Anchorage travel guide
Anchorage Tourism | Anchorage Guide
You're Going to Love Anchorage
Alaska is closer than you think, and there's no better place to escape from the workaday world than Anchorage. This welcoming, walkable city has everything you could need from a tourist destination but with one big difference - it's right on the doorstep of the beautiful, mysterious Alaskan wilderness.
You can spend a whole vacation in Anchorage getting in touch with nature. Kayak to glaciers as they gently make their way out to sea, rent bikes and hit challenging trails, or just shoulder your pack and pick from hundreds of camping locations in the area.
If you love wildlife, join organized tours to see all of the area's big animals, go whale-watching or head to Anchorage Zoo. Or, you just want to relax, spend the day shopping in Downtown Anchorage before checking out superb eateries like the Crow's Nest.
With excellent plane connections to the lower 48 states, Anchorage is closer than you think, so why not make it the destination for your next getaway?
Top 5 Reasons to Visit Anchorage
Alpine Attractions
Anchorage is ringed by impressive mountains which are a key part of the city's appeal. In the summer, sites like Glen Alps become fantastic mountain biking destinations, while, when the snows arrive, ski resorts like Alyeska offer near-perfect skiing conditions.
Wonderful Seafood
Alaskan seafood is on a par with the Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf of Mexico. In Alaska's case, dishes include halibut, salmon, king crab and tuna sashimi and Anchorage is packed with restaurants in which to sample local delicacies, including Jens', the Crow's Nest and Ginnie's.
A Chance to Get Away from It All in the Wilderness
Alaska is a thousand miles away from the stresses and strains of home and it really feels like it. With thousands of square miles of unspoiled wilderness in Anchorage city limits alone, it's easy to find a secluded spot to relax and recharge your batteries.
A Lively Crafts Scene
Anchorage is also an excellent place to shop for souvenirs. If you are in town during the summer, check out the market which takes over Downtown Anchorage or shop for unique gifts like ulu knives at Downtown souvenir vendors like Polar Bear Gifts.
The Chance to See Majestic Wildlife
Alaska is one of the last wild places in America and visitors to Anchorage can easily join wildlife tours. If you do, there's a good chance of catching a glimpse of Alaska's "big five", which includes grizzlies, moose, caribou, wolves and dall sheep.
What to do in Anchorage
1. Alaska Native Heritage Center: Honor America's Diversity
Long before Alaska was inaugurated as the 49th state, the Native people of the region had a rich history and connection with this northern territory. The Alaska Native Heritage Center pays tribute to those 11 cultural groups through exhibits, storytelling, and cultural performances. Here you can learn the customs of indigenous tribes and current efforts to foster a more inclusive American narrative. There are also many opportunities to take cultural awareness classes and channel the Native people's spirit.
2. Chugach National Forest: America's Northernmost Park
Join over half a million tourists who travel to Chugach National Forest each year for some of the best outdoor sports and vistas in the entire United States. The park features a diverse landscape of glaciers, mountains, rivers, and valleys. To take full advantage of Chugach National Forest, book a local tour guide who can safely guide you to the best places for kayaking, hiking, or commercial fishing. The Prince William Sound is a well-known site for watching wild Orcas swimming amongst the backdrop of an icy, still ocean.
3. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts: Take in a Show
Anchorage may be a humble capital city, but it's also got a deep sense of community and a deep support for the arts. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is located just beside Town Square Park in the heart of downtown Anchorage. There are actually three different performance theaters with various capacities situated within the building: Evangeline Atwood Concert Hall, Discovery Theater, and the Sydney Laurence Theater. Visitors can enjoy both local productions as well as internationally-acclaimed artists who make regular tours through Anchorage each year.
4. Anchorage Museum: Spend a Night at the Museum
Alaska's northern position means that half the year the State is completely covered in darkness, making it the perfect time to explore the Anchorage Museum. This multi-functional space covers everything from art to ecology, history to science. Specifically, the museum covers works related to or originating from Alaska in order to promote the local arts. For an alternative experience, take in an old classic film during the museum's popular "Celluloid Wednesday" or lift off to the stars in the impressive planetarium.
5. Kenai Fjords National Park: An Outdoor Treasure-Trove
Who says you have to go all the way to Norway to see the fjords? Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park is an absolute treasure-trove of outdoor possibilities tucked away in the southeastern part of the State. Some of the most popular activities in the park include hiking and kayaking through a mirror-like icy surface, making for some of the most astounding pictures a tourist could ask for. The area is teeming with arctic wildlife including otters, sea lions, puffins, and even whales. In addition, most cruise ships pass through this area, making it a safe place to venture into the extreme wild. There are also many smaller boat tours for those looking for a healthy mix of land and sea exploration.
