Wrangell-St. Elias Visitor Center — Attraction in Alaska

My experience? Former NPS employee and property inholder during a period of local hire preference. As in other cliquish places, you'll get to know almost everyone and become something like family, inclined to help one another. For locals, one of the fascinations are to live completely off grid due to a lack of utilities, to build your own shack or mansion far away from any city or governing agency. And this in setting nearly impossible to match. 16000-foot peaks, glacial valleys, cold streams, remote lakes and few people. Unless it's Summer when visitors flock in, fly to even more remote destinations or walk among historic mining town relics. In spite of its far away setting, excellent food awaits, bag lunches are available as are guide services to make a stroll on a glacier a safe and enjoyable experience. Here even your dog is welcome, and if peaceful, may be allowed in the one bar. Weekly open mic and annual tall tail events happen as do softball games you can join. Chances are you'll see a friendly Bear, feeding on Soap Berries or a rare Moose. In a park larger than Switzerland with only two roads you can still feel like a pioneer. Definitely...

Great visitors center for introduction to the largest National park in the USA. Had excellent displays, theater, clean restrooms, and grounds. 2 different rangers gave talks one about the park overview and mountain peaks and glaciers. The other a talk about the boreal forest and fungi/mushrooms that can be seen there. Nice flat trails for easy walking to see the local plants and trees. Very quiet and beautiful views if you are lucky. We read every display, watched movie and did the trail. Can spend 3 hours there doing all that. Should bring your own food snacks and water. None for purchase. You can refill your water bottles there....

There are two visitor centers. One is in Copper Center, off Richardson Hwy. It is excellent! The rangers were friendly and knowledgeable. The Copper Center Complex comprises four buildings: Exhibit Hall, Visitor Center, Theater and (Ahtna) Cultural Center. The Cultural Center is the only building closed on weekends). It is free and has two lookout spots and trails. The other visitor center is in Kennecott. It is in the first school. It is more of a gift shop than exhibits and the rangers are also friendly and knowledgeable. I joined a ranger talk but it was given by an intern who, bless her heart, is...