Destinations / North America / Alaska

Anchorage Uncovered: Top Things to Do, Places to Stay & Fantastic Eats

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If you’re visiting Alaska on a land-based trip, there’s a good chance you’ll have at least a few days in its largest city! In this Anchorage travel guide, I’ll show you how to make the most of your time, whether you’re just passing through for a few hours or basing yourself in the city for your entire visit.

I’ve actually done it both ways! Our family kicked off our epic Alaska road trip with a few nights in Anchorage and then I went back on my own last fall and did my entire trip based in the city including several day trips from Anchorage.

One thing to note is that the definition of “Anchorage” technically extends all the way to Whittier 60 miles southeast and deep into the Chugach Mountains. Just because a location has an Anchorage address that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily close! But in this article I’ll really focus on the more developed areas around downtown and midtown.

Don’t have time to read a bunch of reviews and blog posts? Here are our top picks for visiting Alaska:

Alaska Guide

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Our favorite hotels in Alaska

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Our favorite activities and tours in Alaska

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Things to do in Anchorage

Tackle the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

To see the most beautiful part of Anchorage, hop on the 11 mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail – by foot, by bike or even by cross country skis! The trail begins near the Alaska Railroad depot in downtown and continues to Kincaid Park (just south of the airport). In our experience, it was easiest to enter at Elderberry Park which also has a little playground to let kids burn off some energy.

Along your trip on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, you’ll enjoy awesome views of downtown and some of the Anchorage area’s most iconic mountains. You’ll almost certainly see some wildlife. The southern end of the trail is one of the best places in Anchorage to spot moose! Just be mindful of their size and strength and give them space. You may also see eagles, coyotes and whales.

Since the trail is quite long, renting a bike from Pablo’s Bike Rental in downtown is a good choice. They offer everything from 16″ kids bikes and baby trailers to tandem e-bikes for adults. While our family walked just part of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail the evening we arrived in Alaska, next time I’m hopeful that we can bike the whole thing during the day!

Learn about Indigenous communities at the Alaska Native Heritage Center

I finally had an opportunity to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center on my recent trip to Anchorage and I definitely recommend adding it to your itinerary! The Center opened in 1999 to share Alaska Native history and culture with visitors from around the world. It is operated by Alaska Natives and shares the stories of 11 major cultural groups who call the state their home.

There are many opportunities to connect with Alaska Native culture here. I really loved touring the traditional dwellings that circle the pond behind the main building. Each of the 6 homes represents a different Native lifestyle in Alaska and they’re all so different! Within the dwellings you can check out different items used by that cultural group and interns from those cultures are on hand to share their stories and answer questions about everything from traditional practice to modern ways. Their pride in and commitment to their cultures is simultaneously inspiring and grounding.

In the main building, called The Gathering Place, there are different activities depending on when you visit. You could watch a film on Native life, see live dancing, learn how to play traditional games and more. There are also rotating exhibits featuring Native art and important aspects of Alaska Native history and culture.

Note that to experience the full roster of activities, you’ll want to plan your visit for mid-May to mid-September. You can still enjoy The Gathering Place in the winter but there aren’t as many live activities (the village of Alaska Native dwellings is closed entirely). ANHC is open daily 9-5 in the summer and weekdays only 9-5 in winter.

ANHC is located on the outskirts of the developed city of Anchorage so you’ll need to either drive there or take an Uber/taxi. Still, if you only have a few hours in Anchorage (before/after an Alaska cruise for example) a visit here is my top recommendation because it’s so unique.

Check out the Anchorage Museum

While I didn’t have an opportunity to visit the Anchorage Museum last time I was in Alaska, it’s a great option if you have an extra half-day in the city or the weather isn’t cooperating. This is the largest museum in Alaska and it combines so much of the state’s essence: art, ancient and modern cultures, history, ecology, technology and more.

There are spaces here that will appeal to all ages, from the Discovery Center full of hands-on Alaska-focused exhibits for kids to rotating art exhibits with some really unique themes that you could only find in Alaska.

