Have you ever wondered what its like to go hiking on a glacier? Matanuska Glacier is the perfect place to give it a shot. Most Alaskan glaciers are accessible only by air, meaning you have to take a costly helicopter ride in just to go trekking, but Matanuska is accessible by land and only a 2-hour drive from Anchorage. The tours are a lot of fun. MICA provides you with everything you need: ice picks, boots, gloves, hats, crampons, helmets, and even coats if you need them. The guides were all delightful. Our family had a private tour (four of us) for an hour and a half, which was lovely. This is a good way to get a taste for the glacier. Three and six-hour tours are also available. The prices are reasonable, about $35 a person for the 1.5 hour tour, $70 for 3 hours, etc. This includes a guide and use of all the gear.
On the tour, you get to hike around on the glacier and learn about glaciers. You learn about glacier formation and how they recess each year. You also have the opportunity to climb parts of the ice, visit an amazingly blue lake within the glacier, and spend time just enjoying the scenery. This was my favorite thing about my trip to Alaska, and I would strongly recommend it to anyone.
Note: Call the glacier about age restrictions (minimum age is 7) and to make a reservation before heading out.