It’s simple to travel from city to summit while you’re staying in thriving Anchorage – Alaska’s biggest city is the ideal place to begin an adventure through the Last Frontier.
Keep it cool in the city
In Anchorage, the temperatures are almost as cool as the local population. On these streets you’ll find a laid-back atmosphere, where carefree locals visit great restaurants like the Glacier Brewhouse, with its delicious Alaskan cuisine, or the Snow City Café where you’ll find sumptuous all-day breakfast specials.
If you’re here on vacation – or simply want a break from your business trip – take time to enjoy the city’s museums, galleries and markets, and enjoy a show at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
If you’re keen on history, the Native American Heritage Center shows off Anchorage’s place as one the most diverse neighbourhoods in the United States. If you’re keen for some fresh air, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is understandably popular, were you can walk or cycle across 17 scenic kilometres of the Alaskan shore, taking in charming views of skyscrapers framed by icy wilderness. You’ll see educational stop-offs along the way, before panoramic mountain views at Kincaid Park.
Explore the Alaskan wilds
Anchorage’s biggest draw is its location. It’s surrounded by one of America’s most spectacular states, full of sloping mountains, luscious green plains, and glimmering waterfalls.
The Chugach State Park is Anchorage’s beautiful backyard – a wonderful menagerie of natural landscape stretching for almost 500 acres. Rent a car from Anchorage airport and head out of the city until you reach the mountains.
Here, you’ll find some of the most popular hiking trails in all of Alaska. The Anchorage Hillside Trail is a simple route that’s also wheelchair accessible – but there are also more challenging slopes for the experienced mountaineer.
The Thunderbird waterfall is only 30 minutes out of town. Make the most of your rental wheels by winding through the scenic coastal roads and exploring the picture-perfect scenes on foot. In the winter, waterfalls are frozen mid-flow. It’s mesmerizing.
There are other great parks to discover from Anchorage, such as the world-famous Denali National Park and Preserve. Lesser known sites of natural beauty include ice-blue Lake Clark in the south-west, and picturesque points on the Kenai Peninsula. Here you’ll find a Nature Center, glaciers and the freshest of fresh air.
Capital excursions
Anchorage is Alaska’s largest major city and considered the de facto state capital by many. But the remote city of Juneau is the official capital of America’s largest state, and is known for its quaint coastal architecture and charming views of rocky islands.
Juneau is the second largest city in the United States by land area, but the city and borough has a smaller population than most – barely more than 30,000, around 90 times smaller than Toronto.
This creates a slow-paced, small-town feel, with modestly sized buildings and streets lined with seafood eateries, with names like Tracy’s King Crab Shack, the Twisted Fish Company and Hangar on the Wharf satisfying throngs of hungry locals and visitors.
The town’s monuments showcase its past, including a statue of a bull terrier called Patsy Ann. Born in 1929, she was the town’s ever-faithful dog who greeted every boat that landed in Juneau, as well as making social visits to stores and cafes throughout the town. The statue was unveiled in 1992, 50 years after her death.
Elsewhere in the town, there are clues to the gold rush era at every turn, and you can even sift for your own treasures on a local tour.
See southern Alaska from every angle inside and out of the city with car rental from Anchorage Airport.
