Anchorage, Alaska, is a unique and magnificent travel destination, especially for nature lovers. The capital city of America’s most northerly and wildest state is a gateway to untamed nature, glaciers, wildlife, and some of the most interesting ways to see the sights. If you’re planning a vacation to the north, then here are the best things to do in Anchorage, Alaska.
Flightseeing
At a conventional holiday and travel destination, getting around is simply a matter of taking a bus or a car. Things are a bit different in Anchorage and Alaska as a whole, where the state is dominated by forests, mountains, and waterways. Here, air travel is a daily reality and an absolute must for tourists.
Bush planes piloted by a range of pilots fly tourists for airborne adventures and sightseeing from above. These tours take you over glaciers, above the wilderness, and on some of the most one-of-a-kind tours imaginable. With so many options, you’ll be spoiled for choice, so just imagine the experience you could have on your next Alaskan vacay. Also, this isn’t the last time we’ll mention flying, so brace yourself for a lot more aerial attractions that await you in the United States’ last great frontier.
Prince William Sound Day Trip
It might take you out of the city, but a visit to Anchorage wouldn’t be complete without a day trip to the stunning Prince William Sound. This isn’t audible royalty, a sound is actually an ocean inlet larger than a bay, and the Prince William Sound is a spectacular showpiece of nature and wildlife. After a scenic 1.5 hour drive or an equally memorable 2.5-hour train ride, you’ll be in the town of Whittier and ready to explore the waters.
The Sound is famous for its tidewater glaciers – massive sheets of ice that flow at a literal glacial pace from mountain peaks to the ocean. Several companies offer chartered boat tours, and your captain will bring you close to towering ice walls, near-frozen waterfalls, and so near to icebergs you can hear them melting and cracking. Wildlife is abundant, too, including bald eagles, otters, sea lions, and even sometimes whales. And if getting closer to the water is your priority, then go for a kayak trip, or head for one of the secluded beaches.
Campbell Creek Science Center
Want to learn more about Alaska’s flora and fauna while also walking through pristine nature in the heart of Anchorage? The Campbell Creek Science Center functions as an outdoor museum and laboratory, encouraging visitors to follow its 12 miles of trails and learn as much as they can about the wilds around them.
The Campbell Creek Science Center is largely geared towards children of all ages, making this one of the absolute best things to do in Anchorage for families. Volunteers will guide you through the park, explaining and educating as you go. Alternatively, there are plenty of resources to turn you into a wildlife researcher, and the Center can equip you to go into the woods to track and observe animals and birds of all kinds. You’ll certainly leave the Campbell Creek Science Center with a deepened appreciation for the natural world around you.
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The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Meandering along Cook Inlet for over 11 miles is the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The Trail is highly rated and recommended and takes visitors through the Alaskan woodlands and past the waters. It’s also very accessible any time of the year.
Most will tackle the trail on a pedal or electric bicycle, but you’re invited to walk, run, or roller-skate, as well as cross-country ski on a snowy day. And if you didn’t bring your own bike, you can rent one at Pablo’s Bike Rentals, a beloved independently owned and operated business in the city.
Aside from the impossibly beautiful forests and mountains, visitors attempting the trail can expect close encounters with giant moose, with some even getting close enough for a selfie. But that wouldn’t be advisable given their tendency to be a bit aggressive at times. Keep an eye out for beluga whales in the bay, bald eagles overhead, and many other creatures great and small that call this terrain their home.
Make a day of the trail, as there is going to be a lot to stop and take in, especially the scale-model of the solar system that stretches the length of the trail, and the animal-rich Kincaid Park. Treasured by locals and outsiders alike, it’s easy to see why this is one of the best things to do in Anchorage.
Fly-In Bear Tours
Remember when we said that Flightseeing wouldn’t be the last aerial recommendation? We weren’t kidding, and what could be more memorable than taking a small plane to the remote wilderness to view brown bears in their natural habitat. Bear viewing tours are incredibly popular and the best way to see these majestic giant creatures in the wild. Bear in mind that this attraction is a costly one, and it’s only in operation during the summer, but it’s an experience that would be un-bear-able to miss.
