the entire tour. We had from a private guide take us through the Colony House Museum to learn about the arrival of the colonists from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan in 1935, driving and then hiking to see a view of the Matanuska River and learning the history of coal mining in the valley, and then going to a view up Maud Road to a view of the Knik Glacier and valley area while drinking hot tea, picking a few blue berries and learning about the influence of having the glaciers in the valley. Our guide was very knowledgeable and we had a great time and learned a lot about the area. Highly recommend this tour.”
-Brenda
Discover Palmer, Alaska on a Guided Tour
Our history trips, bike tours, and privately guided half day tours connect you to the local people and landscape through educational discussion.
What to expect:
Knowledgeable guides who are excited to share what they know and continue to learn about local flora, fauna, geology, and history of the area.
Small group size (5 people or less) to ensure a personalized and immersive experience.
Place-based educational discussion is embedded into our guided trips.
History stops in partnership with local museums, farms, and cultural interpreters.
These trips are considered mellow for most and moderately challenging for some.
Our experienced, local guides will take you on a Palmer-focused history tour. Our history trip sticks to sidewalks and sometimes includes a short walk on a well-maintained trail. Total walking distance is less than 1 mile total. Learn about Ahtna and Dena’ina peoples who have called the area home for thousands of years, the glaciology of the Matanuska Valley, the regions farming roots and more.
Who Should Join These Trips?
These adventures are perfect for lifelong learners who prefer to take things at a relaxed pace. We encourage questions and curiosity and hope you’ll leave our trips wanting to learn more about the area we call home.
What we bring:
Snacks and water.
Trekking poles, gaiters and extra gear.
First aid kit and a wilderness first aid trained guide.
Revel is permitted and insured to lead trips on Mat-Su Borough trails, within several Alaska State Park units, on State of Alaska Land and more. If you don’t see a specific location listed - just ask us!
What else should I know about the Palmer trips?
Our history and culture tours represent a collaboration with local museums, historians, tribal organizations, and cultural interpreters. Dena’ina and Ahtna peoples have been calling this area of Alaska home for thousands of years. It’s vital that Ahtna and Dena’ina stories, language, and culture are shared through Ahtna and Dena’ina perspectives. When possible, this trip incorporates a visit and discussion with local cultural interpreters.
Additional trip activities may include a stop at a local museum or the nearby Matanuska Experiment Farm and Extension Center.
Our history and culture trips are generally low-impact adventures with light walking over paved surfaces. Your local guide will connect you to stories, past and present, of our community.
Don’t hesitate to contact us with questions.