If you have an idea to visit Anchorage, we’ll tell you the most attractive places in Anchorage, Alaska, and the most interesting things you can do there. Anchorage is Alaska’s commercial center and largest city. This city is surrounded by the Chugach Mountains. The city’s population is about 290,000 and looks like a modern city. Because in 1964, the city was destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami.
There are dozens of places you can visit in Anchorage. Some of them are Denali National Park, the fjord-riddled coast, and the Mount Alyeska Resort. Alaska’s most important traffic hub in Anchorage. It welcomes many international airlines. Anchorage also has the world’s largest seaplane base. Alaska Railroad runs connecting scenic cultural hubs through Anchorage also. Then, let’s start our tour of Anchorage.
1. Native Heritage Center
If you like to learn about Alaska’s history and culture, you should visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center. In there, you can learn about 11 Alaskan indigenous groups. There are 6 traditional dwellings surrounding the small lake Tiulana in this area. Each village displays its artifacts. There are many things you can do in this area. You have a chance to participate in some activities like dances, artist demonstrations, and games.
There is a theatre that plays educational film series and you can watch them throughout the day. Also, the Alaska Native Heritage Centre offers some local and regional artworks. You can join a guided Anchorage city tour and you can get a deeper insight into the culture and history of this area through this tour. It will take about 2 hours and covers many landmarks and natural spaces including Alaska native Heritage center. You can learn many things about history and culture through the tour rather than learning them on your own.
- Visit: 8800 Heritage Center Drive, Anchorage
- Official website: http://www.alaskanative.net/
2. Anchorage Museum
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Centre is another popular place among the most attractive places in Anchorage. If you visit there you can see a broad range of historic items and arts related to the Arctic and Alaska. The museum is a four-story facility. On the first floor, you can go to the Spark! Lap which has Science and Technology exhibits. This area is especially popular among young researchers. You can also see many permanent exhibits such as the art of the north and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center.
If you are looking for an entertaining day for your kids you should visit this place. If you visit to the Thomas Planetarium you can join with some visual forms and entertainment items. They host educational films focusing on the environment, human wellness, and the cosmos. There is a large park in front of the museum. If you visit Anchorage on summer days, you can have a great experience in there.
- Visit: 625 C Street, Anchorage
- Official website: https://www.anchoragemuseum.org/
3. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
If you visit don’t forget to take a bicycle ride and a coastal walk. This route starts from the Oscar Anderson House which is the oldest home in the city. The Road continues to the Earthquake park and you can get information about the earthquake which happened in 1964. Along the rest of this road, you have an opportunity for wildlife sightings.
As well as there are many natural landscapes you can see. For example Denali, the downtown skyline, and the Chugach Mountains. This coastal trail ends at Kincaid Park. Many people like to cover this area by cycling. If you don’t have your own two wheels, you can get one from the Downtown Bicycle Rental. It offers bicycles with an affordable daytime rental.
- Official website: http://anchoragecoastaltrail.com/
4. Chugach State Park
Chugach State Park is among the most attractive places in Anchorage. It is one of the four largest state parks in America. It covers 700 square miles. If you visit there you can do hiking camping and skiing. They are much of wildlife also. Such as moose, bears, beavers, lynxes, and wolves. This Park houses beautiful mountains lakes, glaciers, and rivers.
At various locations along the Seward Highway, which follows the Turnagain Arm coastlines, the park borders the city to the east and comes into contact with the sea. From the city streets, you may access several trailheads that take you directly to this area. The lands border Chugach National Forest, which attracts tourists and cruise ship passengers between Anchorage and Seward or Whittier due to sights like the Portage Glacier (in retreat).
Visit: 18620 Seward Hwy, Anchorage, Alaska
Official website: http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/chugach/
5. Rust’s Flying Service
Rust’s flying service offers sightseeing seaplane tours over various surrounding glaciers, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve, and Denali National Park. If you like to fly around Alaska in a bush plane, Rust’s offers you an opportunity. They allow wildlife viewing treks to see bears. Also, they take you to remote Alaska fishing lodges. They have Beavers, Turbine Otter seaplanes, and Cessnas. You can easily visit the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum and the world’s largest seaplane base from here.
You can also experience the high-flying adventure through a Helicopter Tour and Glacier Landing from Anchorage. This tour takes 60 minutes and it offers a good chance of seeing wildlife. As well as, a scenic flight from Anchorage over glaciers is included in this tour.
Visit: 4525 Enstrom Circle, Anchorage, Alaska
Official website: http://www.flyrusts.com/
6. Kenai Fjords National Park
The Kenai Peninsula is popular for its coastal mountains, the scenery of Kenai Fjords Park, and glaciers. Kenai Fjords National Park centers on the 700-square-mile Harding Icefield. The only area that can be reached by road is Exit Glacier even though the park covers more than 900 square miles. You have the opportunity to take a guided tour to learn about the landscape. You can explore the park on your own also. But joining ranger-led programs or hiring outfitters and guides is the best way to learn about Kenai Fjords Park.
Official website: http://www.nps.gov/kefj/index.htm
7. Alaska Railroad
In the early 20th century, the city began as a tent town to support the construction of the Alaska Railroad. Alaska Railroad is owned by the state and offers dozens of event trains and passenger services. Also, more than half a million people travel through them each year.
The train travels 470 kilometers from Seward to Fairbanks, stopping prominently at Anchorage and in Girdwood, which is near the Denali National Park & Preserve. The Alaska Railroad runs throughout the year, with busier service from mid-May to mid-September. The railroad faced a legacy connected to World War II endeavors, massive earthquakes, and a difficult economy when President Warren G. Harding drove the Golden Spike into the ground in 1923.