Numerous tour companies operate in Anchorage, and they’ll know the best hotspots to let you see bears. After roughly 50 minutes in the air, which will give you some gorgeous aerial views of lakes, glaciers, and volcanoes, adventurers will be able to watch brown bear cubs playing and learning, momma bears fishing for salmon, and male bears battling for dominance. Being in the great outdoors and close to these amazing animals is a unique opportunity and not to be missed.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
The state of Alaska has been inhabited by humans for thousands, if not millions, of years, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center gives visitors insights and a look at the lives of these indigenous people. With culture and artifacts from 5 major groups native to the region, this museum encourages tourists to engage with the past and present of Alaska’s first residents.
The Center is divided into three broad areas, and everything can be comfortably viewed in 2 to 4 hours. The Hall of Cultures is more like a traditional museum with artifacts and exhibits. There are crafts for children to attempt, and authentic art can be purchased from native artisans. The Gathering Place is where demonstrations of dances, songs, and even games are held, and visitors are invited to participate. The highlight is the Village Sites, six authentic recreations of native dwellings built in the woods surrounding Lake Tulane.
Chugach State Park
Sprawling over 495,000 acres, Chugach State Park is located within easy driving distance of Anchorage and is a must for outdoor enthusiasts. The whole park includes towering mountains, stretches of coastline, lakes, rivers, and rainforests and is perfect for day trips and overnight stays. In colder months, skiing is an option, as is trekking over ice fields and getting close to glaciers.
With near endless hiking trails, you’ll need to do some reading about where exactly to go. Alternatively, guided tours are offered to give you the best look at nature and the history of the park. Be sure to bring a good camera, as there will be opportunities to capture the most beautiful photos and memories.
Matanuska Glacier
As the largest glacier accessible by car in the USA, Matanuska Glacier is a must-see activity while in Anchorage. Getting there takes a 2.5-hour drive from the city, but the amount to see, do, and explore makes the trip well worth it. A full day trip could include zip-lining, rafting, hikes, and climbing across an ancient ice formation.
The Matanuska Glacier acts as a launching point for all kinds of adventures. One of the highlights are the pair of ziplines, one of which is the fastest in the state, and the other lets you glide for a quarter-mile over amazing scenery.
The Matanuska river offers extreme white-water rafting as well more mellow floats for rafters for all ages. And to get really up close and personal, glacier tours and climbs will let you explore and scale the ice formations. For any age and adventure level, Matanuska Glacier is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Alaska Railroad Tours
Railways are an integral part of Anchorage’s history, and a trip on the rails should be on everyone’s card. Departing from the city, travelers have plenty of destinations to choose from, including one-day round trips or epic quests across the state.
Many of the tours are inclusive of unique experiences, like glacier cruises, dog-sledding, hikes, or 13 hour narrated tours. Especially of note is the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, a unique destination that is only reached by rail. Different class tickets are available, with the upper classes letting visitors ride in style with restaurant services, massive picture windows, and glass-domed ceilings for unparalleled views.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
Alaska is known for its rich and abundant animal life, and a trip to the state, as well as it’s premier city Anchorage, is not complete without engaging with its iconic nature. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Located less than an hour’s drive along the spectacular Turnagain Arm, the Center takes in injured, orphaned, or displaced animals and shelters and rehabilitates them. And the Center also handles reintroductions, operating a special project re-integrating Wood Bison into the wild.
Once inside, visitors can walk or drive around the 1.5-mile loop, taking in the scenery and watching the animals in their enclosures. Some of the animals you can see are brown bears, black bears, porcupines, wolves, and deer, and antelope of all sorts. If you need any more reason, the natural environment around the Center is also jaw-droppingly beautiful and will make for some incredible photos. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center helps Anchorage live up to its motto of “Big Wild Life”.
If you had a trip planned for Anchorage, what would you do? What do you think are the best things to do in Anchorage? And if you’re a local, then what did we miss? Let us know in the comments, and be sure to like the video, subscribe to ViewCation, and hit the bell for more. Thanks for watching and travel safely.