A wide range of outdoor experiences, vast spaces, homesteading, world-class fishing (and of course, seafood), and the Alaskan Native culture. These are just some of the things this state is known for. This is Alaska. And if you are planning a trip here, the best place to get started is Anchorage, the largest city of Alaska. There are several things to do in Anchorage. 

As the biggest city of Alaska, Anchorage offers a cornucopia of adventures. Whether you prefer enjoying some fine dining while overlooking Cook Inlet, or getting down and dirty while traversing the Chugach Mountains, nirvana is here in Anchorage. So, we’re not going to stall you any longer. Get ready for the coolest adventure you will ever be in, as you get to know the best things to do in Anchorage!

The Coolest Things To Do In Anchorage!

So, let’s get started. We’re listing down the best and coolest things to do in Anchorage.

1. Run Into Moose And Bears At The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

Be shocked, and you will certainly be, because the first on this list of the best things to do in Anchorage is having some fun in the outdoors. So, if you are that traveler who likes it slower and more relaxed, you might want to first take a deep breath here. 

Named after a former governor, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is an 11-mile paved trail that follows the shores, and offers amazing views of downtown Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains (which you’ll learn later on), Mount McKinley and Fire Island. 

And if you don’t mind running into some wildlife, this is the place for you. You’ll meet moose, bears, and sandhill cranes along the way. But remember, don’t approach the wildlife or the mudflats, if you don’t want to get yourself into trouble. 

2. Indulge In Some Alaskan Food

Alaska’s cuisine is not only a product of diverse cultural influences, but also is very reflective of the state’s natural resources. Its recipes use fresh and locally sourced ingredients, so the state’s culinary scene showcases an array of seafood, such as salmon, crab, halibut, and shrimp, prepared in distinctively delicious ways. 

One of the best places to experience Alaska’s cuisine is in Anchorage. Some of the most highly recommended restaurants in Alaska’s biggest city where you can try the local dishes are Kincaid Grill and Wine Bar, Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria, Jens’ Restaurant, and Snow City Cafe, to name a few. 

3. Hike The Beautiful Chugach Mountains 

The Chugach Mountains are some of the most beautiful areas in Anchorage. Aside from being visible anywhere in the city, the mountains are also filled with trails just waiting to be explored. 

If you are not a very well-versed hiker, you can start taking the Flattop Mountain Trail. It is a three-mile round trip route that starts with rolling hills and finishes with a steep traverse up a craggy rock face. But once you reach the summit, your efforts and hardwork will be worth it. Don’t forget to snap a selfie with the flagpole, okay?

For those looking for more challenge, you can choose to take the Rabbit Lake trail, a 4.4-mile trek that includes rushing rivers and ends in a valley in a shadow of two peaks at 5,000 feet. At the foot of these peaks is Rabbit Lake, where you can cool down before heading back. 

Avid travelers, however, warn that you should be aware of the wildlife that frequent the area, such as bears, moose, and even mosquitoes. Thus, be sure you are safe and have the right gear to protect you. Nonetheless, this is definitely one of the things to do in Anchorage that should be on your bucket list.

We’re glad that you made it here to our “things to do in Anchorage” guide. Alaska, Anchorage’s home state, is beautiful. Do you want to also get to know the best photography spots in Alaska?

4. Get To Know More About The Alaska Natives At Anchorage Museum, Also Touted As The City’s Cultural Jewel

Who says that Anchorage is only about the outdoors? Think again. While outdoor spaces are abundant in this city, there are also tourist destinations that will allow you to learn about its culture, such as at the Anchorage Museum.

Anchorage Museum, regarded as the city’s cultural jewel, houses the largest Alaska Native collection in the state and it’s even forward-thinking as there are large video screens that show the way of life of these Alaska Natives today. Plus, the museum also has the Listening Space, an area where you can hear storytellers and natural sounds from arctic Alaska. 

But, Anchorage Museum’s flagship experience would have to be the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. This exhibit houses over 600 Alaska Native objects, including tools, art, masks, and household implements. 

This museum is also the perfect place to bring your kids. There’s the Imaginarium Discovery Center, a hands-on science center for children where they can enjoy what this museum offers in their own little ways.

5. Watch The Performance Of The Staccato Alaghanak Song, Lost For 50 Years, At Alaska Native Heritage Center

Should the Native Alaska culture has fascinated you a lot, and you wish to know more about it, the best way is to travel to Alaska’s Bush region and experience the culture firsthand. But it is understandable that you won’t always have the chance to travel to this region, so in Anchorage, the experience is well-represented – particularly at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. 

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is more than just a museum, but it is representative of Alaska’s language, art, and culture. Its main building houses winding exhibits on traditional arts and sciences. But, what travelers love here are the performances, such as the staccato Alaghanak song, which is lost for five decades. The center only was able to collect bits and pieces from the original song from various tribal elders, and reconstructed them. 

Outside the center, you’ll see structures from the Aleut, Tlingit, and Yupik, along with those from other tribes, curated around a picturesque lake. 

