The 7 things to do in Anchorage

Visit Anchorage: What are the best things to do and see in the largest city of Alaska?

Anchorage is a city located south of the state of Alaska, which is the largest municipality: it alone houses 40% of the inhabitants of the province! The city was recently built, since it was almost completely destroyed during the earthquake on Good Friday of 1964. Known for its places of cultural interest in relation to the Inuit heritage -the indigenous, secular inhabitants of this region-, it is also appreciated to be in the midst of a still wild and preserved region, sheltering glaciers, lakes and mountains, ready to delight lovers of large spaces. With its parks and museums, and all the amazing activities you can discover there, Anchorage is truly a city where it makes good living and staying, winter as summer; alone, with family or with friends!

Are you wondering what to do in Anchorage during your stay? Here is the answer with our 8 essentials to visit Anchorage and enjoy your stay on site!

1. Alaska Native Heritage Center

In this cultural space Similar to a museum or exhibition hall, you will discover some of the most beautiful anecdotes on the region, learn its rich and enlivened history, and learn more about the eleven main poplars living in Alaska well before the arrival of Europeans. Opened in 1999, this Indigenous Heritage Centre is a must for those who come to cultivate and seek to do in Anchorage! It can also be restored and, cherries on the cake, a library is accessible for reading ferus.

2. Aisles of the fascinating Anchorage Museum

When visiting Anchorage, one can without hesitation stop at Anchorage Museum , a gigantic cultural space dedicated to art, ethnography, history, natural sciences, all in a state-of-the-art building in the heart of the city of Anchorage. Practised by local schools who have come to teach their students there, it is also very interesting for tourist families, even when you do not speak the language - out of the Inuit dialects, you must know that the English accent in Alaska has what to decorate even the Anglophones most aguerrished - since audioguides are provided to you. Going to town, don’t hesitate to go for a ride!

3. Trails of Chugach State Park

Marre of the city? Come on, we take a big bowl of fresh air in the Chugach Forest : it is located south of the city, and includes a dementia nature park. From coast to snowy mountains throughout the year, passing through fabulous lakes and majestic glaciers, nature lovers will be at their expense!

Don't miss making a tour Portage , on the Kenai Peninsula, just six kilometers from Whittier’s small town: it’s one of the most beautiful in America, but for how long before global warming is right? Enjoy it while it’s time, go to Chugach State Park ! And in winter, the marked trails for summer hikes turn into sumptuous cross-country skiing trails.

4. Flattop Mountain

This mountain of... 200 meters - yes, it is not Mont Blanc, but this hill is worth the detour-, also located in Chugach National Park, is the most climbed of Alaska. When you visit Anchorage, you can only see it: located just east, Flattop Moutain allows the lucky and courageous who come to explore the marked paths leading to its summit to enjoy a splendid view of the city and the coast. In addition, it is not uncommon to cross charming wild animals: the marmots are the true inhabitants of the place and take pleasure in walking there, too.

5. Alaska Aviation Museum

It is important to know that in Alaska, one in 80 people owns a plane. For the most part, it is hydroplanes, allowing to visit the most distant friends living on the coast! Located on Lake Hood’s waterplanes, this spectacular museum offers many cultural events: about thirty aircraft are presented to visitors, and one can recover there, discover the history of aviation in Alaska, animations, take flight lessons and even... take place for a pilot in one of the two flight simulators available on site!

6. The slopes of the Hilltop Ski Area

This beautiful ski resort is a must when looking for anchorage in winter. Founded in 1984 in Bicentennial Far North Park - just a step from the Chugach Forest - it has all the necessary amenities: restaurants, chalets for rent, marked itineraries for hiking, ski lessons or snowboarding and, our heart blow that may well become that of all your family, sled sleighs by huskys!

7. Alaska Zoo

This is animal park is a popular destination throughout the country. Visit Anchorage would be incomplete without a hint by this zoo located in the heart of tens of hectares of hills! The 250,000 visitors per year are not mistaken; Besides the hundreds of birds and mammals, we can also enjoy the stands of all kinds: the caregivers highlight their know-how with the animals for the greatest pleasure of the tourists, and it is possible to access, with a guide, many spaces normally reserved for the “ staff” of the center. If you are looking for anchorage and love animals, then you can find your happiness easily at the Alaska Zoo!

8. H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark

Well, nothing to do with nature and the tranquillity of large spaces: here, there are 5,200 m2 of aquatic leisure, at the fun-covered attractions - it's cold, in Alaska, even if Anchorage is located south of the region; Opened in 2003, he was in his time the fifth largest indoor water park United States!

There are scary slides, but also superpowerful Russian mountains and small boats. For the most timors who came to visit Anchorage, a simple swim in the blue lagoon, in the shade of mushroom fountains, will undoubtedly suffice for their happiness. In short, if you're still looking for something to do in Anchorage and the bad weather discourages you from discovering the surroundings, come in this space with those you love: the smaller ones can even find their account in the small baths!

How to get to Anchorage?

Anchorage features the Anchorage Ted-Stevens International Airport, located on the west coast of the city. Of course, the air network remains the best solution to easily get there, and our partner Ulysses you will be able to find a flight at preferential rates.

A relatively bad city served by a modest road network, however, you can consider access to the town by road: by car, for an unforgettable road trip, or by car, since many buses allow it to connect to other cities of the American continent, so of course the traveller is ready to endure a journey of several days! In addition, several railway lines provide the city with the rest of the continent.

Once on site, the car and...the aircraft, remain the preferred means of travel to travel: almost no public transport is available when visiting Anchorage! To do so, focus on car rental when you arrive at the airport for example.

Where to stay in Anchorage?

Anchorage is an American city, of course, but let’s not forget that we are in Alaska, a little particular territory. The city offers several types of accommodation each with their own benefits, to choose according to your travel profile to visit Anchorage. Those who have a comfortable budget - in Alaska, you have to know that everything is expensive, including tourist accommodation - will be able to opt for a room in the city centre, in order to benefit from all the classic amenities: you can find the hotel of your dreams in Anchorage by searching for this Compare hotels .

For a typical and family-friendly accommodation, probably less expensive, choose without hesitation the many typical guest houses and inns, outside the city, in order to immerse yourself in the Inuit culture: yes, before becoming a city, Anchorage was an old village populated by this community. Or a chalet in the ski areas near the city? And if you prefer a flexible and affordable solution, choose Airbnb , the platform offering many offers in the sector – for the greatest happiness of seasonal workers, but also tourists – and will allow you at a very reasonable price to enjoy a foot-to-ground that looks like you, and a flexible solution to feel like you at home!

To help you choose where to sleep during your stay, go to our article " In which quarter house in Anchorage? » .

Now you know how to best enjoy when you get to visit Anchorage, and the charms of this particular region during your stay. But will you manage to choose what to do in Anchorage and... what will you choose to start?