Written by Chillie Falls, for AccessAdventure.net, July 6, 2023
Anchorage is the gateway to Alaska adventure. Find sparkling glaciers, abundant wildlife, vast parks and trails, and dazzling northern lights. A trip to Anchorage opens doors to the best of Alaska, all in one place.
Anchorage Trolley Tour
All aboard Anchorage’s favorite city tour! Hop on our historic and scenic 15 mile tour of Anchorage. Alaskan guides will share history, family stories, and explore Anchorage’s past and present. From the most riveting moments of Anchorage’s yesterdays to present day living, our fully narrated trolley tours visit cultural and historical sites, watch seaplanes splash land on Lake Hood, hit scenic viewpoints with mountain and ocean views, and travel through Earthquake Park.
We search together for a sighting of our most famous resident – the mighty urban moose. Every step of the way, you’ll be guided by a team of local Alaskans who love sharing the heart and history of our town. Every ticket comes with a complimentary coupon book with over $200 worth of traveler savings for over 40 businesses within walking distance of our trolley stop. So, when you’re ready to get the “lay of the land,” or get off the beaten path – Anchorage City Trolley Tours is your best and finest place to begin your adventure in the Greatland.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Alaska’s premier Alaska Native cultural center. The center shares the heritage of Alaska’s 11 major cultures. Visitors experience Alaska Native cultures first-hand through stories, dance and more.
Stop by our reimagined gift shop space focused exclusively on the sales of authentic Alaska Native arts on your next visit to ANHC!
Ch’k’iqadi is a Dena’ina Athabascan word meaning “the things we buy,” and at the Gallery, you will have the opportunity to buy art, jewelry, and more from talented Alaska Native artists representing all regions and cultures of our state. We look forward to building a strong and sustainable place for our artists to sell their work for years to come. Stop by today to experience the rich tapestry of our arts and cultures and support Alaska Native artists from across Alaska.
Ch’k’iqadi Gallery Summer Hours will start on Sunday, May 14, 2023. The Ch’k’iqadi Gallery will be open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Alaska Native Heritage Center, Ch’k’iqadi Gallery, and Café Di’eshchin will be closed for select days, including: Monday, July 10, 2023, and Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
Private shopping appointments are also available; Contact the Giftshop for information and scheduling!
Flattop Mountain
The quintessential day hike, Flattop offers routes for all abilities, and throws in mountain vistas even before you’ve arrived at the trailhead.
Flattop is widely regarded as the most climbed mountain in Alaska. And while the trail to the summit is rocky and steep, there are a number of loop trails below perfect for beginners or those with physical limitations. In fact, many sightseeing tours of the city include a stop at Glen Alps for views of the city and the mountains.
A short, paved, wheelchair accessible 0.3-mile loop gives a taste of the views in store. With the city below on one side and the surrounding mountains stretching out to the east, this is where Anchorage meets the wild.
From trailhead to the rocky top of Flattop, it’s approximately 3 miles and 1,500 feet of elevation gain. The path around Blueberry Loop is hard-packed earth, and leads to stairs constructed from railroad ties. If you’re not up for the climb to the summit, look for a wide bench after the first set of stairs; it offers phenomenal views. The last stretch to the top is a rocky route; don’t be afraid to use your hands for stability.
Whichever path you choose, start the hike at the Glen Alps Trailhead. It’s about 30 minutes from downtown Anchorage. Flattop Mountain Shuttle can provide transportation from downtown to the trailhead and back.
There are a number of other great hikes that begin at Glen Alps including Powerline Pass and Williwaw Lakes.
Alaska Naturally
AurorA – Alaska’s great northern lights 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. See the northern lights this summer! May 24 -September 1. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts-Sydney Laurence Theatre. Now in High Definition/Blu-Ray. The “must-see” presentation in Anchorage, “AurorA – Alaska’s Great Northern Lights!”