Our website has more stories to tell, not just this “things to do in Anchorage” guide. Click this link for more.

6. Escape The City’s Wilderness At Kincaid Park

Is Anchorage’s wilderness too much for you? Well, there’s a chance to break the monotony and get a different atmosphere, here at Kincaid Park. There are dozens of things to do in Anchorage while you’re here.

Kincaid Park overlooks Cook Inlet from Anchorage’s southwest side, and it is a park home to various hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails, as well as gardens and wildlife like foxes, moose, porcupines, and black and brown bears. You can even play some golf on the park’s western portion. 

While you’re here, don’t forget to stop by the Kincaid Chalet, where the park’s staff can provide you with tips on which trails are best for your interests, schedule, and abilities. 

7. Ride A Helicopter That Lands On Glacier

In Alaska and Anchorage, there’s an abundance of glaciers, so if you’re here to enjoy the things to do in Anchorage, you should try this experience. But we’re going to take things up a notch. How about a helicopter tour that lands on a glacier?

You read that right. This is the outdoor adventure that will take your breath away. Go on this helicopter tour with glacier landing, taking you off on a scenic flight presenting views of the Knik River, Great Gorge, and Whiteout Glacier. Yes, you’ll land on the glacier and even experience drinking glacial water! If you want, you can take a guided glacier hike before your return flight. As always, keep a close eye out for wildlife. 

Aside from the things to do in Anchorage, Alaska is also home to the beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park. 

8. An Encounter With Alaskan Wilderness And Wildlife

You may have heard travelers who’ve visited Anchorage or the state telling you that you should be aware of the wildlife that roam around the place. Well, yes, it’s better to be safe than sorry. But if you really want a guided encounter with these wildlife, you can with this tour. 

You’ll travel out of the city and deeper into the Alaskan wilderness, taking you to landmarks such as the Chugach National Forest, Beluga Point, and Portage Glacier, among others, to spot wolves, brown bears, bison, and belugas. You’ll also learn more about them and Alaska’s unique landscapes as this tour features live commentary from your expert tour guide. 

9. Or, Encounter Alaska’s Wildlife At The Safer Alaska Zoo

If the thought of doing Alaska’s wildlife encounter in their natural habitat makes you cringe, you can instead meet them safely at the Alaska Zoo. Located in the Hillside neighborhood of Anchorage, the zoo features animals and birds from this region. Did you know that Alaska Zoo also rescues injured and abandoned creatures around the state, and provides them with a space to heal?

The experience here may sound a bit corny, but if you want to try these kinds of things to do in Anchorage without the risk, this zoo is the ideal choice. It has trails that perfectly match Anchorage and Alaska’s landscape. See moose, bears, mountain goats, seals, Amur tigers, and Bactrian camels, among many others. Kids will also love it here. 

10. Fishing In The City? Possible!

If there’s a listing of the best cities in the United States, or maybe even in the world, for fishing, Anchorage would be on top of it. Right, you can go fishing in this city at Ship Creek. Ship Creek is the world’s only metropolitan king salmon fishery, and it’s right in the heart of the city’s downtown. 

One of the highlights here is the Slam’n Salm’n Derby, a fishing event where fishers worldwide gather on the river’s muddy shores, which happens every June, bagging heavy salmon in hopes of clinching the grand prize. 

If you’re headed here at Ship Creek to fish, stop by the Bait Shack first to get your fishing license, rent gear, and some tips from the locals. 

Loved this “things to do in Anchorage” guide? Alaska is also home to the breathtaking Denali National Park and Preserve. Read about its best photography spots here.

Things To Do In Anchorage: Get To Know The Best Hotels In This City

You’ve known some of the best things to do in Anchorage. Believe us, there are more things to explore in this city in Alaska, so feel free to keep looking around. This time, we’ll tell you about the best hotels to stay at when you’re headed here in Anchorage. 

• Alyeska Resort
• Hotel Captain Cook
• Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage
• The Lakefront Anchorage
• Marriott Anchorage Downtown
• Crowne Plaza Anchorage-Midtown
• Hilton Anchorage
• Sheraton Anchorage Hotel & Spa
• Homewood Suites by Hilton Anchorage
• SpringHill Suites Anchorage University Lake

Cool Down In Anchorage, Alaska

If you want to cool down and experience cold weather like no other in the rest of the world, you might want to travel to Alaska. Unlike other places, Alaska actually has a long winter, roughly from October to April. So, while other parts of the world are already welcoming the spring season and a hotter temperature, people in this state are still beating the cold weather. If you’re visiting Alaska, you should get started with Anchorage, the state’s largest city. It’s beautiful here, and there are so many things to do in Anchorage.  

Anchorage is for the adventurer at heart, but it also welcomes travelers of all kinds. From majestic mountains to stunning wilderness, every visitor to this city immerses themselves into a symphony of unparalleled experiences, wildlife encounters, and natural  landscapes. Let the beauty of Anchorage unfold before you.