Welcome to Anchorage, Alaska: Where Urban Adventure Meets Natural Splendor
Nestled between rugged peaks and the glistening waters of the Cook Inlet, Anchorage, Alaska, stands as a testament to the harmonious coexistence of urban life and breathtaking wilderness. As you step into this vibrant city, you’ll be embraced by a blend of history, culture, and outdoor wonders that create an experience unlike any other. Anchorage’s history is a tale of resilience and transformation. What was once a modest tent city during the Klondike Gold Rush has blossomed into Alaska’s largest metropolis. Native cultures and explorers have left their marks, shaping the city’s character into a diverse tapestry that honors its roots while embracing progress. Anchorage’s unique allure lies in its seamless integration with the natural world. Surrounded by vast expanses of wilderness, the city serves as a gateway to remarkable adventures and outdoor exploration. Anchorage is a haven for those seeking to hike through pristine trails, catch a glimpse of majestic wildlife, and marvel at the Northern Lights dancing across the night sky. With access to six mountain ranges, Anchorage offers world-class hiking, skiing, and biking opportunities, along with the chance to spot bears, moose, and other iconic Alaskan wildlife.
Where to stay:
When I started filling this out, I was really intimated by this section because there are SO many places to stay in Anchorage. I always utilize an Air BnB when I travel to Anchorage because it gives me more options and freedom however, I know Anchorage and where to get where I want so it works for me. If you are new to anchorage and don’t know what youre doing, I would recommend staying at some hotels or Bed n Breakfasts with people that live there so they can help guide you on your way. There are more than 160 places to stay in Anchorage and I haven’t stayed in them all. This list is not exhaustive, but more of a smattering of the local flavors for you to pick from.
Hotels/ Lodges
939 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501(907) 276-6000
Featuring top floor dining and a quaint little coffee shop, this older Alaskan hotel has lots of services and centrally located downtown. The staff are friendly and helpul. Close to lots of shops.
Historic Anchorage Hotel330 E St, Anchorage, AK 99501(907) 272-4553
A historic hotel built in the 1930’s with amazing staff and a great location. Mind you, this place is small and outdated, but it does maintain its historic charm. It has a back history of being known for hauntings but that might just be because it’s so old and carries the name historic in its name. Lots of restaurants to eat at around the area.
Hyatt House Anchorage
5141 Business Park Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503(907) 992-2200
I enjoyed my stay at this hotel. The area is secluded in a business area and the pool is nice. The place is well maintained and clean, the blinds blocked out the light. A great breakfast selection and the staff are wonderful. I really enjoyed my time here. The only downside I would state is it is close to the highway so if you are on that side of the hotel it might be a little loud.
The Lakefront Anchorage
4800 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK 99517(907) 243-2300
Pretty close to the airport, and a beautiful view of the surrounding lakes and mountains. Good restaurant in the building and recently remodeled. Breakfast was delicious.
Alyeska Resort1000 Arlberg Ave, Girdwood, AK 99587(800) 880-3880
A little ways outside of anchorage in a small town called Girdwood but one of the most beautiful places to stay. They just opened up a spa recently so there’s that to do. Lots of hiking in this area and a great place to ski in the winter. The people are nice, the place is beautiful.
There are a lot of other hotels in anchorage including big name ones like holiday, hyatt, best western and Hilton. These ones I listed are more Alaskan charmed.
Wilderness Place Lodge, All Inclusive Alaska Fishing Lodge and Adventures4525 Enstrom Cir, Anchorage, AK 99502
(907) 733-2051
From the website, this is an all-inclusive Fly in Fishing Lodge with off grid packages. The finest service blended with the best accommodation.
Inns, Cabins and B&Bs:
Copper Whale Inn440 L St, Anchorage, AK 99501(907) 258-7999
A cute little Alaskan place where the owner makes you feel like family. The view is amazing and the décor is great. The room was cozy and clean. Wonderful staff and great location. The breakfast spread was amazing too.
Maria’s Creekside B&B
2770 E 46th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99507(907) 770-5487
Soundproof walls and a wonderfully kind host. A full-service breakfast and the place was clean. The host is amazing and the place is beautiful. Oh the creek view is very relaxing. I would definitely be back.
Coast Inn at Lake Hood
3450 Aviation Ave, Anchorage, AK 99502(907) 243-2233
The rooms were clean, the bed was comfortable. The hotel is a little dated but currently renovations are happening. This place is close to the airport, offering 24/7 shuttle service. Lake hood is right across the street so you can venture over there and see the float planes take off or land. A little restaurant and bar are on site. Important to note there is no elevator at this location.
