Anchorage is an urban city that offers easy access to breathtaking scenery, adventurous activities, cultural exhibits, and wildlife viewing. Within an hour or two of the city, you can kayak among glaciers, observe brown bears in the wild, or hike through rainforests or alpine meadows.
History and Culture of Anchorage
Immerse yourself in Alaska’s art, history, and culture for a full day and learn about Anchorage. Start your journey at the must-see Alaska Native Heritage Center, located in a beautiful area on the northeast edge of town. Free shuttles depart every hour from the Anchorage Museum, Anchorage Visitors Center, Captain Cook Hotel, or Sheraton Hotel. Learn about the five major indigenous cultures of Alaska through art, short films, and demonstrations of indigenous dances and games. Outdoors, you can explore the wooded areas around Lake Tiulana with a guide or on your own. This trail winds past six life-sized indigenous dwellings, showcasing how Native Alaskans lived in different regions—from coastal longhouses to underground homes accessed by ladder or tunnel.
Back in downtown Anchorage, Anchorage Museum awaits with world-class exhibits and a particularly engaging Discovery Center for kids. Head up to the third floor, where over 600 artifacts from the Smithsonian Museum are on loan. Special activities include movies at the planetarium and science experiments at the Discovery Center. Wrap up your tour with a meal at one of the hotel restaurants or nearby eateries, then walk about six blocks to the Log Cabin Visitor Center to join the Anchorage Trolley Tour.
For a specific historical insight into Anchorage, there’s no better journey than this one-hour tour. The driver shares fascinating facts and stories about Anchorage’s over 100-year history during the 15-mile journey—from historic districts of Anchorage to Earthquake Park and the seaplanes on Lake Hood.
Explore Anchorage on foot, taste Alaskan cuisine, and listen to the stories of the 49th state through Alaskan Footprints. Ride the only party bike in Alaska and tour Anchorage in a whole new way!
Pedal Anchorage offers unique open-air vehicles that you can tour the city solo, as a group, or book the entire bike! If you see a party bike around Anchorage while walking and there are empty seats, signal the driver: if they’re not on a private tour, you’re welcome to join!
Transportation: Tram, shuttle, car
Activity Level: Moderate
Weather: Daily updates provided; perfect choice for rainy days
Tips: Alaska Cultural Pass allows discounted entry to Anchorage Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center.
Outdoor Anchorage
Anchorage might be a city of 300,000 people, but it boasts some of the country’s best parks and recreational areas, from the sea-level Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to the 3,500-foot-high Flattop Mountain. The paved coastal trail begins in downtown Anchorage, stretching 11 miles to Kincaid Park. Rent a bike easily in the city center and ride along, enjoying views of mudflats, Cook Inlet, and on clear days, even glimpses of Mount McKinley. After a few miles, stop and admire the stunning skyline of Anchorage. The chance of spotting moose along this trail is quite high, especially as you near Kincaid Park.
For a different perspective of Anchorage, just a 20-minute drive takes you to the Glen Alps parking lot, where you’ll find multiple trails within Chugach State Park, including one leading to the summit of Flattop Mountain. It’s typically windy up there, providing a refreshing climb! If you’re not up for the full trek, the 1.5-mile Blueberry Loop Trail still offers beautiful views with less demand. A shorter path from the parking lot to the overlook ensures the beauty of Anchorage Bowl.
If you’re not quite ready for solo hiking, Go Hike Alaska offers various walking and hiking activities outside Anchorage in Chugach State Park.
For water sports enthusiasts, AK Paddlesports provides top-notch kayak, canoe, or paddleboard rentals, as well as expert-guided kayak tours and lessons. They even deliver!
Transportation: Car or bike
Activity Level: Mild to strenuous
Weather: Best on sunny days, light rain also okay; Flattop will be cooler.
Tips: Start early; bring plenty of water and lunch; $5 parking fee at Flattop.
Accommodation in Downtown Anchorage
Downtown Anchorage is perfect for walking, which is why we recommend staying there if you can. If you’re cost-conscious or have reasons to stay elsewhere (better hotel points deals), getting around via Uber, public transportation, or parking downtown (plenty of spaces available) should be easy.
As for hotels located right in downtown Anchorage, the Captain Cook Hotel might have the best location. You can also find the Hilton Anchorage along the street. The hotel we’ve chosen is the Anchorage Marriott Downtown—having stayed at all three Marriott hotels downtown, the Anchorage Marriott Downtown comes out on top for its Wi-Fi, lounges, lobby, rooms, and location.
