Things to do in Anchorage
 

While I have been in Anchorage 3 times, 2 were in transit and one was for business in November.

Wife and I are going to be there for 2 full days before taking an interior 10 days and 4 day cruise and then a week in Vancouver

I am posting this to let others know what my research came up with for 3 days, only 2 of which we will have time to do (we are staying at the Hilton Anchorage for 3 nights, no car).

Day one: Walk to the Anchorage Museum (opens at 9am on Friday) and buy a combo ticket (includes the Heritage Center) for $26 pp. Visit the Museum and then take free shuttle at 11am, to the AK Native Hertiage Center. Enjoying the center and having lunch (11-5), taking the last shuttle back at 4:45. Hunt down somewhere for some Halibut and chips in a casual atmosphere (did I mention that my planning is not complete?).

Day two: Take the maybe existing free shuttle to the zoo, leaving from the Dimond center, a bus ride away (not doing good in comfirming this). E-mailing the zoo has not produced solid data. Likely a 2+ hour zoo. Entry is about $10. Have lunch at the zoo and return to do a portion of day 3, or:

Day three: Depart on foot to Resolution Point for the views and monuments. Then go to Delany Park and see the rose gardens, train engine and monuments. Then go to the Holy Family Cathedral, moved to its current location in 1920. Then go to the Egan Center to view the sculptures outside. Then go to the Town Square to see the Wylan whale and named bricks. Next perhaps a trip to the 5th avenue mall to see the native and local artists works in the "co-op" and potential buy something in the "samo" stores as home. Time for a coffee break to rest the feet. Next its the Russian Orthodox Museum. The Ak Trooper Museum is next (opens at 10am). The Wendler bulding is next to see the starting point on the Iditarod, the bronze dog and the turret. Probably time to consider lunch. Next is the Ship creek Salmon Viewing. After watching the fish it is off to the Ak. RR Depot. Good place to sit for a minute or two. The AK Market & Festival is next (if this is Saturday!!!). The next walk is to the 4th Ave Mkt. Place to check out the retails stores and watch the movie. By this time it is time to have a glass of wine and start planning for dinner, perhaps a shower and change of clothes back at the Hilton?!

Comments? Suggestions? Thought this could be helpful to others too.

Sounds like you have a great chance to see quite a bit of Anchorage. But personally I would not spend 3 nights just to see Anchorage. There is too much other great stuff in the vicinity to see/do. Where does your cruise start from? If Whittier, I would go early enough before the cruise to take a Prince William Sound tour then board your ship. You will get much closer to glaciers on this small boat tour than you will on the cruise ship.

If your cruise departs from Seward, that nice town deserves two days/one night - arrive one day, see the Sealife Center and Exit Glacier, the next day take a 6 hour Kenai Fjords NP boat tour then board your ship.

Having been to Alaska over a dozen times, it was only last May that I actually spent two nights in the city. There is indeed lots to offer but I just think the surrounding area has a lot too. With a car rental for a day you can get to the Matsu Valley (places like Independence Mine, Wasilla, Palmer, Eagle River) and even Talkeetna.

But you did say you have another 10 days in the interior so perhaps you are getting to some or all of these places anyway.

For things to do in Anchorage, here is a list from a poster on Trip Advisor with the screen name Places. She has been to Alaska many times and compiled this list after someone told her "There is nothing to do in Anchorage."