- Visit Anchorage Depot: 411 West 1st Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska
- Official website: https://www.alaskarailroad.com/
8. Wildlife Conservation Center
Wildlife conservation center, a nonprofit organization covers 200 acres of space and is home to many wildlife. If you visit there you can see the resident animals like bison, bears, eagles, wolves, a lynx, moose, owls, and elk. Conservation Center adopts orphaned and injured wildlife from the Alaska area. They research these animals and sometimes provide them with a permanent place to live.
Conservation Center educates the people about Alaska wildlife through tours classes, and programs. If you like to add to conservation efforts, they offer many volunteer opportunities. The easiest way to explore this area is by booking a guided trip with round-trip transportation. Tours such as Wilderness, Wildlife & Glacier Experience provide rides to the animal sanctuary. They also make a few scenic stops along the way.
- Visit: Mile 79 Seward Highway, Portage, Alaska
- Official website: https://www.alaskawildlife.org/
9. Aviation Heritage Museum
Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum is another popular place among the most attractive places in Anchorage. This museum is located on the shores of Lake Hood. It is situated near the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and the world’s busiest seaplane base. If you visit there, you can see photographs, restored vintage aircraft, and other related memorabilia. They are displayed honoring the pioneers of Alaska aviation. All of them are in various states of repair. You have the opportunity to watch landings and take-offs on nearby Lake Hood from a retired control tower.
- Visit: 4721 Aircraft Drive, Anchorage, Alaska
- Official website: http://www.alaskaairmuseum.org/
10. Seward
Seward is a fishing port that located south of Anchorage at the northeast end of Resurrection Bay. It is the last destination on the Seward Highway. Seward works as a main access point to the Kenai Fjords National Park. This area has been named for William H. Seward. He is the one responsible for negotiating the purchase of Alaska.
The main attraction of this town is Alaska SeaLife Center. Many tourists visit there to see seabirds, Steller sea lions, and harbor seals. Also, you can see some other species that are particular to the Gulf of Alaska such as the Giant Pacific octopus and gangly king crab. There are dozens of other things to do in Seward as well. For example arrange fishing, hunting, charter boats or planes, and sightseeing trips.
- Official website: http://www.seward.com/
11. Ski Girdwood
Girdwood used to be a gold mining and railroad town until the 1930s. But now it has become one of the most attractive places in Anchorage. It is known as one of the main Alaska ski resorts. This area is a recreation area after the earthquake in 1964. You can do snow sports and many more activities in Girdwood. It also offers fun places to shop and eat.
- Official website: http://www.girdwoodchamber.com/
12. Alaska Zoo
This is another highly rated place among the most attractive places in Anchorage. Alaska zoo covers a 25-acres area. If you visit there you can see a variety of native wildlife species such as musk oxen, Dall sheep, reindeer, brown bears, and wolves. Also, you can see a small collection of exotic animals like Bactrian Camels and Amur Tigers. You can join the special events which host the Alaska zoo like feeding the wolves and Zoo Lights. You can also combine it with a trip to the facility that is located southeast of the town center.
- Visit: 4731 O’Malley Road, Anchorage
- Official website: http://alaskazoo.org/
Those are the most attractive places in Anchorage, Alaska. If you plan to tour to Anchorage, don’t forget to visit these places. You will be able to get an amazing experience in Anchorage.
Hotels to Stay in Anchorage
If you visit to Anchorage, you can stay in the below highly rated hotels. They are close to most attractive places in Anchorage like Anchorage Museum and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
Luxury
- The Hotel Captain Cook: Premier luxury hotel, Near the coastal trail, features well appointed rooms with scenic views
- Hilton: Close to many restaurants, upgraded rooms with the mountain views, a pool
- The Sheraton Anchorage Hotel: A short walk from the Anchorage Museum, contemporary-styled rooms with good views
Mid range
- Embassy Suites by Hilton: A complimentary breakfast, free shuttle service around the downtown area and to the airport
- Historic Anchorage Hotel: A wonderful central location in the city center, 26 rooms
Budget
- Anchorage Grand Hotel: A good budget, a few short blocks from the downtown core
- The Voyager Inn: Near downtown and many good restaurants, large, bright
- Clarion Suites Downtown: Decent rooms, a pool, a complimentary breakfast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fame of Anchorage, Alaska?
The state’s cultural heart and best known for its trails, wildlife, and glaciers is Anchorage. More musicians and artists live in the city than in any other location in Alaska.
Is Alaska usually cold?
Many people think that there are only two types of weather in Alaska, cold and freezing cold. Contrary to popular opinion, Alaska’s winters are generally quite warm (May to September). Depending on the area, temperatures can rise from 70°F (21.1°C) to 100°F (37.8°C).
Alaska is far from the USA, why?
When Alaska was bought from Russia by the United States in 1867, a new border was established between the two islands, resulting in political division. The area of the Bering Straight that runs between the two islands was known as the “Ice Curtain” during the Cold War.
How long does it stay dark in Alaska during the winter?
67 days. The winter solstice can differ significantly depending on where you are in Alaska due to its size. There are 67 days of darkness at Barrow, which is located in the furthest north of Alaska. But on the solstice, Fairbanks, which is located right dab in the core of the Interior, gets over four hours of daylight.
Alaska’s Anchorage costs much?
Housing costs in Anchorage, Alaska are 38% higher than the national average, while utility costs are roughly 26% higher. Basic needs like food and clothing cost about 18% more in Anchorage, Alaska than they do elsewhere in the US for both grocery and clothing.