Enjoy Alaska’s finest Aurora Borealis ever captured on film. Now showing in the comfortable Sydney Laurence Theatre, at Anchorage’s premier Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, 621 W. 6th Ave.! Shows daily on the hour, every day, for 100 days! 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., May 24th – September 1st. No reservations needed. Group, senior, military & child discounts are available. Tickets are subject to a $3/ticket Municipal Fee for all patrons 19 yrs. and older. Information: Upstairs Box Office/Theatre – 6th Ave. Entrance (Across from Humpy’s) Summer (May 24th-Sept. 1st) Box Office (907) 263-2993.
Alaska Public Lands Information Center
Free exhibit, movies, walking tours and gift shop. The Anchorage center is a year-round state and federal interagency visitor center providing recreational information and public lands education. The center is part of a system of state and federal interagency information and education centers that help provide visitors and residents with meaningful, safe, enjoyable experiences on public lands and encourage them to sustain the natural and cultural resources of Alaska.
These interactive and fully accessible facilities are nationally recognized for providing consistent, high quality services at all four statewide locations (Anchorage, Fairbanks, Tok and Ketchikan). Our Center provides ranger programs and special events all summer. Recreational information is available year-round at the center or at AlaskaCenters.gov. State and federal recreation passes are sold over the counter. Classroom tours and movies on- request are available in the winter.
Alaska Railroad
The Alaska Railroad is your ticket to Alaska adventure. In the summer, multiple trains depart daily from the Railroad’s central hub of Anchorage, each offering unique day trips. From Anchorage, take the train to Seward or Whittier for a marine wildlife & glacier cruise in Kenai Fjords or Prince William Sound. Travel north for a day of flight-seeing, jet boating or zip-lining in Talkeetna.
Or, take the Glacier Discovery Train to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, go rafting or ice climbing at the Spencer Glacier Whistle Stop, or simply stay on the train for a memorable day of back-country Alaska views. Traveling aboard the Railroad ensures that the journey will be just as spectacular as the destination: incredible views unfold along the tracks, and knowledgeable tour guides share the stories behind the sights. Two classes of passenger service: glass-domed GoldStar Service (includes dining!) and comfortably appointed Adventure Class. Learn more at AlaskaRailroad.com.
The Alaska Railroad provides wheelchair lifts at all stations. Passenger trains are wheelchair accessible in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. GoldStar Dome Alaska Railroad cars, and the Wilderness Express and McKinley Explorer private dome cars all have elevators to their second-level seating areas.
Anchorage Museum
Alaska’s largest museum, the Anchorage Museum tells the story of Alaska and the North. It is a multifaceted story that weaves together social, political, cultural, scientific, historic and artistic threads. Explore the full diversity of Alaska Native cultures, including masterworks of Alaska Native art and design from the collections of the Smithsonian Institution.
The Art of the North galleries in the museum’s new wing present the museum’s art collection from the perspectives of American art and an international North. Paintings, sculpture, photography, video and other media offer varied perceptions of the Northern landscape and wilderness through historical and contemporary depictions of both land and people. The new Alaska Exhibition tells the story of Alaska through multiple voices and perspectives reflecting the ingenuity, technology, ways of knowing and intimate understanding of the landscape that have allowed people to survive and thrive across the North. The exhibition is organized by 13 themes reflecting essential aspects of life in Alaska, both today and throughout the state’s rich history. These themes reveal the identity of Alaska and its people. Discover Alaska and the Arctic through science. In the 11,000-square-foot Discovery Center, visitors of all ages are introduced to Alaska and the Arctic through technology, interactive installations, artwork, marine-life tanks and more. The space is divided into several distinct areas, each providing an opportunity to learn about our Northern environment. The Anchorage Museum Store named among the world’s 10 best by Conde Nast Traveler. Atrium Café offers hot and cold beverages, light and simple fare, and sweet treats. Open during museum hours. May – September: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, including holidays. Oct-April: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tue-Thu, Sat – 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri – Noon to 6 p.m. Sun – Closed Mon.
Restaurants in Anchorage
From first savory bite to final sweet sensation, Anchorage’s dining puts the best of Alaska on the menu. Local chefs offer up mouth-watering creations, and cuisine reflects the city’s global draw and diverse community.
You’ll find meals drawing on time-tested recipes, and discover a few found only in the Great Land. Menus include everything from king crab, halibut, and wild salmon to other surprising Alaska food specialties, whether fished, farmed, or foraged.