Anchorage Refresh 2023

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Anchorage

Just seven miles east of downtown Anchorage is the start of Chugach State Park, which covers more than 495,000 acres and is one of the largest state parks in the country. Encompassing nine different environments — including a temperate rain forest, a boreal spruce-birch woodland, craggy mountain valleys and remote glaciers — Chugach has more than 280 miles of hiking and biking trails to explore during the warmer months; some trails connect with the Moose Loop, a 32-mile urban trail system around the city. In addition, there are 28 miles of paddling, eight miles of boating and three official campgrounds in this grand park; a fun bonus in August and September is the explosion of blueberries ripe for picking. In winter, there are 110 miles of trails perfect for skiing, fat-tire biking and what the locals call “snowmachining” (a.k.a snowmobiling).

Since the 1990s, Broadway has been coming to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts Center (locally referred to as the PAC). Upcoming events include “SIX: The Musical” (Feb. 14-25, 2024) and Disney’s “Aladdin” (April 10-24, 2024). For a different musical experience, head to the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, which has steadily grown from a group of 17 local musicians in 1946 (before Alaska was even a state) to its present collection of 80 people. Though many have been trained at renowned conservatories and schools, most of them work as teachers, engineers, attorneys and accountants in Anchorage rather than as full-time musicians.

Chugach State Park

Arts & culture

Urban & wild: the best of both worlds

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Northern Lights

Just as a visit to Anchorage helps you see Broadway shows (instead of traveling to NYC), you can also see the Northern Lights here (rather than traveling to Europe). The best time to view this natural magic show, also known as the aurora borealis, is from September to April. Some hotels even offer Northern Lights wakeup calls, such as Alyeska Resort (more on this hotel later). If you want to book a tour, the city’s Visitor Information Centers or your hotel’s front desk are great places to learn about the options. Anchorage Photo Treks’ Anchorage Aurora Quest is a popular option where, as the name alludes, you accompany photographers to the most scenic spots within a 70-mile radius of the city. This means that over the course of one to three stops, you may see the lights set against reflective lakes, dramatic peaks, coastal waterways or moody forests.

Museums

Learn more about this part of the United States by visiting some of Anchorage’s top museums. At the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the largest cultural institution in the state, exhibits focus on Alaska’s 11 major cultural groups. Immerse yourself in 10,000 years of Alaska Native history—including contemporary ways of life— through art, dance, native games demonstrations, traditional native dwellings, films and more. The Anchorage Museum is located on the traditional homeland of the Eklutna Dena’ina people, in the heart of downtown. The museum explores the history of Alaska as well as local art; alongside its exhibitions, there are performances, artist talks, live music and films. Current exhibits include "Salmon Culture" (through Sept. 15, 2024), which celebrates the connection between the fish and Alaska Native people, as well as "How to Survive," which focuses on climate change. To help celebrate 100 years of the Alaska Railroad, the museum is also hosting a special exhibit, “All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial” (through Feb. 18, 2024) which explores 10 decades of the railroad’s impact in Alaska. From March-April, the Anchorage School District Youth Art Show 2024 will be on view; this exhibit gives students from kindergarten through high school the chance to showcase their artwork in a museum.

Make the most of the longest day of the year by attending the Summer Solstice Festival on downtown Anchorage’s Fourth Avenue, enjoying the aromas and tastes of food trucks, browsing vendor booths and encouraging athletes competing in fitness and relay-style competitions. Another family-friendly event is the Bear Paw Festival that takes place each summer in Eagle River, 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage and includes a parade, a carnival, a classic car show and the Slippery Salmon Olympics; in this event, relay teams of two people race through an obstacle course while carrying a whole Alaska salmon and an open bottle of soda.

Festivals

No matter whether the snow is falling or a distant memory, the Anchorage community makes sure that fun is always on the agenda, thanks to its many festivals throughout the year. (Average winter temperatures are in the 20s and 30s, so it’s warmer outside than you might think.) Most people are familiar with the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which kicks off the journey of nearly 1,000 miles with a ceremonial run downtown on the first Saturday of each March. Another super-local winter event is the Fur Rendezvous Festival, or Fur Rondy, which started as a three-day affair and has since expanded to a 10-day bonanza full of events like the Running of the Reindeer, snowshoe softball, outhouse races and the Alaska Native Blanket Toss, where participants are flung high into the air.

Restaurants & breweries

If you’re not in town during Alaska Beer Week each January, don’t worry, you can still celebrate the craft beer scene every day of the year. At Glacier BrewHouse, the barley wines (which is a beer) pair perfectly with the indoor fireplace on a winter’s night. Tent City Taphouse gives a nod to Anchorage’s former name and pairs hearty specialties like Yukon duck fat fries or chowder with Alaska herb cream with whatever’s on tap. Seafood reigns supreme on menus here, so eat your fill of salmon, halibut and Alaska king crab while you’re in town. The White Spot Café is best-known for its fried halibut sandwich. At South Restaurant + Coffeehouse, local favorites include vodka-battered Alaska halibut or cod, Alaska halibut tacos and Sopa de Mar (a tomato-saffron base loaded with cod, salmon, clams and shrimp). Summer months bring an abundance of local produce to the farmers’ markets and restaurant menus; don’t forget about the wild blueberries found on trails as well.

