Anchorage Travelers Recommend

There’s lots to do and see in the Anchorage area, so the more time you have here, the better. With three days to visit, you’ll want to take advantage of sightseeing tours and flightseeing and railway adventures to cram in as many experiences as possible. Here are a few ideas for making the most of your time in Anchorage.

Day 1: Discover Historic Downtown Anchorage

Spend your first day in town touring downtown Anchorage and learning about Alaska’s rich history and culture. If this is your first time visiting, consider taking the city’s popular 1-hour trolley tour or a half-day city tour to get oriented. Visit Earthquake Park, where you can still see the damage caused by the 1964 Alaska earthquake (one of the most powerful earthquakes in U.S. history), then stop by the Alaska Native Heritage Center or the Anchorage Museum for a crash course in local history. Aviation enthusiasts will enjoy a visit to Lake Hood, the world’s largest and busiest seaplane base, and to the nearby Alaska Aviation Museum. 

In the afternoon, bike or stroll along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to enjoy spectacular views of downtown Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains, and Cook Inlet. In the evening, you can join a northern lights viewing tour, a sunset wildlife safari, or a tasting tour of local craft breweries. 

Day 2: Road Trip Along the Turnagain Arm

Anchorage is the perfect base camp for exploring the Turnagain Arm of the Gulf of Alaska. Take a drive along the Seward Highway, which hugs the coast of the Turnagain Arm and is filled with scenic viewpoints and top attractions like the Alyeska Resort, Portage Glacier, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. You can join a guided tour of the area’s top attractions or opt for a hop-on hop-off tour, which will give you more freedom to explore on your own. 

Alternatively, for an even more memorable experience, see the incredible coastal scenery of the Turnagain Arm aboard the Alaska Railroad. The 4-hour journey from Anchorage to Seward starts early in the morning and arrives before lunch, leaving you time to explore the town before taking the train back in the evening.

Day 3: The Glenn Highway, Matanuska Glacier, and Beyond

On your last day in Anchorage, head north along the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway, which stretches 135 miles (217 kilometers) from downtown Anchorage into the interior wilds of Alaska. The highway follows the ancient path carved by the Matanuska Glacier and provides some of the best glacier-viewing in the state as well as plenty of recreation opportunities in the Caribou Creek Recreational Mining Area, Sheep Mountain Dall sheep reserve, and on the Matanuska Glacier itself. Tours of the Matanuska Glacier are available for all ability levels and range from simple sightseeing hikes to advanced treks that get visitors up close to crevasses, ice caves, and brilliant blue meltwater pools. 

If you don’t have the time to take a glacier expedition on foot, choose a helicopter or flightseeing tour, some of which include a landing on the ice. For your final evening, check out the Alaska Botanical Garden and Alaska Zoo, both are open late during the summer months.

Perched on the edge of Alaska’s wilderness, Anchorage is surrounded by mountain peaks, pristine glaciers, and gorgeous coastline. You’ll be surprised at how much you can pack into one day in the city, especially in summer, when the sun stays bright past 11pm. Here’s how to make the most out of one day in Anchorage.  

Morning: City Highlights

For a quick introduction to Anchorage’s rich history and culture, hop on the city’s popular trolley tour, which passes many top landmarks including Earthquake Park, Lake Hood, Westchester Lagoon, and, if you’re lucky, one of Anchorage’s resident moose. Alternatively, take a tour that explores the rich heritage of Alaska’s indigenous people and includes a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center. If you want a more active way to see the city, rent a bike and explore the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which follows the Anchorage coastline along Cook Inlet and provides sweeping views of downtown and the Chugach Range. 

Afternoon: Explore the Turnagain Arm

The Seward Highway, just south of Anchorage, follows the breathtaking shoreline of the Turnagain Arm of the Gulf of Alaska. This 50-mile (80-kilometer) stretch of highway runs from Anchorage to Portage Glacier and is one of the most scenic drives in America. To make the most of your afternoon, take a guided tour from Anchorage, which can include a trip up the aerial tram at Alyeska Resort and a tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where injured and orphaned elk, eagles, grizzly bears, and other animals are treated. Alternatively, explore the Turnagain Arm at your own pace on the hop-on hop-off Turnagain Arm Shuttle. 

Evening: Outdoor Nightlife

Anchorage has a lively craft beer scene, so start your evening out with a tasting tour of Anchorage’s top breweries. If beer’s not your thing, you could opt for an evening wildlife safari or a sunset viewing tour. If you visit between the months of September and April, head outside the city limits for a chance to view the Northern Lights; a guided tour will give you the best chance of seeing the stripes of dancing color lighting up the night sky.

With two days in Anchorage, you have plenty of time to see the city highlights and venture into the surrounding wilderness. Maximize your time by booking guided sightseeing or railway tours to see more of the terrain. Here’s what you need to know to make them most out of your two-day trip to Anchorage. 

Day 1: Explore the Anchorage Local Sights

**Morning:**Get acquainted with Anchorage on a quick city sightseeing or trolley tour. These tours are ideal for first-time visitors and pass by many of the must-see sights such as Earthquake Park and Lake Hood. You can also rent a bike and pedal the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.

**Afternoon:**Stop by the Alaska Public Lands Information Center to view free movies and exhibits on Alaskan wildlife and culture and hop on a free park ranger led tour though downtown Anchorage. Next, visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center and learn about the rich history and culture of Alaska’s indigenous people. 

**Night:**Explore Anchorage’s vibrant craft beer scene with a brewery tour and sample delicious brews from Alaska’s top breweries. Alternatively, head out for an evening wildlife safari or venture outside the city limits to see the northern lights if visiting during fall or winter. 

Day 2: Road Trip Along the Turnagain Arm

**Morning:**Head south from Anchorage to explore one of the most scenic drives in America, the Turnagain Arm of the Seward Highway. Explore on your own or choose a guided tour or hop-on hop-off tour. Stop at Beluga Point to look for the namesake whales and then continue on to the Indian Valley Mine for an introduction to Alaska’s gold rush history. 

**Afternoon:**Home to the Alyeska ski area, the resort town of Girdwood is the perfect spot to stop for lunch. Enjoy a scenic ride to the top of Mt. Alyeska via the Alyeska Aerial Tram for panoramic views of Turnagain Arm and surrounding mountains. 

**Night:**Continue south to Portage Glacier and enjoy a cruise to the foot of the glacier. Before heading back to Anchorage, stop off at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and visit the orphaned and injured bears, moose, and elk for which the center cares. 

Dena’ina Athabascans were living in the Anchorage area long before Europeans arrived. Today, more than 20 native languages are spoken in the state, and Anchorage remains Alaska’s most diverse city—the perfect setting for exploring Alaska Native culture. Here are some of the best ways to experience it during your visit.

• Watch song, dance, and sport performances at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

• See more than 600 Alaska Native artifacts within the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum.

• Visit six recreated life-size dwellings at Lake Tiulana to learn more about Native Alaskans’ day-to-day life.

• Browse Alaska Native art in the shops and galleries spread throughout Anchorage.

• Book a scenic sightseeing tour of Anchorage to learn more about its multicultural history.

• Take a day trip to Talkeetna to learn how the area’s first residents survived the harsh Susitna Valley winters.