The Lakefront Anchorage
The Lakefront Anchorage (formerly Millennium Alaskan Hotel Anchorage) sits on the shores of Lake Hood, a downtown Alaska hotel. The Lakefront Anchorage is the only lakeside hotel in Anchorage, offering top-notch accommodations with a unique Alaskan flair. The lobby is adorned with polar, Kodiak, and black bears, along with plenty of sled dogs and Iditarod memorabilia—you step into the Alaskan wilderness upon entering the front door. Lake Hood boasts the world’s busiest floatplane base; with the majestic Chugach Mountains as a backdrop, it presents unparalleled views. The newly renovated deluxe rooms offer comfort and convenience with double pillow-top mattresses, refrigerators, and coffee makers. Amenities include a tour desk, seasonal downtown shuttle service (also extending to the train station), storage space, brand-new event space, fitness center, business center, and more. The lakeside hotel is 1 mile from the airport and a 10-minute drive from downtown Anchorage, making it an ideal place to start or end your next Alaska adventure.
Want to enjoy the beauty of Alaska? Head to any of the three lake-view restaurants within walking distance. Visit the locally beloved eatery Fancy Moose for bar-style Alaskan cuisine, including award-winning seafood corn cakes or the famous buffalo burger, paired with a variety of local beers and signature cocktails. Besides the indoor bar, The Lakefront Anchorage also features a seasonal outdoor seating area, The Deck at Lake Hood, the only lakeside dining in town. The Deck offers specialty cocktails weekly and hosts special events and celebrations throughout the summer, including the annual Beer and Bacon Festival in August. For a fine dining experience, head to The Flying Machine restaurant, a upscale Alaskan bistro inspired by Alaska’s rich aviation history and stunning scenery. Pair fresh Alaskan seafood and juicy steaks with a selection of fine wines. Whether you opt for a three-course meal or just stop in for a beer, you can enjoy sweeping views of Lake Hood throughout your dining experience. The private floatplane dock adds to the charm as you sit back, relax, and watch the floatplanes come and go.
Parkside Guest House
Camp Denali, located deep in Denali National Park, is known for offering unique, enriching experiences. But they also offer Anchorage’s big-city version of hospitality: this 3-room guest house provides easy access to city exploration and serves as an excellent launching pad for any Alaskan adventure. Rooms with private bathrooms // $295 | double occupancy
This craftsman-style guest house features a spacious second-floor lounge with panoramic views of downtown Anchorage, nearby mountain ranges, and Cook Inlet. Charming and intricately detailed rooms come with private or shared bathrooms and queen or twin beds, and guests can enjoy a daily continental breakfast featuring homemade fare. You can walk to any number of restaurants, shops, and museums or seek out wildlife along the city’s coastal trail. There’s even a vibrant city park across the street.
Highlights of Staying Here:
Charming craftsmanship and elegance.
Inn-style ambiance.
Walking distance to Anchorage’s restaurants, shops, and attractions.
Room rates include continental breakfast.
Free WiFi.
Conveniences like laundry facilities and luggage storage.
Northwoods Lodge
For 35 years, Northwoods Lodge has provided visitors with a unique experience of remote Alaskan accommodations and expert-led fishing excursions. Owned by long-time Alaska residents Eric Johnson and Shan Johnson, this cozy lodge sits along the spring-fed Fish Lakes Creek, accommodating only 12 guests. Authentic Alaskan experiences are just a 45-minute floatplane ride away from Anchorage.
Your home in the wilderness is in the cabins, where you have several options: a deluxe cabin with a large living area, a loft cabin with shared bathrooms, and two standard cabins with private bathrooms. But all rooms are decorated in Alaskan style and feature decks or porches where you can enjoy sunset views or spot caribou.
Fishing is the focus here, with guided fishing available for 8 to 10 hours each day; anglers come for salmon—king, pink, red, and silver—as well as rainbow trout, arctic char, and grayling. Tours are intimate too; unlike other lodges, Northwoods doesn’t group guests together, so your party (even if it’s just two people) will have its own boat and guide. Seasoned guides know many fishing hotspots in the area, ensuring you have an exciting experience every day.
Fishermen depart with packed breakfasts at 5 a.m.; you’ll return to enjoy a buffet brunch before heading out for fishing or just relaxing in the hot tub or wood-fired sauna.
You can kayak, canoe, hike along trails, then enjoy a buffet dinner, check emails, watch TV, or sit on the large deck and screened porch overlooking the creek. Sit down to a buffet dinner featuring prime ribs, baby back ribs, salmon with shrimp sauce, or grilled salmon with orange cream sauce. Then enjoy the game room with pool and poker tables, visit the library, and have a drink at the bar while discussing the day’s big catches.
Hotel Highlights
World-class wilderness fishing spots just minutes from Anchorage
Maximum of 12 guests
Luxurious all-inclusive lodge offering family-friendly hospitality and delicious cuisine
Professional fishing guides for fly and spin fishing
Top-notch fishing equipment
Owned and operated by Alaskans
Scenic floatplane flights to and from the lodge
Shuttle service between Anchorage Airport and the hotel
Exploring Anchorage
Touring Anchorage is most convenient if you rent a car. The only public transportation in the city is buses, but they have very limited schedules. Distances between various destinations within the city might be too far to walk, let alone Anchorage being a sprawling city.
