Anchorage is Alaska’s biggest city and also one of the biggest gateway to Alaska’s jewels. If you like winter, it is also considered one of the best places to live. See Anchorage’s natural beauty and witness the best things to do in Anchorage, Alaska here.
Best Things to do in Anchorage, Alaska
See the Northern Lights
Everyone who has researched about Anchorage, Alaska knows that it is famous for it’s Northern lights with the aurora borealis. See the magnificent lights dancing across black waterways and rippling over snowy peaks. Excellent choice for business travelers visiting Alaska between August and early May.
Matanuska Glacier Tour
The Matanuska Glacier is one of the favorite tours of lots of people because it allows you to take in the area’s breathtaking splendor. There are a plethora of spectacular high-alpine spots that are excellent for heli trekking. Most of them can see at least one glacier, and in some cases two or three. Your guide will recommend the best place based on the weather, your personal interests, and whether you prefer a gentle stroll or a difficult scramble.
Go on a Wildlife tour
Explore the wilderness outside of Anchorage with a local guide who knows the finest places to see wildlife and get the best views all year. Search for moose, bears, and other native animals in the Chugach National Forest. You’ll also stop at Glacial Valley, which is home to multiple “hanging” glaciers as well as a lake filled with pure glacier water.
Alaska Helicopter Tour
Take a private helicopter ride over the Chugach Mountains, one of North America’s most glaciated locations. Modern aircraft with big windows provide fantastic sightseeing opportunities from the air. You’ll also be able to take a walk around the glacier.
Anchorage Trolley Tour
For this 1-hour trolley tour of Anchorage, take a comfortable seat on a cable car. Enjoy views such as moose crossing the road safely and seaplanes landing on Lake Hood and Lake Spenard as you drive through the city. From guides with generations of ties to the region, learn about the history and culture of Alaska’s most populated city. Trolleys run on a regular basis, and they’re a great way to save money.
View the Bears
Lake Clark National Park is only accessible by boat or air taxi, with its vast rain forest, tundra, and volcanoes. Take a plane flight from Anchorage to the park’s top bear-viewing locations on this excursion. Land near the bears and observe them securely for several hours. Then take a stroll into the bush to a secluded beach for a picnic lunch.
Ride on a Dogsled
Go on a helicopter trip, a dogsled tour, and a guided glacier walk for an unforgettable multi-activity adventure. While you take in aerial views of the glacier and explore its crevasses and melt pools. Get up close and personal with Alaskan sled dogs, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for visitors.
Valley Tour
Take a hike in Chugach State Park’s Eagle River. Don’t miss the opportunity to see salmon, birds, moose, and bears. It’s the perfect activity for couples or by yourself. Enjoy the majestic beauty of Anchorage’s finest parks and take instagrammable photos there.
Drive a Dogsled
Meet your ride at Punchbowl Glacier and witness the lifestyle and history of the fabled Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. You’ll even get a chance to go behind the wheel of the sled.
Visit the Portage Glacier
Go on a small-group tour from Anchorage and ride a boat to see the Portage Glacier. It is one of the most popular glaciers in Alaska and it can only be seen on boat. Then visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see wild creatures being rehabilitated.
Explore the Turnagain Arm
Turnagain Arm is the perfect place to view Anchorage’s top attractions. Drive along the Segway highway where will you be able to see Anchorages’s top attractions along with the Turnagain Arm waterway. Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a huge nature preserve dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured wildlife. Travel up into the Chugach Mountains for another fantastic observation point on the Turnagain Arm, then continue to Girdwood for lunch.
Amazing Helicopter Tour
The 60-minute tour leaves at Chugach Adventure Base and travels through the Great Gorge, passing by the Knik River and Glacier on its way to Whiteout Glacier, Colony Glacier, and Lake George. Bring your water bottle and land on the ancient hard ice adjacent to the gigantic crevasses and big blue melt lakes to drink some of the cleanest water on the planet! Moose, mountain goats, Dall sheep bands, and bears are almost always seen.
Visit Denali National Park
The Denali National park is about 6 million acres of Alaska’s wilderness. By traveling onboard Alaska Railroad’s flagship train, the Denali Star, you may avoid the bother of driving and enjoy the most gorgeous and pleasant journey to Denali National Park. Enjoy the scenery while learning about the landscape from your guide. Many also apt for an ATV ride as well.
Also enjoy the zipline that Denali has to offer.
