Best Things To Do in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is an Alaskan city that has become an important epicentre of the region for the number of activities it offers visitors. This area contains important glaciers that are currently endangered but still struggling to hold their ground.

Some of the best things to do in Anchorage, Alaska include touring the city's main areas by tram, as well as natural environments such as Chugach State Park, Portage Glacier, the Wildlife Conservation Center and the zoo. You can also sample craft beer, shop at the weekend market, go biking or bird watching in a protected environment. Here are my top recommendations.

Anchorage is a city where the natural and the urban mix in a magical way. So, after arriving in this small town surrounded by ice, the best way to get to know this contrast is on board a tram and in the company of a guide to whom you can ask questions about the historical facts that he will tell you.

If you decide to take part in a tram tour of Anchorage, you will be able to see:

• Lake Hood Harbor: the city's seaplane base, where you will see the landing and take-off of seaplanes. It is located next to Lake Hood and also very close to Anchorage International Airport.
• Earthquake Park is a natural lung established in honour of the 1964 earthquake that marked the city's history forever. Inside you will learn more about this catastrophic event, but stay alert! More than 100 moose live on this land, and you may spot them eventually.
• Alaska Railroad Depot: it is the train station that receives the railways that pass through the city, being an important means of transportation in the state of Alaska.
• Captain Cook Monument: located in Resolution Park, this is a historical monument that pays tribute to Captain James Cook, an English explorer who sailed the Pacific Ocean.

Information of interest

• Price: about €48.
• Duration: about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Easily accessible from downtown Anchorage, the Portage Glacier will allow you to have a viewing experience and contact with this geographic formation of high value for the planet. The ice structure is located about 50 miles from Anchorage, so you'll need to travel about an hour and a half by car to get there.

If you're unsure about how to see glaciers in Anchorage, you should know that Portage Glacier used to be much easier to see, but due to global warming, you'll have to drive and then take a boat. To get closer to the structure you should sign up for a Portage Glacier tour or cruise, where you will sail across Portage Lake and get a better view of this natural wonder.

Another way to visit the Portage Glacier is to go along one of the trails that lead to it. In this case, the Portage Glacier Trail in Glacier Portage State Park is the best choice. You'll walk approximately 2.5 km on a medium-difficulty route , to be rewarded with an irreplaceable view of the glacier and the lake.

Useful information

• Price: if you opt for a guided tour, the price is usually €220.
• Duration: The guided tour can take approximately 8 hours.

If your spirit is as adventurous as that of the early English explorers, a must-see destination in Anchorage is Chugach State Park. This is another important natural lung of the city that covers more than 200,000 hectares and transcends borders.

Although you can visit on your own, one of the most convenient ways to explore this natural temple is through a tour of Chugach State Park. In either case, you can choose to join hiking trails, go camping or kayaking on some of the lakes, go fishing, rock climbing, canoeing, etc.

With several ecosystems within the park (rivers, lakes, glaciers and mountains), the options for taking advantage of the park are diverse and always part of the best Anchorage tours. For example, you can take a bike tour or hike to appreciate the park's rich flora and fauna.

However you explore the park, get your camera lens ready to capture beautiful panoramic views of the trails and mix of landscapes, as well as some wildlife and wildflowers. If you're lucky, you'll spot moose, bears, eagles and more.

Useful information

• Price: you'll find a range of tours starting at around €100 per person.
• Duration: The guided tour will be extended according to the activity you choose, with an average of at least half a day.

If you're a beer lover, then you've got a must-do during your stay in Anchorage. Keep in mind that Alaska has an interesting tradition of brewing beer and this explains why the city of Anchorage is dotted with several breweries with unique options for those who are willing to experiment.

The idea of this activity is to take a self-guided tour and visit several breweries or, if you wish, sign up for a tour, where you will visit between 3 and 4 breweries in the city, which you or the guide can choose, depending on the experience. These are the most famous establishments:

• Midnight Sun Brewing Co. has options such as Kodiak brown ale, horchata stout and delicious snacks.
• Double Shovel Cider Company: offers a range of semi-sweet and semi-dry ciders in flavours such as pineapple, apple and more.
• Humpy's Great Alaska Alehouse: a bar and restaurant noted for its dozens of beer options to choose from and dishes based mainly on fresh seafood.

As you can see, in every corner of Alaska beers go hand in hand with appetizers or more elaborate dishes, so when doing this activity consider also taking part in a food tour of Anchorage to get a better taste of the local flavours.