Dog sledding

Most dog sledding images out there show snow-packed trails, and while this is definitely the case from November through March, you can also go in warmer months in Anchorage. For the iconic experience, choose from companies like 907 Tours or Greatland Adventures for all your musher dreams of sliding across Alaska. For summer dog sledding, you can sit in a wheeled cart while dogs pull you through the forest -- or you can opt to go dog sledding on a glacier. Several companies like Alaska Helicopter Tours and Alpine Air Alaska whisk you away by air for a combination helicopter sightseeing tour and dog-sledding experience. If you’re in the mood to cuddle puppies destined for Iditarod greatness, that’s also an option as local mushers offer kennel tours all season.

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Alyeska Nordic Spa

If you'd rather use the water to relax, consider this option instead. No matter what time of day, month or year it is, your muscles will thank you for treating them to a spa day and the adults-only Alyeska Nordic Spa is ready to deliver. This 50,000-square-foot, forest-flanked ode to Nordic hydrotherapy practices in the Chugach mountains blends heat and water to a blissful effect, whether you’re in a barrel sauna, steam room or hot pool. The treatment menu includes such services as the Nordic Signature Massage, with both warming and cooling elements, plus a nod to sauna whisking traditions. Indulge in the exfoliation cabin or relax by the fire pits and cozy nooks throughout the spa. If you’re there when it’s cold outside, keep the relaxation (and warm feelings) going by taking a tram ride to Bore Tide Deli & Bar at the top of Mount Alyeska and asking for the “Fizz”; this signature winter cocktail is not on the menu and the ingredients are secret. You might find yourself wanting to keep an Anchorage vacation all to yourself as well.

Gone fishing

After having spent a few days in Anchorage, you might be leaning toward spending the whole day in either the urban or wild direction. If outdoor adventures are still calling your name, then it’s time to go fishing and while away the hours. You can pick up a fishing license at an outdoor store or even a gas station or grocery store. From late May through October, go salmon fishing right in town at Ship Creek (anglers can catch 20- to 30-pound king salmon and 8- to 10-pound silver salmon here). There’s ice fishing from November-February at the many area lakes as well. Go a step further than just taking a picture with it and prove to your friends you really did catch the big one by inviting them to taste it at your place. That’s right, you can take your catch to a seafood shop in Anchorage and get it packaged and shipped home.

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The animals you'll see in the park depends on the time of year: summertime means Dall sheep and bears, while wintertime is particularly good for spotting bald eagles. Keep your eyes peeled for moose no matter the season.

Though you can see Denali in the distance from downtown Anchorage, Chugach State Park is home to the most-climbed mountain in the state, Flattop Mountain. The trail to the summit (3,510 feet) is pretty rocky and steep, but there are a number of loop trails below and you can still get great views from Glen Alps overlook. And if you’re really not into hiking at all, but like to pretend, you’re in luck: just a few minutes’ walk from the parking lot are a few stunning overlooks where you can snap a pic and then head back to town.

Shopping

There is no statewide sales tax in Alaska, so you’ll have a little bit extra spending money to buy some made-in-Alaska treasures. Probably best for checked luggage are Alaska birch syrup as well as Ulu knives, which are still used to process fish and game but are also good for chopping nuts, cutting veggies and slicing pizza. Buy some moisturizing face masks and mineral soaps from Alaska Glacial Mud, which does in fact use the fine, silky soil of glacial minerals in its products. Softer than sheep’s wool, musk ox wool, known as qiviut, is knitted into hats and scarves that are less itchy than other materials. Don’t forget to check out the gift shops at Anchorage’s museums as well. The Alaska Native Heritage Center’s Ch’k’iqadi Gallery gift shop offers art and jewelry made by Alaska Native artists; Ch’k’iqadi is a Dena’ina Athabascan word meaning “the things we buy.”

Photo credit: Kristian Irey | Alyeska Nordic Spa

ere's a secret about Anchorage — you can have all the iconic Alaska experiences right within the boundaries of the state’s largest city. The mountains, the glaciers, the moose, the Northern Lights are all right here, along with the vibrant cultural and entertainment options that come with a place that commands nonstop flights from 18 U.S. cities. With a footprint as large as the state of Delaware, Anchorage is way more than a downtown area, so pack accordingly for some outdoor adventures too. We've created an itinerary that shows an outdoor and an indoor adventure each day, so you can experience both sides of the city and decide which one (maybe both) is your favorite.

day one | day two | day three | day four | day five