Anchorage Must-See Destinations
Now that it’s snowing in Alaska, let’s talk about all the amazing things we’ve done since August.
The path that leads to the beach at Point Woronzof Park. This place is my absolute favorite to watch the sunset.Fall is my favorite time of the year. The leaves turn, there is a chill in the air, temperatures start to drop, and it’s the perfect time for a campfire. Up here in Alaska, fall is pretty much done, but down in the lower 48 (as people in Alaska affectionately call the rest of the US) there is still plenty of time to enjoy fall activities. In Alaska, our days are getting longer, the temperature is trending down, and it actually started snowing today. As such, I thought it would be fun to look back on all the amazing things I saw and did since August so that next year, when you are planning your trip to Alaska, you know what to add to your “must see” list.
This picture was taken along the Dew Mound Trail in the Eagle River Nature Center. It’s a pretty hike during the spring, summer, and fall.Hiking
Let’s be honest, the reason you are going to Alaska is because you want to see some amazing sights. While I have not been on all the hikes around Anchorage, I have taken quite a few of them. One of the spots I think you need to see is the Eagle River Nature Center. (You can read my blog post about it by clicking on the link here.) It’s a great spot that isn’t too far outside of Anchorage, and you can hike for as long as you want as all the paths circle back on each other. I personally like the Dew Mound Hike. There is a beautiful lake at the end of the trail, then you can circle back around and take the Crow Pass/Iditarod Trail for great views of the mountains. Another great hike for avid hikers is Flattop. This picturesque hike overlooks Anchorage and the Cook Inlet. There are two hikes on Flattop, a medium difficulty hike and a difficult hike. If a strenuous hike isn’t your thing, but you still want to take in the sights, there is an overlook that is an excellent place to watch the sunset. A great place for a wonderful stroll is Eklutna Lake. This is more of a great place to walk, and doesn’t really qualify as a hike. However, excuse the ease of this adventure and admire the outstanding views of snowcapped mountains encircling a large pristine lake as blue as the sky. The path is wide and features divergent paths for walkers and those piloting side-by-sides on these well manicured routes alongside the lake edge.
This mother moose and her calf were hanging out eating leaves off the trees at Point Woronzof Park. This same sunset, I also saw beluga whales at the same overlook.Wildlife
You don’t need to leave Anchorage to catch some wildlife. If you spend time in Kincaid Park or Point Woronzof Park, you are bound to see some of the resident moose that live in that part of the City. The picture above was taken at Point Woronzof, which is also my favorite place to watch the sunset. I also highly recommend taking the 45-minute drive outside of Anchorage and visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. (You can read all about the AWCC in my blog post here.) You are guaranteed to see some animals and the land the AWCC is on has some absolutely spectacular views. It’s one of the most visited places in Alaska, and it’s easy to see why.
This is a picture of Holgate Glacier, one of several glaciers you will see when you take the Major Marine Tour out of Seward. Glaciers
You can’t come to Alaska without seeing at least one glacier. If you want to see them up close and personal, there are several glaciers relatively close to Anchorage that you can hike. Portage Glacier outside of Whittier is one such glacier. You can take the steep, two-mile hike to it, or you can see it from the water aboard a cruise. My favorite way to see a glacier up close is the Major Marine Tours cruises out of Seward. They have several cruise lengths in the summer, including four hour, six hour, and eight hour options. You can read about my trip with Major Marine Tours by clicking here for the views and here for what animals you might see.
One of the many beautiful murals you could see while walking around Anchorage or Seward.Shopping
I know that you may have not wanted to come all the way to Alaska to go shopping, but walking around downtown on a day that isn’t very nice is a great way to still get out. You might even be able to find some awesome souvenirs. There are plenty of stores both in the downtown area and the rest of Anchorage. There are also farmer’s markets in the summer if you want to support local artists. I highly recommend spending some time at the one on Diamond Street by the diamond street mall. There were many amazing artists to support with such handmade goods as paintings, knives, and jewelry. We were also able to score some yummy food from one of the venders. It’s not every day you get to try reindeer sausage.
Looking across the pond at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.Alaska Native Heritage Center
You can’t fully appreciate this land without paying tribute to the people who have been the stewards of it for thousands of years. The Alaska Native Heritage Center is the perfect place to be introduced to the eleven different Alaska Native cultural groups. The center includes handmade items and live exhibits of dancing, games, and stories. The grounds are beautifully kept, and outside there are several traditional village homes that you can visit. I highly recommend stopping in to learn about the native people and get a glimpse of traditional village life.
The view from the Whittier Inn, a great place to stop for food if you are in the area.Food
You can’t plan a trip to Anchorage without dining at local restaurants. The number one place people told us to eat when they found out we were coming to Anchorage was the Moose’s Tooth Pizzeria. Their menu includes non-traditional, artisan pizzas and locally brewed beer. (I recommend the diablo sticks!) They also have a fire pit outside, which is a great place to order one of their brews and hang out with friends while you wait for your table. Another great place to eat if you are looking for a brew-pub type restaurant is Matanuska Brewing in Anchorage. The actual brewery is in Palmer, but the Anchorage location is more of a restaurant. The food there has been awesome every time we went. I have many more recommendations for this section, so I’m going to make a separate blog post about it to really talk about the amazing food selection here in Anchorage.
The spectacular view from Flattop. This is a great summertime view to watch the sunset or sunrise.Honestly, there are so many more amazing things to do during your trip to Alaska. Seriously, I’ve been here for over two months, and have really only scratched the surface. I am looking forward to the winter activities this state has to offer, and I can’t wait to share them with you! Hopefully, I have given you a solid start as you plan your trip to Alaska. For more ideas, check out the Alaska App, and amazing app you can download. The Alaska App has so many recommendations from people who live here and have been able to help guide you as you navigate your trip.
Happy Traveling!
Kat