If you’re a member of an ASTC-affiliated science museum, you’ll get free admission at the Anchorage Museum! Combine that with a very convenient downtown location that doesn’t require driving from most hotels and it’s a great option if you’re visiting Alaska on a budget. The Anchorage Museum is open daily during the summer and Tuesday through Sunday in the winter.

Take a hike

There are plenty of nice hikes in and around Anchorage! I do recommend having a rental car to access these if possible.

  • Flattop – This mountain is by far the most popular hiking spot around Anchorage since it’s just 25 minutes from downtown and offers a great payoff in terms of views. You don’t have to do the entire trail to have a good experience. The first 1/3 mile is is accessible but still offers great views; after that it definitely gets harder. There’s also another stopping point with a bench and great views about a mile in, or you can do the full 3 mile summit which includes a steep scramble at the end. On our next trip to Anchorage, we’ll probably tackle the first mile and enjoy those views. Be sure to set your map app to Glen Alps trailhead.
  • Thunderbird Falls – I did this lovely, easy trail after enjoying a morning kayaking on Eklutna Lake, but it would be just as easy to combine with the Alaska Native Heritage Center. It’s less than 2 miles roundtrip and relatively flat, with a pretty waterfall at the end and some mountain views peeking through along the way.

Of course the further from downtown Anchorage you drive, the more options you’ll have to lace up your boots and explore.

Read more: Must-read tips for renting a car in Alaska

Ride the Alaska Railroad

While most visitors who use the Alaska Railroad do so to go to their next destination, every now and then you can catch an event train from Anchorage that’s solely for pleasure! Most of these routes take you along the scenic Turnagain Arm, sandwiched between the mountains and the water. If you have an opportunity to take one of these train rides, I highly recommend it. While those dates are limited, you can also consider riding the Glacier Discovery line to see the beautiful surroundings without driving.

Go on a day trip from Anchorage

Chances are you didn’t come to Alaska to see the “big city”. But the great news is that Anchorage is truly spitting distance to some incredible places that can give you a great taste of what The Last Frontier offers.

If you have more than two days planned in your itinerary for Anchorage, read through these wonderful day trips from Anchorage to see what appeals to you. I’ve done all but one activity on that list and promise they’ll be unforgettable! For those who don’t want to move around during their trip to Alaska, you can easily plan to do the activities above along with several day trips to make a wonderful, easy vacation – check out my sample itinerary below to see how.


Sample Anchorage itinerary

If you aren’t up for a big Alaska road trip itinerary, that’s ok – as I said before you can get a great sample even with Anchorage as your base! How should you split your time for an Anchorage itinerary?

Many of these day trips can involve a lot of driving and some of the activities take up a full or half day. Here’s a sample of how I would divide my time on a 5 day Anchorage itinerary:

  • Day 0 – Evening arrival in Anchorage
  • Day 1 – Dog sledding in Willow, Hatcher Pass
    Total drive time ~4 hours, but split into 1hr chunks
  • Day 2 – Alaska Native Heritage Center, Eklutna Lake, Thunderbird Falls
  • Day 3 – Flightseeing to Denali or bear viewing
    Departure from one of the small Anchorage airports
  • Day 4 – Anchorage Museum, bike Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
  • Day 5 – Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Byron Glacier, Alyeska tram
    Total drive time ~2.5 hours roundtrip

Want to skip all the planning and access my detailed Alaska Itinerary complete with daily schedules, awesome activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.


Where to stay in Anchorage

Hotel Captain Cook

This is where we stayed on our family trip to Alaska, in part because I booked it far in advance and got an excellent deal. It’s one of the best places to stay in Anchorage thanks to its ideal location and historic charm. It’s usually very expensive and the standard rooms have two double beds or one king – there’s no option for two queens. Some families may find the bedding too small, so there are suites available.

While we didn’t eat there, the restaurant on top has great views!

Marriott Anchorage Downtown

Just a few blocks from Captain Cook and offering a wider range of guest rooms, the Marriott doesn’t have the same historic charm but does offer plenty of practical benefits including rooms with two queen beds and the potential for upgrades for those with high-level Marriott Bonvoy status.