Jewel Lake Bed & Breakfast
8125 Jewel Lake Rd, Anchorage, AK 99502(907) 245-7321
Super cute little BnB near downtown and close to the airport. Options for breakfast are limited. Quiet and peaceful.
RV and Camping
Creekwood Inn & RV Park2150 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99503(907) 258-6006
A convenient place to stop and park your RV for the night. If you need a room there are some available.
Bird Creek Motel & RV Park
29433 Seward Hwy, Bird Creek, AK 99540(907) 653-0100
Clean and modest rooms, and spaces for your RV with the usual convenience. A nice place to stop on your journey for the night. Beautiful views in this area.
Golden Nugget RV Park
4100 DeBarr Rd, Anchorage, AK 99508
1-800-449-2012
Open year round, with 215 sites, this cute place has amazing owners and is centrally located. Hot showers and heated restrooms. All the usual Amenities.
Ship Creek RV Park
150 N Ingra St, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 277-0877
Located near a railroad but its an otherwise quiet location. Close to downtown – clean showers and restrooms.
Centennial Campground
8400 Starview Dr, Anchorage, AK 99504
(907) 343-6986
Great outdoor area within the city for both RV and tenting areas. Trails nearby.
Of course, there are other places, but if you don’t like the looks of them, you can always try driving to girdwood or stay in palmer or Wasilla which are pretty close by.
What to Eat
Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria
3300 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 258-2537
An Anchorage favorite and somewhere I go to eat when I visit anchorage. The food is fresh and comes out fast, this place has some of the best varieties and flavors of pizza. Its so good!
Spenard Roadhouse1049 W Northern Lights Blvd, Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 770-7623
Tasty comfort food highlighting bacon every month and famous for their tator tots, this place is a consistent favorite
Simon & Seafort’s Saloon & Grill
420 L St, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 274-3502
This place is really amazing, the service is incredible and the food is the best. You shol=uld make reservations beforehand as the place is always full. Great view and atmosphere and if you want free parking, go after 6 as its free in the street.
Jens’ Restaurant
701 W 36th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 561-5367
Great wine selection and the prices are fair. Check out their seafood selections. The food is pretty tasty! The atmosphere is just lovely.
Glacier Brewhouse737 W 5th Ave #110, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 274-2739
Great food and fun craft beers crewed in house. The atmosphere is rustic and warm and the food is divine.
Fletcher’sIn the Hotel Captain Hook939 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 343-2218
Great food and service, a good atmosphere and drinks
Gumbo House508 W 6th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 222-2930
Delicious Gumbo, and fair prices. The seafood gumbo was so fresh!
Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse610 W 6th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 276-2337
The food is fresh and delicious, with huge portion sizes. A great beer selection. The staff is knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is such a nice vibe, sometimes they have a live band playing. Try the fish and chips.
Benihana
1100 W 8th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 222-5212
A hibachi grill, great for large groups. I know its part of a chain but its always a fun place to visit.
Ginger
425 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 929-3680
The food is consistently good, the staff is awesome and the drinks are stiff. The food is fun and interesting, the service is great and the location is perfect for downtown eating.
F Street Station
325 F St, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 272-5196
A nice Bar and grill with a good atmosphere. Food is tasty, fresh and comes in big portions. Reasonable prices and fun options to choose from
Kinley’s Restaurant & Bar
3230 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 644-8953
I highly recommend this little diner. It has great food, good service and prices. The menu is super creative as well.
Bread and Brew
1450 E Tudor Rd STE 100, Anchorage, AK 99507
(907) 562-2739
A laid back atmosphere with self serve options. Beer and sandwiches that hit the spot in this little place. This restaurant was voted best sandwich in Alaska in 2018,2019, and 2020!
King Street Brewing Company
9050 King St, Anchorage, AK 99515
(907) 336-5464
A wonderful selection of beers, and decent foods. Try the Jam Burger! Lots of seating and good group dining options. Amazing atmosphere and service.
Club Paris
417 W 5th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501
(907) 277-6332
Amazing service, great food, great everything. I recommend making reservations in advance and try the steak and selection of beers!
Southside Bistro
1320 Huffman Park Dr, Anchorage, AK 99515
(907) 348-0088
This place has a great atmosphere with bar and restaurant seating. You can go Alaska standard ( Carhart casual) or fancy, whichever you want. The place is nice and the food is decorative.
