Palmer sits just 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, surrounded by wide fields, winding rivers, and sharp mountain peaks. It’s the kind of town where you’ll see a tractor rolling past a glacier, or a moose grazing next to a vegetable farm. Originally part of the 1935 New Deal Matanuska Colony Project, Palmer has maintained its small-town charm, rooted agricultural culture, and a deep connection to the land.

If you like local festivals, glacier views, and being close to adventure but away from the crowds—Palmer’s your spot. Hatcher Pass is just up the road with alpine trails and gold mine ruins, the musk oxen farm is right outside of town, and fresh produce stands line the roads in summer. Whether you’re hiking, sipping locally roasted coffee, or petting a goat at the Saturday market, Palmer makes you feel like you belong.

Did You Know?

• Palmer was built as part of the Matanuska Colony Project during the Great Depression to help Midwestern farming families relocate and cultivate Alaska’s farmland.
• Giant vegetables like 100+ lb cabbages are grown here each year thanks to the long summer daylight.
• The town hosts the Alaska State Fair, one of the biggest annual events in the state.
• You can visit a real musk ox farm—home to one of the only domestic herds of this Ice Age animal in the U.S.