In case you're looking for some physical activity or just to get some fresh air and clear your mind, one of the best places in Anchorage to do it is the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. It's an approximately 18km trail that you can complete by running, walking or cycling. The latter is the best way to make the most of the time available on your planned itinerary.

You'll be riding along one end of the city, in an area where animals such as moose and wolves roam and, if you're lucky, you might spot them along the way. If you visit this area in winter, you'll notice that it will be covered in snow and serves as a trail for some seasonal sports such as cross-country skiing.

This recreational area of the city is named after Tony Knowles, who was governor of Alaska and also mayor of Anchorage. The trail extends into Kincaid Park and is a great tourist attraction because it offers exceptional views of the Denali, Fire Island and Chugach Mountains.

You'll also see eagles soaring over the rainforests and wilderness areas. The best part is that you won't have to pay anything beyond bike rental and the road is paved, making it much easier to cycle. If you wish, you can do some of the activities on offer at Kincaid Park on completion of the route.

Anchorage is an environment where nature reigns supreme, so wildlife lovers have an appointment at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This is a kind of zoo where animals that have been orphaned or injured are adopted.

About an hour's drive from downtown Anchorage, you'll find this natural sanctuary. In addition to the beauty of the surroundings, you'll be amazed by the variety of species that live in this complex. You'll see bald eagles, caribou, bison, bears, coyotes, wolves, moose and many more species. The best part is that these animals live in conditions very similar to their natural habitat.

Through this experience, you will learn about the importance of preserving wildlife, the contribution of these animals to the ecosystem, and the current landscape of Alaska's wildlife.

If you are interested in wildlife in general and want to explore wildlife in the Alaskan region in particular, consider signing up for a glacier and wildlife tour from Anchorage as well, as you will be able to visit several points of interest including the centre of interest and the Chugach National Forest, among others.

A showcase of modernity and culture hides among Alaska's icy reliefs. This is the Anchorage Museum, a place where art shines in all its splendour. The museum's home is described by many as a wonderful architectural showcase, inviting visitors to experience the worldview of local artists.

Located in the heart of Anchorage, you'll learn about Alaska's purchase, the state's constitution and much more. All through a variety of temporary and permanent exhibits.

The museum's collection includes 25,000 art exhibits and approximately 500,000 photographs to give you an insight into the history, art and language of Alaska's native peoples.

You can also view geology exhibits, participate in interactive astronomy demonstration experiences in the planetarium and take part in seasonal workshops offered at this major art centre. Visits are from Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00 and on Sundays from 12:00 to 18:00.

If you're looking to do some shopping for small objets d'art or handcrafted goods, souvenirs or fresh, exotic produce, then you should head to the Alaska Market. This popular environment opens its doors every weekend on 88th Avenue, offering dozens of items to its visitors.

It is an open-air market with an average of 100 vendors. Locals and tourists gather here to buy and sell a variety of goods. The space also offers gastronomic options. One of them is the salmon quesadillas, which I recommend you try. There are also entertainment options with small shows for the whole family.

The opening of this market is treated as a great local event, aimed at supporting the region's production in various commercial sectors, including gastronomy, handicrafts, art, culture, etc. Opening hours are from 11:00 to 17:00 on Sundays and from 10:00 to 18:00 on Saturdays.

In case you are travelling with children to Anchorage, one suggestion you should consider is to visit the Alaska Zoo. It specialises in arctic animals, so you will be able to observe and eventually interact with them.

The zoo is located near the Chugacg Mountains in the southeastern part of Anchorage. Since its beginnings in 1969, this zoo has gained the interest of young and old alike, even though it is not as gigantic as other zoos in North America.

The secret of the Alaska Zoo's appeal to locals and visitors alike is the fact that it houses animals that are exotic to many. I'm referring to species such as polar bears, Amur alpacas, Tibetan yaks, snow leopards, wolverines and more.

Another exceptional display of Alaska's wildlife can be found at the Potter Marsh Bird Sanctuary. Here you can see the region's wildlife once again, making it an ideal activity for those who really love nature.

The area is a reserved area for the protection of some 130 species of birds. Among the birds you will see swans, eagles, Canada geese, canvasback ducks, songbirds, red-necked phalaropes and many other creatures.

The park is not only home to birds, but is also part of a rich ecosystem. It stretches from the Chugach Mountains to the coast, encompassing the waters of the Turnagain Arm and a boardwalk where you can walk while relaxing and breathing in the fresh air.

The best part is that you can easily reach this space in a few minutes from the city centre. If you go at sunset, bring your camera because you'll get phenomenal views that you won't be able to resist capturing.