1. Alaska Native Heritage Center: Honor America's Diversity
Long before Alaska was inaugurated as the 49th state, the Native people of the region had a rich history and connection with this northern territory. The Alaska Native Heritage Center pays tribute to those 11 cultural groups through exhibits, storytelling, and cultural performances. Here you can learn the customs of indigenous tribes and current efforts to foster a more inclusive American narrative. There are also many opportunities to take cultural awareness classes and channel the Native people's spirit.
2. Chugach National Forest: America's Northernmost Park
Join over half a million tourists who travel to Chugach National Forest each year for some of the best outdoor sports and vistas in the entire United States. The park features a diverse landscape of glaciers, mountains, rivers, and valleys. To take full advantage of Chugach National Forest, book a local tour guide who can safely guide you to the best places for kayaking, hiking, or commercial fishing. The Prince William Sound is a well-known site for watching wild Orcas swimming amongst the backdrop of an icy, still ocean.
3. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts: Take in a Show
Anchorage may be a humble capital city, but it's also got a deep sense of community and a deep support for the arts. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is located just beside Town Square Park in the heart of downtown Anchorage. There are actually three different performance theaters with various capacities situated within the building: Evangeline Atwood Concert Hall, Discovery Theater, and the Sydney Laurence Theater. Visitors can enjoy both local productions as well as internationally-acclaimed artists who make regular tours through Anchorage each year.
4. Anchorage Museum: Spend a Night at the Museum
Alaska's northern position means that half the year the State is completely covered in darkness, making it the perfect time to explore the Anchorage Museum. This multi-functional space covers everything from art to ecology, history to science. Specifically, the museum covers works related to or originating from Alaska in order to promote the local arts. For an alternative experience, take in an old classic film during the museum's popular "Celluloid Wednesday" or lift off to the stars in the impressive planetarium.
5. Kenai Fjords National Park: An Outdoor Treasure-Trove
Who says you have to go all the way to Norway to see the fjords? Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park is an absolute treasure-trove of outdoor possibilities tucked away in the southeastern part of the State. Some of the most popular activities in the park include hiking and kayaking through a mirror-like icy surface, making for some of the most astounding pictures a tourist could ask for. The area is teeming with arctic wildlife including otters, sea lions, puffins, and even whales. In addition, most cruise ships pass through this area, making it a safe place to venture into the extreme wild. There are also many smaller boat tours for those looking for a healthy mix of land and sea exploration.
1. Alaska Native Heritage Center: Honor America's Diversity
Long before Alaska was inaugurated as the 49th state, the Native people of the region had a rich history and connection with this northern territory. The Alaska Native Heritage Center pays tribute to those 11 cultural groups through exhibits, storytelling, and cultural performances. Here you can learn the customs of indigenous tribes and current efforts to foster a more inclusive American narrative. There are also many opportunities to take cultural awareness classes and channel the Native people's spirit.
2. Chugach National Forest: America's Northernmost Park
Join over half a million tourists who travel to Chugach National Forest each year for some of the best outdoor sports and vistas in the entire United States. The park features a diverse landscape of glaciers, mountains, rivers, and valleys. To take full advantage of Chugach National Forest, book a local tour guide who can safely guide you to the best places for kayaking, hiking, or commercial fishing. The Prince William Sound is a well-known site for watching wild Orcas swimming amongst the backdrop of an icy, still ocean.
3. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts: Take in a Show
Anchorage may be a humble capital city, but it's also got a deep sense of community and a deep support for the arts. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is located just beside Town Square Park in the heart of downtown Anchorage. There are actually three different performance theaters with various capacities situated within the building: Evangeline Atwood Concert Hall, Discovery Theater, and the Sydney Laurence Theater. Visitors can enjoy both local productions as well as internationally-acclaimed artists who make regular tours through Anchorage each year.
4. Anchorage Museum: Spend a Night at the Museum
Alaska's northern position means that half the year the State is completely covered in darkness, making it the perfect time to explore the Anchorage Museum. This multi-functional space covers everything from art to ecology, history to science. Specifically, the museum covers works related to or originating from Alaska in order to promote the local arts. For an alternative experience, take in an old classic film during the museum's popular "Celluloid Wednesday" or lift off to the stars in the impressive planetarium.
5. Kenai Fjords National Park: An Outdoor Treasure-Trove
Who says you have to go all the way to Norway to see the fjords? Alaska's Kenai Fjords National Park is an absolute treasure-trove of outdoor possibilities tucked away in the southeastern part of the State. Some of the most popular activities in the park include hiking and kayaking through a mirror-like icy surface, making for some of the most astounding pictures a tourist could ask for. The area is teeming with arctic wildlife including otters, sea lions, puffins, and even whales. In addition, most cruise ships pass through this area, making it a safe place to venture into the extreme wild. There are also many smaller boat tours for those looking for a healthy mix of land and sea exploration.