John

1. Log Cabin Visitors Center on 4th Avenue and F Street - Start your visit here www.anchorage.net
2. Anchorage Museum of History and Art www.anchoragemuseum.org
3. Alaska Native Heritage Center www.alaskanative.net
4. Resolution Point and Captain Cook Monument with views of Cook Inlet and Mt. McKinley
5. Earthquake Park, West on Northern Lights Boulevard near Aircraft Drive
6. Elmendorf State Hatchery http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/state...y/hatchery.cfm
7. Fort Richardson Hatchery http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/state...y/hatchery.cfm
8. Far North Bicentennial Park off Tudor and Abbott Roads with miles of trails for hiking and biking
9. Kincaid Park on West end of Raspberry Road with 35 miles of hiking and biking trails www.muni.org/parks/index.cfm
10. Oomingmak Shop - Musk Ox wool hand knitted masterpieces by Native Alaskans www.qiviut.com
11. Ulu Factory at 211 W. Ship Creek Avenue
12. Music in the Park every Wednesday and Friday at noon, 4th Avenue and E Street www.anchoragedowntown.org
13. Summer concerts at Town Square on Thursday 5-8 PM www.anchoragedowntown.org
14. Music and Dance on Saturday at 2 PM at Peratrovich Park, 4th Avenue and E Street www.anchoragedowntown.org
15. Wild Salmon on Parade throughout downtown. See map on www.anchorage.net/salmon
16. Theater Thursday at noon in Peratrovich Park, 4th Avenue and E Street www.anchoragedowntown.org
17. Ship Creek Center at 4th Avenue and C Street with exhibits and free performances www.shipcreekcenter.com
18. Ship Creek near railroad tracks north of 1st Avenue where city anglers congregate to catch salmon
19. Segway Tours of Anchorage at 630 W 4th Avenue #441-1124
20. Alaska Experience Center www.alaskaexperiencetheatre.com
21. Alaska Public Lands Information Center at 605 W. 4th Avenue
with fascinating exhibits www.nps.gov/aplic
22. Anchorage City Trolley Tours start at 612 W. 4th Street between 9AM and 6 PM
23. Russian Orthodox Museum at 605 A Street
24. Oscar Anderson House Museum at 420 M Street open between noon and 5 PM
25. Play tennis, volleyballs, softball at Delaney Park Strip located between 9th and 10th Avenues and A& P Streets.
26. Aurora-Alaska Great Northern Lights www.thealaskacollection.com
27. Cyrano’s Playhouse www.cyranos.org
28. 4th Avenue Theater Building at 630 W. 4th Avenue that survived the 1964 earthquake and is listed on National Register of Historic Places
29. Wendler Building at 4th Avenue and D street is also on National Register of Historic Places
30. Iditarod Race starts at Wendler Building at 4th Avenue and D Street
31. Bronze statue of Balto, famous dog, located in front of the Wendler Building
32. Town Square Park located between 5th and 6th Avenues and E and F Streets with gorgeous flowers and Whaling Wall painted by artist Wyland
33. Alaska Botanical Garden at Tudor and Campbell Airstrip Road
www.alaskabg.org
34. Imaginarium Science Discovery Center www.imaginarium.com
35. Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum www.alaskaairmuseum.org
36. Alaska Heritage Museum at Well Fargo at 301 W Northern Lights Boulevard #265-2834
37. Alaska Museum of Natural History www.alaskamuseum.org
38. Alaska Railroad Depot with many fascinating historical photos www.alaskarairoad.com
39. Alaska State Troopers Museum www.alaskatroopermuseum.com
40. Anchorage Market on 3rd Avenue and E Street during summer weekends www.anchoragemarkets.com
41. Zoo www.alaskazoo.org
42. Surfing on a bore tide south of Bird Point along Seward Highway
43. University of Alaska Anchorage, visit bookstore for nice sweatshirts and other gifts www.uaabookstore.uaaa.alaska.edu
44. Visit any of 150 city parks right in Anchorage
45. Anchorage Symphony Orchestra www.anchoragesymphony.org
46. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail ideal for biking, hiking and walking
47. Visit bicycle rental shop at 4th Avenue between C&D streets www.alaska-bike-rentals.com
48. Go biking on Powerline Pass, to get there follow O’Malley Road and Upper Hoffman
49. Attend Greek Festival in August
50. Take a drive south along Seward Highway for many scenic stops and to visit Girdwood for outdoor activities
51. Run Mayor’s Marathon in June
52. Go to AWAIC (Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis) Summer Solstice Festival www.awaic.org
53. Use trailhead at Glen Alps to hike to Flattop Mountain and Little O’Malley Peak ($5.00 parking fee)
54. Use trailhead at Prospect Heights to hike to Wolverine Peak and Near Point ($5.00 parking fee)
55. Use Upper Hoffman trailhead for hikes to Powerline Pass and Little O’Malley Peak ($5.00 parking fee)
56. Use Eklutna trailhead for hikes to Twin Peaks and Bold Ridge trails ($5.00 parking fee)
57. Use Eagle River Nature Center to access Crow Pass, Albert Loop and Dew Mound trails ($5.00 parking fee)
58. Go bird watching to Potter Marsh on Seward Highway
59. Watch ducks on Goose Lake near UAA
60. Play 18 holes at O’Malley Golf Course
61. H2Oasis Indoor Water Park- great place to take kids of any age
62. Alaska Statehood Monument at 2nd Avenue and E Street
63. Fire Department Museum at 100 E. 4th Avenue

Thank you

Reviewed similar to pick out what we wanted to do and would not over tax my foot. Just interesting all one can do within a few miles on a continuous route to see so many different things, mostly in bit of 10-20 minutes each. Seems anyone could pick and choose from the lists to make up a couple of days of driving, walking or combinations

We do have a long list of things we will see on our fifteen day land/sea tour with Holland American. Alaska is huge, no way to "see it all" in a few modest trips. We will also be spending a week in Vancouver (2nd trip for us).

Our posting (mine and fti's), should help others in the future..yeah for search engines!

Looks like the Snow City Cafe (1034 w 4th Ave @L) is the closest place to the Hilton Anchorage to get a more reasonably priced breakfast. Next on our list is to find a store to buy some wine.

