When exploring Alaska’s vast landscapes, it’s easy to get caught up in the grandeur of glaciers and mountains. But on a recent day trip out of Anchorage, I opted for a different kind of wildlife encounter, heading to Palmer to visit the Musk Ox Farm and the Reindeer Farm via the Pacific Alaska Tour company. It turned out to be a day of contrasting experiences, offering both fascinating insights and some wonderfully hands-on animal interactions, punctuated by a surprise lunch rendezvous!
As it turned out, I was the only person on this tour. I met my 22 year old tour guide at the hotel. Since it was just me, we were in a minivan and I sat upfront with him. Daniel was on his second summer of working with this company, and as the only one, we talked a lot during the 7 hour excursion.
Our first stop was the Musk Ox Farm, and what a gem it turned out to be! We were given a hour long tour (actually we went slightly over) guided tour led by Jessica, whose knowledge and passion for these prehistoric-looking Ice Age mammals were immediately evident. She spoke with such genuine enthusiasm about the musk ox, a truly unique arctic animal known for its incredibly warm qiviut wool. The farm, home to about 76 musk ox, is a “no-handling” facility, meaning the animals aren’t domesticated for riding or direct petting. Instead, they focus on ethical practices, primarily for harvesting the qiviut, which naturally sheds once a year. Jessica explained the process, the history of the farm, and the importance of conservation, making the tour incredibly educational and inspiring. It was fascinating to learn about their social structures, the mating process, their adaptation to the harsh Arctic environment, and the delicate process of collecting their valuable undercoat.
Next, we headed into Palmer for a hour on our own. Justin was working close by so he met me for lunch at the Palmer Ale House, which was a nice surprise. We were served immediately. We both ordered burgers (mine veggie patty) and the food came out quickly. The burger and fries were really good, although I wonder if the meal was too big — as I got pretty sleepy an hour later. With Justin needing to return to work, and the tour not meeting up for another 30 minutes, I went to the visitor center and read about the settlement of the area and talked with a very friendly staff person. I walked the small downtown and then met up with the tour driver to continue our day.
We headed to the Reindeer Farm, a much more casual experience. While it offered less in the way of structured education compared to the Musk Ox Farm, it certainly provided plenty of opportunities for direct animal interaction, giving it more of a petting zoo feel. I enjoyed feeding the reindeer, their soft noses tickling my palms as they gently took the pellets. We even got to pet an adorable pig and feed a fluffy, hairy cow – unique experiences you don’t often get!
Aside from Reindeer, they had a massive turkey, a few pigs, elk, bison, bees, highland hairy cows, Alpaca, Llama
The farm also offered a short tractor ride, which was a small loop that showed us a few more reindeer that were certified disease-free. I tried to inquire about the significance of this certification, but the staff member wasn’t quite able to elaborate – just reiterating it is important, so that’s definitely something I’ll have to look up! However, the true highlight of the Reindeer Farm experience came towards the end. One of the workers, noticing our lingering curiosity, generously offered us some extra food and spent a good 15 minutes chatting with us. This impromptu session was incredibly informative and passionate. She told us so much about reindeer behavior, the incredible growth and shedding cycle of their antlers, and we even got to hear the distinct “click” sound their tendons make as they walk – a unique adaptation for navigating icy terrain and keeping in contact with their herd. This genuine, unscripted interaction truly elevated our visit.
Overall, the day was long and perhaps not packed with adrenaline-pumping excitement, but it certainly got me out of the hotel and into the fascinating world of Alaskan wildlife up close.
Musk Ox Farm ($14)
Reindeer Farm ($19)
Pacific Alaska Tour ($99, entrance fees included)
Fees above in May 2025.