Musk Ox
Learn about prehistoric arctic creatures and pioneer history as you travel through Alaska’s past! Visit the Musk Ox Farm, one of the world’s most unique animal husbandry ventures, to get up close and personal with Musk Ox!
Bike Tour
This all-inclusive trip gives you a good idea of what Anchorage is like in the winter. Adventurers, families, and those looking to get out and enjoy winter paradise will love it. Bike riding on fat tires will bring a grin to your face and make you feel like a kid once more. Discover the birthplace of the fat bike craze. Locals and visitors alike have discovered that fat tire biking is one of the most popular ways to enjoy the snow.
Chugach State Park Full Day Hiking
This is the best option for those looking for a moderate to difficult full-day adventure with a wide range of Alaskan wilderness attractions. You may see moose, bear, sheep, goats, and other small creatures during your journey. Enjoy everything Anchorage has to offer and take some great instagrammable photos.
Salmon Fishing
You will be taken out to the special private salmon spawning grounds. You will get the opportunity to witness Alaskan wildlife along the way to extra fishing spot. Bears, moose, foxes, coyotes, lynx, owls, and eagles are among the animals that inhabit the area. Mountains and rivers are stunning. You’ll also get to fish across from the Knik Glacier on one of your trips. It is more of a family-friendly experience when you will be taken out. You will be traveling in a Mercedes sprinter van with a barbecue on board for fresh grilled salmon. Alternatively, provide a sandwich and soup. You are welcome to bring your own lunch and snacks, however please note that water is always available on board.
See Brown Bears
On this memorable tour, explore the unspoiled landscapes of Alaska’s frontier. Brown bears can be seen in Katmai National Park and/or Lake Clark National Park by visitors. Brown bears grazing like cattle on grass and hunting for oysters can be seen comfortably along these coasts. On an optional dinner cruise, guests will have the opportunity to cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Orcas, humpback whales, dolphins, puffins, and seals are frequently spotted in the ocean. On this memorable tour, explore the unspoiled vistas of Alaska’s wilderness.
In Katmai National Park and/or Lake Clark National Park, guests can view brown bears. Brown bears grazing like cattle on grass while hunting for oysters can be seen safely from these coastlines. On an optional dinner cruise, guests will be able to cruise through Kenai Fjords National Park. Orcas, humpback whales, dolphins, puffins, and seals are among the ocean’s most common visitors.
Brewery Tour
On this half-day trip, you’ll learn about Anchorage’s beer culture and history. A knowledgeable tour takes you throughout the city to try six delectable options at three different locations, including three classic breweries. Pair the hops with some light bites, mingle with the locals, and leave with a fresh perspective on Anchorage’s thriving beer culture.
Private Tour of Anchorage’s Best Destinations
On this private 3-hour trip, see Anchorage’s greatest sights with just your family and friends. Enjoy beautiful views of Anchorage from Earthquake Park with your company of up to nine individuals, and watch pilots skillfully land their planes on Lake Hood. Keep an eye out for whales, eagles, and sheep at Beluga Point. Visit Potter’s Marsh, a wildlife preserve, and Flattop Mountain for further panoramic views. Learn about the best places to dine and shop in Anchorage.
Go on a Scenic Bike Tour
In Anchorage, taking a stroll along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a wonderful outdoor activity, but riding a bicycle can cover a lot more ground. This small-group guided bicycle tour starts at Kincaid Park and takes you through the natural splendor of the Cook Inlet, with views of Denali and possibly moose.
See the Sunset
Arise early in the morning to witness moose, sheep, whales, goats, wolves, bears, and other animals depending on the season. It is the best time to see the best views of the city and Chugach mountain.
Self-Guided Tour
This self-guided journey from Anchorage takes you to the Alyeska Aerial Tram. There is no guide or tour group on this journey; you’ll take the Turnagain Arm Shuttle from Anchorage to Girdwood, then take the free Glacier Valley Transit to the Alyeska Hotel to catch the tram. Take a breathtaking trip to the summit of Mt. Alyeska, where you can engage in any activities you like, such as hiking, before returning to Anchorage at your leisure.
Pan for Gold-Tour
On this self-guided tour from Anchorage, learn about Alaska’s gold-panning history. This journey is geared for the independent traveler, as you will ride the Turnagain Arm Shuttle from Anchorage to the Indian Valley Mine, which is on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States. Learn how to pan for gold from an on-site guide when you arrive. Then, when you’re ready, return to Anchorage.
