A branch of the Cook Inlet just south of Anchorage, the Turnagain Arm is known for its high tides, incredible marine life spotting opportunities, and unparalleled access to outdoor recreation. A 50-mile (80-kilometer stretch of the Seward Highway hugs the Turnagain Arm from Anchorage to Portage Glacier and is one of the top scenic drives in Alaska.
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 60 miles (96 kilometers) southeast of Anchorage, the Whittier cruise port is the beginning and end point of many Alaskan cruises. The road from Anchorage to Whittier follows the Turnagain Arm of the Gulf of Alaska and is one of the most scenic drives in Alaska. Book extra time in Anchorage before or after your cruise to explore this magnificent coastline.
Located in northeast Anchorage, the Alaska Native Heritage Center celebrates the rich history and culture of Alaska's first people. More than just a museum, the cultural center takes visitors on a journey through Alaskan Native history by way of art, dance performances, films, authentic Indigenous dwellings, and more. Its programming opens up interaction that honors Native people and their traditions first-hand.
On the most popular trails in Alaska, the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail offers a glimpse of wilderness close to the city. Beginning in downtown Anchorage, the trail gently winds along the coast past marshes and forested hills, and is ideal for biking, walking, and wildlife viewing—you may come across a moose, spot a bald eagle overhead, or glimpse a breaching whale.
Relive the historic Alaska Gold Rush with a visit to the Crow Creek Mine. Once one of Alaska’s most prosperous mines, the Crow Creek Mine is one of the most easily accessible and popular gold panning attractions in Alaska. Less than an hour outside of Anchorage, the Crow Creek Mine is the perfect place to explore gold rush history and try your own hand at striking gold.
Just outside downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Zoo provides a safe haven for orphaned, injured, and endangered animals. The zoo features a wide variety of animals native to Alaska including gray wolves, polar bears, Dall sheep, moose, and caribou, as well as more exotic species like alpacas, Amur tigers, Tibetan yaks, and Bactrian camels.
Alaska’s only mountaintop museum, Roundhouse at Alyeska, is dedicated to preserving the history of Girdwood, Alaska. Sitting on an exposed ridge of Mt. Alyeska at 2,260 feet (689 meters above sea level, the museum showcases the development of the Alyeska ski resort and offers 360-degree views of the surrounding mountain ranges, glaciers, and waters of the Turnagain Arm.
Home of four-time Iditarod (long-distance dog sled race champion Martin Buser, Happy Trails Kennels is a training facility, kennel, and sled dog educational attraction in south-central Alaska. With a Happy Trails Kennels tour, you’ll see the inner workings of a sled dog training center, meet dogs that have raced in the Iditarod, and learn about life on this 938-mile (1,509-kilometer quest from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska.
