Is Alaska on Your Must-Visit List?
Here’s why you should start your trip in Anchorage
Photo Credit: JodyO.Photos
How long have you been thinking about going to Alaska? What are you waiting for? Alaska is a treasure trove of natural wonders and amazing sights. Anchorage is the perfect jumping-off point for seeing much of it with easy access to tours and excursions, while also offering top-quality hotels, inspired dining, impressive cultural sites, and unique events.
So what are you waiting for? Here’s why you should book your trip to Anchorage now.
Photo Credit: Jack Bonney
Adventure Is Year-Round
Whether you go during the long sunny days of summer or iconic snow-filled winter, there are endless ways to get outside and explore Anchorage, no matter the temperature. Anchorage has more than 130 miles of paved bike and multi-use trails, plenty of spots for skiing and dog mushing, and 60 glaciers within 50 miles of the city. Choose from a motorcycle or 4-wheel/ATV tour, hiking or horseback riding, ice climbing or dog sledding, kayaking or canoeing. Adventure is literally everywhere and there’s something for every interest.
Photo Credit: James Minton
See the Wild Side
Did you know that more than half of America’s national park lands are in Alaska? From Anchorage, visitors have access to five spectacular parks. Denali National Park is home to North America’s tallest peak and fascinating wildlife. Try hiking, bear viewing, or fishing in Lake Clark and Katmai National Parks. Watch whales feed and otters bob in the Kenai Fjords National Park. Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park has glaciers larger than Rhode Island.
In-between the big parks, you can visit a smaller spot. You’ll be amazed at the wildlife at Eagle River Nature Center or the Williwaw Fish Viewing Platform in Portage. From Portage Valley, you can embark on a glacier day cruise, or a trek along the Trail of Blue Ice.
Photo Credit: Visit Anchorage
Explore Local History and Culture
A trip to Anchorage is also not complete without a deep dive into the culture. Start at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Here, you can experience song, dance, and sports from Alaska's many distinct Indigenous communities, life-size examples of traditional buildings, and more. The Anchorage Museum is also home to more than 600 rare or significant Alaska Native artifacts, along with a planetarium.
Take Time To Relax
That’s not to say you can’t chill in Anchorage. Golf, fish, take a whale-watching cruise, experience a photography tour, or go mining and gold panning. There is an active nightlife for those who want to keep the party going as long as the daylight hours, and more than 1,600 restaurants and a dozen breweries to discover.
Photo Credit: Frank Flavin
Travel Made Easy
With direct flights to Anchorage from major cities including Seattle, Los Angeles, Houston, New York, and Atlanta (and more!), the city is easier to reach than ever. And you can stay in style in Anchorage. Lodging runs the gamut from local inns to luxury resorts, and from major brand hotels to cozy bed and breakfasts. There’s a perfect spot just for you.