What to See and Do
What to See and Do
Like all the places I have written about, there are multiple things to do and see in this city. Some of them are specific to the winter months and some are specific to the summer months. I encourage you to do your research before you go anywhere in Alaska.
This is not an exhaustive list but it does contain some of the things I would tell a friend to go check out:
· Visit the Anchorage log cabin Visitor Information Center –
You can expect to find travel information from Alaskan experts. There are tons of resources for things to do and see. This log cabin is located on 4th avenue downtown and it is open year round.
· Go check out the Anchorage Museum
A beautiful place to learn about the people, land and culture of Alaska. The museum is committed to honoring the Dena’iona people. Filled with stories, exhibits, ideas and information. If you are visiting Alaska, come to learn the history and the people, this is a must stop.
· Check out the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum
Located in the heart of Alaska Aviation, this museum exists to display, educate, and honor Alaska’s aviation heritage.
· Check out the Alaska Native heritage Center
A living cultural center that promotes active Alaska Native Culture and Traditions. This is the only statewide education and culture center that is dedicated to celebrating all cultures and heritages. You can expect to experience immersive experiences.
· Visit the Alaska Railroad Depot
We have a beautiful railroad that traverses through Alaska. Taking a trip from Anchorage to Fairbanks gets you through denali and all through Alaskan wilderness. It is a good way to see things you cant see and relax while you soak in Alaska’s beauty.
There are so many things you can do in the cook inlet, as it stretches 180 miles into the gulf of Alaska. Some of the most beautiful drives (in my opinion) are near cook inlet, including driving down Turnagain arm and Knik Arm. You can do all the things here and see all the things.
· Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
This is a wildlife conservation Sanctuary that house mostly permanent wildlife residents on 200 acres. You can see bears, moose, bison and more wild Alaskan animals here in a safe setting. From their website, ACWW is “committed to sustainability, eco-friendly operating practices, and recognition of indigenous and historic uses of the land.” It’s a bit of a drive outside of Anchorage to get here but if you are on your way to Girdwood, I would just naturally find myself there.
A cute, small little zoo. You can find fun things for kids and adults including “keeper for a day experience, adopt a zoo animal and brown bear encounters”
· Check out Chugach State Park
This is one of the most beautiful (in my opinion) places in Alaska. The mountains are breathtaking, the trails are beautiful and leave you wanting more. This place is magical and touches you right in the heart. This park has oceans, glaciers, ice fields, forests. If you are a fan of being outdoors,
This is a little spot off the side of the road, south of Anchorage down the Seward Highway. Seems dull, however if you go at the right times you can see whales come in around mid July – August. Its also a real beautiful spot to see the sunset later in the year.
· Visit the Potter March Bird Sanctuary
Also off the Seward highway is the Potter’s Marsh Bird Sanctuary. You can walk through on a wooden boardwalk for half a mile or visit the pull off on the highway. There are all types of birds and wildlife to view here. This is a great place to view Turnagain Arm.
A beautiful and clear lake carved from Eklutna Glacier. Once the glacier receded, the beautiful water was left behind. The water is clear and beautiful. You can camp, ski, hike, fish, horseback ride in this area which is located in Chugiak.
· Check out the Alaska Public Lands Information Center
· Check out some of the hiking trails in the area (see the Hiking in Anchorage Page)
Sitting on 110 Acres and 8 Acres of Civilized gardens and trails, this is a great place to check out things I’d check the website area under “plan your visit” if you are going to visit as they have some by appt only days in the winter. However, summer months, they are open 7 days a week. Be prepared to walk near the Boreal Forest and combat mosquitoes when visiting.
· Go visit Alyeska Ski Resort Area near Girdwood. (See Girdwood’s page)
This is a nice resort for skiing and the hotel resort area is pretty nice. They recently opened up a nice spa. This place is open year round and has lots of amenities. If you are trying to go somewhere a little more luxurious, this is a stop to make.
· Take a Drive down Turnagain Arm
This is located off the Seward highway but the road is a destination all to its own. Beluga Point is here, and its one of the prettiest drives. Almost every time I find myself on this road, I have an Alaskan experience. You can also see the Bore Tide down this way.
I like the drive out to here most. It feels like you are driving into history. There are all kinds of old mining homes out there and tons of trails. Blueberry picking and a pretty lake. The link goes to a nice pamphlet detailing all the things Hatcher Pass.
This happens when the low tide wave and a high tide wave smash into each other. You can visually see the tide roll in. This will occur 2-3 hours after the low tide in Anchorage. It is a lucky occurrence to see it as there are multiple variables. Sometimes the bore tide can get as high as 6 ft.