Just FYI, Snow City has great food but is not what I would call "reasonably priced". Also, there are numerous restaurants closer to the Hilton; not really sure how you got that info. Don't get me wrong, Snow City is worth the trek, though. Just don't expect "reasonably priced".

For wine, Downtown Wine & Spirits on 5th Ave. across from the Captain Cook is the best spot. However, fair warning, that place tends to close really early, like 7:00-ish early. There is also a Crush wine bar & bistro on the 6th Ave. side of the Fifth Avenue Mall, and I've seen signs for a new wine store opening on 6th Avenue between F and E sometime soon.

Anchorage does have plenty to do to keep out-of-towners busy for a while. Anybody who tells you there's nothing to do here doesn't know what s/he's talking about. The city itself can be pretty mediocre in parts, but there's no doubt that it is smack dab in the middle of some of the most amazing things on this planet, and that's what makes it special. It sort of reminds me of a northern version of Phoenix or Honolulu in that regard.

One more thing, for anyone who has never been here, this town does have some of the worst driving this side of Mexico City, both in terms of knuckleheads per capita and general road conditions (L Street going past Westchester Lagoon has crumbled so badly that I've seen fist-sized pavement chunks go flying pretty routinely this spring). Just be prepared and be careful.

Chugach

Thank you I did a bunch of search s for places that serve breakfast. This is a really hard way to find a place, when you need something easily walkable. The prices at the Hilton are higher than Snow City Cafe. It is the only place I found with a menu to see prices and not a part of a hotel, inn or b & b. I would love a suggestion (name and address) to get bacon and eggs, hash browns, toast and coffee for the 2 mornings we are on our own. Our final morning breakfast is likely to be part of the Holland America package that we start the night before.

ranles

The views from the bar at the top of the Hilton (assuming you're staying at the downtown Hilton on 3rd) are fantastic. The Snow Goose (3rd & G St) also has a great deck, but the brews can be inconsistent. Still worth considering.

If you're up for walking, consider strolling along a portion of the Coastal Trail - easy, paved trail that hugs the coastline and unobstructed views across the inlet. I miss easy access to this trail now that I'm no longer working downtown.

Snow City's breakfasts are good, but be prepared for a wait on the weekends. It's not a place known for its speed. Sack's Cafe is on G Street between 3rd & 4th, but they only serve brunch on weekends and the prices can be steep. Delicious, but spendy.

There are coffee shops all over downtown that serve light breakfasts. My favorite is on G, just around the corner from Orso, but I know a lot of people are partial to Dark Horse or Kaladi or even Starbucks. I think there is a small diner-style place almost directly across from the Hilton on 3rd, but I don't remember the name right now.

There's also a Country Kitchen near the museum. My impression is that it's a Denny's with different branding, but that's based entirely on the exterior.

Since I should be writing papers, I'm going to limit this post to a couple of quick comments.

I'm glad you're willing to give Anchorage a fair bit of time, but I echo fti's comment that it may be overkill to spend three nights here.

I think you can easily do the zoo in a half a day. If you really want to enjoy it and take it slow, you could probably spend 2-3 hours...otherwise, a little over an hour in the zoo itself is probably enough. (A few other FTers and I did the zoo in March, and we definitely didn't spend more than two hours there, and that was ambling at a very relaxed pace and often spending more time talking than actually looking at animals.)

If you have any desire to do some things outside the city (as has been suggested by some others and as will likely be suggested by me when I finish up school later this week and have time to think and post some more!), a rental car will come in very handy--although if you're coming in the middle of the season, be prepared for quite the sticker shock. If you do want to avoid the rental car and do the bus/shuttle combo to the zoo, it should be easy enough--grab any bus heading down 5th Avenue, which will dump you at the transit center. From there, several bus lines leave and end at the Dimond Center. From memory, I would expect that bus #60 would be the most direct (heading mostly directly south along Old Seward Highway), but since most buses only run once per hour here (every half hour during peak commute times), if you miss #60, it may be better to grab another one leaving sooner (#2, #7, and #9 all go there, IIRC, with probably #9 being the most direct of those three). If you're confident, you can position yourself at an appropriate place on 6th Avenue and catch bus #60 or another one and skip the transit center, but make sure you're west of C street before doing so (I believe bus #60 turns from eastbound 6th onto southbound C). Bus schedules and maps are at http://www.peoplemover.org.

Enjoy your trip! :)

The restaurant/bar at the top of the Hilton is closed now except for private parties (we had our company holiday party there back in December).

My experience with Snow Goose is that the beer is great but the food is inconsistent. Sometimes it's great, and other times it leaves a lot to be desired. For whatever reason Snow Goose hasn't ever seemed to catch on as a big local hangout. I think most of the locals here gravitate to the Moose's Tooth and Bear Tooth for local microbrews since the food is better.

