If you were looking for a Goldilocks trip, Anchorage may just be it. Picture Alaska and you’ll likely visualize expansive scenes of Arctic wilderness — and, sure, you can find that just outside the state’s most populous city, but you’re also never far from urban experiences that set the tone for a great vacation (think bars, boutiques and next-level restaurants).
Anchorage is home to accessible hiking trails; fabulous eateries with locally sourced, seafood-heavy menus; inventive breweries; opportunities to learn about the history and culture of the state and so much more.
As always, check for travel restrictions and closures before planning your trip.
Friday: The Heavy Hitters
You’ve got an action-packed day ahead — a good breakfast will start your trip with a bang. Snow City Cafe (try the Crabby Omelet) and Bear Tooth Grill (savory! corn! pancakes!) are both favorites with locals for good reason.
Next it’s time to make your way downtown to the Anchorage Museum for a crash course on all things Alaska. The largest museum in the state holds myriad exhibits, but its crown jewels are those focused on Alaska’s history and Indigenous Peoples. The museum’s Arctic Studies Center, developed in partnership with the Smithsonian, can go toe-to-toe with any big-city cultural institution.
Plan for at least a couple of hours to experience the museum in full, and exit through the gift shop to take home sculptures, prints and jewelry made by Alaska Native artists.
From there, it’s a 15-minute walk through Delaney Park to Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop for a rotating selection of cheffy sandwiches served on house-baked artisanal bread. While you’re at it, pick up a pastry (or, hey, a whole fruit tart, no judgment) for dessert.
Ship Creek, the only urban salmon fishery in the country, is a short drive from downtown. If the salmon are running, you’ll see local anglers crowding the muddy banks, all hoping to land a coveted king salmon. Grab a spot on one of the bridges to watch the fish muscle their way upstream to spawn
This afternoon, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure itinerary: You can either wander the shops and galleries downtown or rent a bike (Pablo’s Bike Rentals for a standard setup, or 907 E-Bike if you want a battery assist) and go for a spin along the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
The paved pathway hugs the shoreline past Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof, all the way to Kincaid Park.
Wind down with dinner and drinks in the heart of the city. Glacier Brewhouse is a good option for steaks and local seafood (not to mention a killer tap list). Afterward, head to trendy Williwaw, laid-back Humpy’s or divey-in-all-the-right-ways Darwin’s Theory for your nightcap
Saturday: Trail Markers and Makers
Pick up a box of Hawaiian-style malasadas at Wiki Wiki Donuts, and if you’re visiting during the summer months, head over to the Downtown Saturday Market.
Vendors from around the area set up stands selling everything from handicrafts and artwork to dog treats and human eats. Take a lap, and if you’re not too stuffed on pastries, be sure to get a reindeer hot dog (sorry, Rudolph).
Next, you’re going to get a better look at the town once known as “Tent City.” For a more micro angle, take a ride on the Anchorage Trolley. The conductor will talk through local history and point out places the locals frequent en route.
For a more zoomed-out view, why don’t you climb Flattop Mountain? The three-mile round trip (it’s a fairly moderate trail) is a perennial favorite. You won’t have it to yourself, but it is well-maintained and there’s no chance of getting lost.
If you’re a particularly avid hiker (or this isn’t your first trip to Alaska), you can add on other hikes in Chugach State Park: Williwaw Lakes Trail and Powerline Pass share the same parking lot.
Refuel with the salmon BLT at all-day café South (it’s polished, but totally laid-back) then get to know Anchorage’s makers. Dos Manos Art Co-Opand the Alaska Native Heritage Center have incredible artistic works (the latter also has exhibits on Indigenous music, art, traditions, dwellings and more).
Alternatively, go on a brewery crawl. Anchorage Brewing Company, King Street Brewing Company, Midnight Sun Brewing Company, Cynosure Brewing Company, Turnagain Brewing Company and Double Shovel Cider are all within a short walk (or Uber) of each other.
For dinner, consider Altura Bistro. Don’t let its strip mall location fool you — it’s an upscale spot for dishes from both land and sea.
Another popular option is Moose’s Tooth. No matter the time of year, expect at least an hour wait (if not longer) at this local favorite. But in this case, that’s kind of a good thing: While you wait, you can have a Broken Tooth beer (fromtheir sister brewery) in the beer garden or go next door to Kinley’s for a cocktail.
Sunday: A Small Town in a Big City
You’re going to need a car for today’s adventure. Fuel up and grab a coffee for the road — Kaladi Brothers, the largest roaster in the state, has outposts all over town, all of which have plenty of pastries and grab-and-go breakfast options.
Heading south of the Seward Highway, once you leave the core of the city, the first sight is Potter Marsh. Crisscrossing it is a 1,500-foot boardwalk path where you can hang to scope out ducks, geese and songbirds. This is the last wide-open space you’ll see until you hit Girdwood.
From here on, on the left side of your vehicle will be a vertical rock face and on the right will be the Turnagain Arm inlet. The whole road to Girdwood (and onward to Seward) is a scenic byway, so there are oodles of pull-out spots to gawk and take photos of the often snow-topped mountains and multi-hued waterway.
And you’ll need every stop: The drive is beautiful. If you’re lucky, you may spot some impossibly nimble Dall sheep perched on the cliffs or beluga whales coming up for air in the water.
Thirty-seven miles later, you’ll take the turn-off into Girdwood. After the drive, you’ll probably want to have a bit of a stretch — we recommend going for a hike. Winner Creek Trail and Alyeska Glacier View Trail are fairly easy ways to commune with nature.
For something more strenuous, the Mount Alyeska Trail, which follows the double-black-diamond ski run up the north face of the mountain, is a two-mile leg burner.
At the top, you can have a drink at The Bore Tide Deli and catch the Alyeska Aerial Tram back down for free. (If it’s winter, these trails will be closed, in which case, you’d be remiss not to go skiing at one of the local resorts instead).
Reward your efforts with a pint at Girdwood Brewing Company. It’s a favorite local hangout that’s kid-friendly (their root beer is great), dog-friendly (there’s often a local musher there socializing the newest pack of puppies) and the views of the surrounding peaks from the beer garden (where multiple fire pits are usually burning) are incredible.
Wrap up your day with dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants.Sitzmark is good for casual fare. The buffalo chicken caesar salad wrap, aptly called Fire & Ice, and the tater tot nachos are favorites.
Seven Glaciers Restaurant, atop the mountain, is arguably the nicest in all of Alaska, with a multi-course tasting menu and a nationally acclaimed wine list to pair with those unbeatable views.
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