Things to do in  Anchorage

Just 55 miles (89 kilometers) outside of Anchorage, the famous Portage Glacier is often the first glacier travelers see on a trip to Southcentral Alaska. The natural phenomenon towers 10 stories over the pristine, iceberg-studded Portage Lake, and it is the focal point of Portage Valley, known for stellar wildlife watching, a variety of water activities, and scenic hiking trails overlooking glaciers and mountains.

It takes some travelers to Alaska several days to check bears, bald eagles, and wood bison off their wildlife-viewing list—but you can see all three in just one visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Not far from Anchorage, this 200-acre (81-hectare) animal sanctuary cares for more than a dozen different species, from moose to lynx, and educates visitors about its conservation projects.

Originating within the Chugach Mountain Range, the Matanuska Glacier is a 27-mile-long (43-kilometer-long) river of ice and Alaska's largest roadside glacier. A popular day trip from Anchorage, the glacier draws tourists year-round to gaze at the impressive ice formations and go ice climbing among crevasses and glacial water in brilliant meltwater pools.

Just three miles southwest of Anchorage, Lake Hood serves as the runway for one of the largest and busiest seaplane bases in the world. Nearly 200 flights take off daily from the waters of Lake Hood ferrying supplies and passengers to remote Alaskan communities and secluded mountain landscapes. This steady stream of float planes delights visitors and aviation buffs.

Named after famed European explorer, Captain James Cook, the Cook Inlet stretches from Anchorage to the Gulf of Alaska and offers stunning coastal scenery and outdoor recreation opportunities galore. At its northern end, the Cook Inlet branches into the Knik Arm and the Turnagain Arm, which together almost completely surround the city of Anchorage.

In 1964, an entire neighborhood of Anchorage slid into the ocean during what remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history. Measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, this tragic event is commemorated in Earthquake Park, where you can still see evidence of the devastating earthquake that permanently altered the Anchorage landscape.

For many visitors, a trip to Alaska just isn’t complete without catching a glimpse of the massive, snow-capped centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve. Topping out at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), the Alaska Range mountain federally known as Mount McKinley (aka Denali) is the highest in North America. The peak is often shrouded in clouds, so there’s only a 30 percent chance of seeing it on a given day.

Just beyond the edge of Alaska’s largest city and stretching 200 coastal miles (322 kilometers) from Anchorage to Canada, Chugach State Park encompasses nine distinct ecosystems including spruce forests, alpine tundra, and coastal wetlands. Nowhere on Earth is there so much biodiversity so close to a major city.

Extending from the Southcentral Alaska city of Seward to Fairbanks in Alaska’s mountainous Interior Region, the century-old Alaska Railroad provides travelers access to some of the state’s most sought-after sights. Stops along the scenic 470-mile (750-kilometer) route include Anchorage, Whittier, and Denali National Park, offering train enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike a convenient way to explore Alaska’s historic cities and natural wonders by rail.

The tallest peak in North America at 20,310 feet (6,190 meters), Denali/Mt. McKinley is the centerpiece of Denali National Park and Preserve in south-central Alaska, an enormous area covering 6 million acres (2.5 million hectares). Founded in 1917, the park protects the native animals who roam free in its remote alpine tundra wilderness.

Tucked into the southern coast of Alaska, Prince William Sound is a spectacular wilderness area encompassing tidewater glaciers, fjords, secluded beaches, and more. Visitors are drawn to these remote waters to marvel at the marine life and coastal scenery and try a range of outdoor adventure activities, from sea kayaking, fishing, and whale watching to backcountry skiing and scuba diving.

Enjoy a free air show with your picnic lunch at Lake Spenard. Connected by a canal in the 1970s, Lake Hood and Lake Spenard serve as the runway of one of the world’s busiest seaplane bases. Daily, nearly 200 planes use the base to shuttle goods and passengers to and from the Alaskan interior.

First-time visitors will enjoy a fascinating introduction to Alaska’s history, art, and culture at the Anchorage Museum. You can explore the history surrounding the Alaska Purchase, see how the gold rush shaped the state, and learn about the devastation caused by the 1964 earthquake. In addition, the planetarium and science center offer plenty of hands-on fun for kids.

With more than 1,100 species of perennials and 150 of native flora, the Alaska Botanical Garden is a great spot to learn about subarctic native plants and horticulture. Despite Alaska’s harsh climate, wildflowers and hardy perennials such as poppies, peonies, iris, lilies, and roses flourish in Alaska’s nearly constant summer daylight.

Located on Lake Hood—the world’s busiest seaplane base—Alaska Aviation Museum celebrates Alaska’s aviation history. Flight is an important part of state history as it opened the remote state to the world. Through aircraft displays and exhibits, Alaska Aviation Museum tells the stories of Alaska’s aviation pioneers.