Thank you everyone.

Our time in Anchorage is fixed. We are embarking on a 25 day trip. We will not be renting a car. We will be on a TOUR once the first 2 days are over in Anchorage, except for the last 6 in Vancouver. We have settle all our issues in Vancouver.

We are looking to lower our breakfast charges for two of the three mornings we are in Anchorage versus eating at the Hilton.

It seems that the Orso is not open for breakfast, but has brunch. We are just looking for bacon and eggs, coffee, hash browns and toast on the quick. Dark Horse has coffee, etc and a short menu, not including what we are looking for. Kaladi Bros Coffee has an undisclosed speciality menu. Country Kitchen is much more stuff that we are looking for, but may work. The one near us does not have toast or hash browns but does provide a buffet of many items. We will check it our when we get there if something else does not come up. Sacks has brunch, but we need to get breakfast and be on our way for the days activities. We are looking for a Friday and a Saturday morning.

Neither the Moose Tooth or the Bear Tooth are walkable for breakfast from the Hilton.

Jackal good luck on your papers.

Thank you again.

Oh, bummer. That was a favorite after-work hangout in summer because of the view and fairly quick service. (And if Snow Goose has fixed their warm and/or undercarbonated beer issues, I am glad to hear it.)

ranles, I don't think either Moose's Tooth (pizza) or Bear Tooth (burritos) do breakfast, although they may. You might also check some of the nearby hotels for breakfast options - there's a place called the Sunrise Cafe at the Westmark, a few blocks from the Hilton. Never eaten there, but it seemed to do good business when I worked in the neighborhood.

My vote's still for Snow City if you have the time and are willing to make the walk.

Six hours at the Native Heritage Museum is a lot. It's just not that big. Maybe 2 hours tops. Plan to spend a little time at the gift shop, there are some neat things there.

Thanks Chococat. Leaving the A. Museum at 11A gets us to H. Center at 11:45A. It we do not get that one then we arrive H. Center at 12:45. Given lunch and then seeing what there is to see, we will have a choice of the 2:45 bus back or the 4:45. We will play that one by ear. If only 2 hours necessary then we will be fine for the earlier return. May then walk over to the fish hatchery.

Cinderly, thanks County Kitcheon looks like a fine choice for breakfast, or maybe even dinner.

Just did the ANHC today (dress rehearsal today and tomorrow from noon to 3pm followed by grand opening on Mother's Day; admission free on all three days), and I'd concur with this. We spent about 1:45 there including 20 minutes at the cafe (GREAT reindeer burgers, caribou stew, and reindeer hot dogs!). I could have stayed about another 30 minutes watching the presentation on the Alaska Native Games, but beyond that, the presentations mostly repeat (except for some special presentations on certain days).

I'd stick with the 2:45 bus.

Am I imagining things or did the ANHC have a gift shop extension somewhere downtown? If they did, did it close? I couldn't find any reference to it. I could have sworn they did last year or a couple of years ago, though...

(A 2010 update for anyone reading this later: I disagree with my own post here! A friend/fellow FTer and I spent half a day at the ANHC in the middle of the summer, and--wow, what a difference! I'd only ever gone for the free dress rehearsal day they put on every Mother's Day, but that's not a fair assessment of what the ANHC is all about, since everyone is rusty from taking the winter off and they only have a few employees there. When they're in the middle of the tourist season, they have all hands on deck and tons of Native people doing dancing, storytelling, show-and-telling, and guiding you through the various housing habitats. Honestly, had we not had other commitments, we could have stayed for a full day just listening to the storytellers talking about their experiences growing up in rural Alaska and acclimating to urban life. It's an absolutely fascinating look at Native culture and worth every penny of the admission charge. Plan to stay at least three to four hours if not more!)

One question about the mosquitoes. I have read...June, not good. No smelly stuff. No dark clothing (esp. blue). Long sleeves. At least 20% deet. Sun better that shade. Wind better that calm. Worse evenings and daybreak (when are those periods on 21 hour sunny days?!)

Question: We have head nets (trip to South New Zealand, an Alaskan fishing trip floating on a river for 3 days), should we bring them and carry in our day packs?

Headed to Anchorage, Fairbanks, Dawson, Whitehorse, Tok, Denali (3 days), Skagway and Ketchican (although not in that order). June 4th to 20th. Bus, train, boat, ship with tours along the way. I am susceptible to being bit.

Thank you.

I was surprised at the number of mosquitoes in Earthquake Park last Sunday evening when I was there.

If you are going to Denali and spending time at Wonder Lake, the headnet will come in handy. Other than that, I think good repellent with DEET will work fine. I use the much stronger DEET (close to 100%) when at Wonder Lake.

John