Copper Whale Inn

This small inn just steps from Captain Cook offers a wonderful, personal experience! There’s on-site bike rental and, in normal times, complementary breakfast. There are 15 rooms, ranging from small options for two people all the way through adjoining rooms or a family suite that includes separate sleep spaces and a private full private kitchen. I have a friend who stayed here recently and was very happy with her experience.

1 bedroom/1 bathroom studio for 4 people

If you’d rather have space to spread out, this lovely apartment is in the heart of Anchorage and even has free parking available!

The Wildbirch Hotel

Next time our family visits downtown Anchorage, we’ll probably stay at The Wildbirch Hotel – currently operating as The Aviator but undergoing a major renovation and rebranding. This hotel already gets high marks from my colleagues who recently stayed, and soon it will be under the Hyatt umbrella.

Frequent readers of this website know what that means: you’ll be able to book it for free using points transferred from the Chase Sapphire or Chase Ink credit cards! It will be a category 4, which ranges from 12,000 to 18,000 points per night and is also eligible for free night certificates offered through Hyatt’s loyalty program and credit cards. Even though the hotel isn’t bookable on points as of this writing, now’s a great time to start building up your stash of points to cover the hotel.

Bluewater BaseCamp

This new “glamping” location got rave reviews from my friends who stayed there and when I spoke with the owner she shared that they’re very excited to outfit the property for families. It’s ideally located near Eklutna Lake and gives you the true feeling of creature comforts in the middle of the wilderness. These cabins have kitchens so that you can prepare some of your own meals.


Anchorage restaurants to try

Moose’s Tooth Pizza or Bear Tooth Theatrepub

If you’ve asked for suggestions from any friends who have visited Anchorage, they’ve probably told you to go to Moose’s Tooth for pizza. It serves up solid pizza and beer (a popular combo in Alaska) in a fun atmosphere. The downside is that this place is massively popular – we’re talking two hour wait times on a random summer Tuesday, for example. Even take-out orders can require hours of notice. So what should you do?

I think the obvious answer is to drive 5 minutes to Bear Tooth Theatrepub, which serves the same pizza but with shorter wait times. We were able to get a table in just 15 minutes and enjoy some very creative pizza options! In 2025 the same group will open another location, Eye Tooth Tavern & Eatery.

For a different option, consider Hearth Artisan Pizza as well. Supposedly it’s run by former Moose’s Tooth employees and really excellent!

Good to know: None of these pizzerias is located in downtown Anchorage, so plan on driving. to them! All of the other restaurants listed below are walking distance to downtown hotels.

Snow City Cafe

A fun breakfast option near Captain Cook, Copper Whale and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is Snow City Cafe. There’s sometimes a wait but you can join the list online before you walk over. They offer tons of great egg dishes plus really fun coffee drinks!

Whiskey & Ramen

And the award for best meal in Anchorage goes to… Whiskey & Ramen! We’re talking about a James Beard Award semi-finalist chef here.

The food menu focuses on elevated versions of popular Japanese staples like ramen, Wagyu beef, takoyaki and more – I opted for the vegetarian ramen option and it was really exceptional. If you love a good cocktail (like I do), you’ll be very pleased with the huge range of sophisticated options. One nice tough is that the menu offers notes on flavor profile and how drinks are served to help you find your perfect match.

I definitely recommend a reservation here, as this is a popular spot for foodie visitors and locals alike.

Club Paris

It offers a totally different vibe than Whiskey & Ramen, but Club Paris is an excellent choice if you want really high quality, simply prepared meats and fish. My halibut was perfectly prepared. The restaurant has been an Anchorage staple for nearly seven decades! You’ll want a reservation if you plan to visit in summer or for a weekend dinner year-round.

Wild Starr Creations and Coffee House

This coffee shop and boutique is an absolute delight! It’s the perfect place to start your day if you don’t want a big sit-down breakfast or are in a hurry. In addition to great locally-roasted coffee, you can grab a breakfast burrito, egg sandwich, waffle and more. If you have a long day of adventure planned, order a charcuterie box to go as well to take care of lunch!

While you want for your coffee and breakfast, browse the “Creations” part of Wild Starr to pick up some beautiful locally-made souvenirs. It’s a win-win all around.

Planning your perfectr trip to Alaska

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