My son lives in Anchorage and I have spent a lot of time in the city. There is so much to choose from depending on what your interests are. The visitors center is right in the middle of downtown. They will have information, maps and suggestions. There is a free shuttle that travels between the Anchorage Museum, The Native Heritage Center and the Alaska Zoo. All great places to spend some time in. The Alaska Museum is arranged as a timeline of the first peoples leading up to the present with dioramas and actual size living quarters of the various Native Alaskans. There is the exhibit about the Alaskan Pipeline with an actual cross section. There is the hall dedicated to clothing, ceremonial garb of the various tribes. Also downtown is the Alaska Public Lands Visitors Center that has nine movies (15 - 30 min) that cycle through the day. They also have natural exhibits and free maps and brochures and their park rangers conduct a 45 min walking tour of Anchorage.
There's hiking on Flattop Mountain, above the city, that affords you a view of MT. McKinley on a clear day. You can hike only a part way up before it gets steep if you want to keep it easy. It's about 4/5 miles from the city, so you could take a taxi if you don't rent a car.
If you did rent a car, you could drive south towards Girdwood and Alyeska (about 30-40 min from Anchorage). It is not unusual to see Beluga Whales swimming in Turnagain Arm on your right as you drive. There's The Wildlife Conservation Center on 170 acres with arctic fox, coyote, brown bear, black bear, moose, elk, musk ox, Sitka black tailed deer, caribou, lynx and raptors.
At the Alyeska Resort, there are hiking trails and you can take the tram to the top. The views are spectacular and there the Roundhouse Museum up there next to the lodge (food and bathrooms). You can ride the tram up and hike down if you choose. FYI - you do not have to be concerned about altitude as Girdwood is at sea level and the top is just under 4000 ft.
The Portage Glacier is only 20 minutes from Girdwood. Take the 1 1/2 hr boat ride across the lake to the face of the glacier. But this can be skipped since you will see glaciers on your cruise.
There's some interesting stores in downtown Anchorage - I really love Cabin Fever Gifts on the corner of 4th and G st. Some great eating places - breakfast is Snow City Cafe on 4th and L st. Glacier Brew House on 5th between G and H st. or F Street Station near 4th st.
The great thing is that it will be light out till very late. In fact one night we hiked Flattop and came down about 10PM. There were lots of people who were hiking after dinner.
How to spend a day in Anchorage?
in Alaska
Posted
My son lives in Anchorage and I have spent a lot of time in the city. There is so much to choose from depending on what your interests are. The visitors center is right in the middle of downtown. They will have information, maps and suggestions. There is a free shuttle that travels between the Anchorage Museum, The Native Heritage Center and the Alaska Zoo. All great places to spend some time in. The Alaska Museum is arranged as a timeline of the first peoples leading up to the present with dioramas and actual size living quarters of the various Native Alaskans. There is the exhibit about the Alaskan Pipeline with an actual cross section. There is the hall dedicated to clothing, ceremonial garb of the various tribes. Also downtown is the Alaska Public Lands Visitors Center that has nine movies (15 - 30 min) that cycle through the day. They also have natural exhibits and free maps and brochures and their park rangers conduct a 45 min walking tour of Anchorage.
There's hiking on Flattop Mountain, above the city, that affords you a view of MT. McKinley on a clear day. You can hike only a part way up before it gets steep if you want to keep it easy. It's about 4/5 miles from the city, so you could take a taxi if you don't rent a car.
If you did rent a car, you could drive south towards Girdwood and Alyeska (about 30-40 min from Anchorage). It is not unusual to see Beluga Whales swimming in Turnagain Arm on your right as you drive. There's The Wildlife Conservation Center on 170 acres with arctic fox, coyote, brown bear, black bear, moose, elk, musk ox, Sitka black tailed deer, caribou, lynx and raptors.
At the Alyeska Resort, there are hiking trails and you can take the tram to the top. The views are spectacular and there the Roundhouse Museum up there next to the lodge (food and bathrooms). You can ride the tram up and hike down if you choose. FYI - you do not have to be concerned about altitude as Girdwood is at sea level and the top is just under 4000 ft.
The Portage Glacier is only 20 minutes from Girdwood. Take the 1 1/2 hr boat ride across the lake to the face of the glacier. But this can be skipped since you will see glaciers on your cruise.
There's some interesting stores in downtown Anchorage - I really love Cabin Fever Gifts on the corner of 4th and G st. Some great eating places - breakfast is Snow City Cafe on 4th and L st. Glacier Brew House on 5th between G and H st. or F Street Station near 4th st.
The great thing is that it will be light out till very late. In fact one night we hiked Flattop and came down about 10PM. There were lots of people who were hiking after dinner.