Some of the things you can do in Anchorage (and everywhere in Alaska but these ones are specific to the Anchorage area)
Check out some Flightseeing/Bear viewing tours.
· Rust’s Flying Service – over 10 years in business, tours for bear viewing, photography, to do some fly in fishing.
· Regal Air – “the top flightseeing and bear viewing company in Alaska for over 33 years” – Alaska flightseeing tours, Bear Viewing Tours, and Flight charters
· Trail Ridge Air Inc – Flightsee, Bear viewing, Flyout Fishing, Float trips, charter Flights
Check out the nearby glaciers –
· Alaska Helicopter Tours – Glacier tours, Glacier ice climbing, Glacier paddle boarding
· Greatland Adventures – Matanuska Glacier Tour. A full day tour to the most accessible Glacier in the area with an experienced guide. In summer and winter.
Check out some Northern Lights tours. (Although I would recommend coming to Fairbanks for this)
· Greatland Adventures – In the winter months Aug 21st – April 14th. This tour comes with web quality aurora portraits and some photo instruction to be able to take your own.
Obviously there are a million more things you can do but my hope is that this list will lead you to your own list. The resources in a lot of the visitors centers will lead you to other tours, other ideas and places to go.
Have the best time!!
Where to Hike/Camp
Places to Hike in Anchorage
Of course I love hiking wherever I go and being that anchorage is so close to the coast, the views are unparrelled (except for all other places in Alaska). Here are some of the best hikes in the area and what you can expect of them. This is not an exhaustive list and if you are looking for one, you can check out all trails or run a google search on your own.
Anchorage Overlook Trail – An easy peasy 29 ft elevation gain for this .3 mile trail. You can expect to make this little walk in less than 10 minutes. This little loop is full of breathtaking scenery with a summit to highlight the mountains. The area is also a popular stop for wildlife so don’t be surprised to see some birds, moose or other wildlife
Kincade Park – A 1,400 Acre Park with over 40 miles of trails to check out as well as other things to do such as biking on the 20 mile single track bike run or viewing wildlife or choosing to Golf on the 18 whole course. There is even a hidden sandy beach off the Cook Inlet to explore.
Thunderbird Falls – One of my favorite and also one of the easiest, fastest and most convenient to visit while trying to pack in a lot of things is thunderbird falls. A short 1.8 mile out and back trail that takes you to a 200 ft waterfall. This trail is really beautiful in the summer with beautiful birch trees to peruse through but for a real snowy treat, check this place out in the winter! The trail is easily accessed. There is a Creekside trail half way down that will take you very close to the waterfall.
Flattop Mountain – Located in nearby Chugiak State park, so expect to get a day pass for parking. This hiking spot is pretty popular in Anchorage as its only 15 miles from downtown and a solid 2.8 miles in length. This is a day hike with a 1,200 ft. climb to the summit. There are a few ways to get to the top of this mountain. Route leaves from the Glen Alps. There are also a few technical scramble points towards the top of the mountain which can be difficult in the snow so going around May or June would be best.
Flattop Mountian – SunnySide Trail – An easier way to get to the top of flat top and is out and back. This trail is 3.5 miles and considered moderate.
Rabbit Lake Trail – this 8.7 mile out and back trail is also in the Chugach State park (35 miles outside Anchorage). Usually takes around 4-6 hours to complete depending on your traveling speed. June – August is best for this trail and don’t forget at the end of this trail there is Alpine lake – definitely worth the hike.
O’Malley Peak Trail – A hard, 9 mile, out and back trail for experienced hikers with a lovely 3300 elevation gain. This hike traverses a river, multiple boardwalks and steep terrain with dramatic views of Anchorage. I would recommend hiking poles
OR!
Little O’Malley Peak trail – If the 9 mile trail freaks you out, you can still venture out there on the shorter, if not better trail. This area connects to other trails so stay the course (or go your own way if you know what you’re doing). Great views on this trail and an easy place to find wildlife.
Rendezvous Peak – A nice 3.2 mile loop taking around 2.5 hours to complete. This
Hike begins at the end of Arctic Valley Road Adjacent to ski area above anchorage. Lots of berries in the late August and dogs are welcome on a leash.
Powerline Pass to Hidden Lake – this 11.1 mile point to point trail is near near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Somewhat challeneging, this will take around 6.5 hours to complete this trail is beautiful year round and will take you to hidden lake!