Where to Eat in Anchorage
If you want to dine in authentic Alaskan style, seafood is where it's at, and Anchorage has some exceptional dining options. From elite eateries like the Crow's Nest (which has 10,000 wine bottles in its cellar) to mid-range restaurants like Simon and Seafort's or budget places like Gwennie's (where reindeer sausages are a specialty), you won't struggle to find great places to eat. Expect to pay $35 or more at high-end restaurants, but $10-15 at places like Gwennie's.
When to visit Anchorage
Most visitors to Anchorage arrive during the summer months, when temperatures rise into the 60s on a regular basis, and the mountain biking trails, hiking paths and coastal attractions are at their best. However, April and May are also good times to go if you like to ski, owing to the long daylight hours. Winter probably won't appeal to many people due to the weather conditions.
How to Get to Anchorage
Plane
Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is the main entry point for visitors to Anchorage and there are daily direct flights to a number of American cities, including New York, Seattle, Chicago and Detroit. The easiest way to get from the airport to Anchorage's major hotels is via shuttle companies like Shuttleman or Eagle River Shuttle although there are car rental outlets at the airport including Avis and Hertz.
Car
If you don't fancy the flight from the lower 48 states to Alaska, there is an alternative. The Alaska Highway runs all the way up the coast of British Columbia and links Anchorage to Seattle and Portland (though leave over a day to complete the journey).
Boat
Anchorage is also a major cruise ship terminal, with firms like Princess Cruises running weekly services from Seattle and Vancouver during the summer season.
Airlines serving Anchorage
Where to stay in Anchorage
Downtown Anchorage – Downtown Anchorage is a compact neighborhood built around the traditional grid system, and it's where locals go to play, shop and dine. During tourist season, the area becomes a bustling crafts and food market every weekend, with over 300 independent stalls, while you can shop for unique Alaskan gifts any day of the week at Downtown stores like Polar Bear Gifts and David Green Master Furrier.
Popular Neighborhoods in Anchorage
Spenard – Once a town of its own, Spenard probably pre-dates Anchorage and retains an independent feel. Often thought of as the "rougher" side of town, it's actually more culturally vibrant, hosting "Spenardi Gras" every February and hosting most of Anchorage's liveliest music bars.
Girdwood – Girdwood is a charming resort which has been partly overtaken by the suburbs of Anchorage, but still feels separate somehow. Located in a valley, Girdwood has easy access to skiing and snowboarding pistes and is a favorite base for hikers and mountaineers during the summer. It's the ideal place to base yourself if you love the outdoors.
Where to stay in popular areas of Anchorage
Most booked hotels in Anchorage
How to Get Around Anchorage
Public Transportation
Although it isn't the most efficient public transit system in the world, Anchorage's PeopleMover bus network can be useful for tourists. Single tickets cost just $2 but be aware that most routes have only a single bus every hour, so you may have to wait for a while.
Taxis
If you want to book a taxi, there are two major companies in the Anchorage area: Checker Cab and Alaska Yellow Cab. Typical rates include $2.75 for the meter drop and first mile, then $2.50 per mile after that. There is currently no Uber service in the city following a dispute with the local authority.
Car
Renting a car is essential if you plan to travel outside of the center of town and there are plenty of rental options at Ted Stevens Airport. Note that rental rates spike during high summer and can reach over $100 a day, but plummet slightly out of season, so look closely for bargain deals. If you happen to drive in Anchorage during the winter months, snow is likely, so only rent a vehicle if you are confident about driving in icy conditions.
The Cost of Living in Anchorage
Shopping Streets
If you visit during the summer, Downtown is the place to shop. Craft vendors, farmers and artisan food makers from the region come together every weekend to take over the Downtown grid, and it's a great place to find special souvenirs for folks back home. Anchorage also has several conventional malls. The biggest and most upscale is probably 5th Avenue Mall, where you'll find brands like Sak's and JC Penney's. Dimond Center Mall is also worth a visit, if only for the range of entertainment options, including a cinema, bowling alley and ice rink.
Groceries and Other
Aside from the farmers market in Downtown Anchorage, the city has plenty of supermarkets, which is particularly handy for self-catering visitors. There's a Walmart Supercenter on A Street, a Hana Supermarket and a branch of Fred Meyer's, so finding places to buy groceries isn't an issue. However, Anchorage isn't cheap. A gallon of milk will cost over $4 and a pound of apples more than $2.30, so budget accordingly.