As the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage is a great place to visit for access to wilderness, cultural sites, and incredible nature. Read below for our guide detailing where to stay, what to do, and where to dine while visiting.
Where to Stay
Hotel Captain Cook
Built by Walter J. Hickel, a former governor of Alaska, Hotel Captain Cook was the first-ever hotel in Anchorage. With views of the neighboring Cook Inlet and the Chugach Mountains, the hotel’s 546 rooms and suites have spectacular views.
Highliner Hotel
With a location in the heart of Anchorage, the 16-room Highliner Hotel is centrally located. While onsite, you can take advantage of nearby glaciers and wildlife or head on a tour to see the northern lights.
Where to Eat
Whisky & Ramen
This three-level, Japanese Izakaya-style restaurant and whiskey bar is one of Anchorage’s most popular reservations. The creative menu, innovative cocktails, and wide whiskey selection make it a spot that shouldn’t be missed during your visit to Anchorage.
ORSO
If you’re looking for a lovely date night spot, ORSO is the place to go. The upscale Italian restaurant serves up dishes with an Alaska flair, including its tasty seafood mac and cheese.
Spenard Roadhouse
Beloved for its bar stocked with small-batch bourbons and house-infused vodkas, Spenard Roadhouse serves up delicious casual fare options. Here, you can satisfy your cravings with everything from pizza to burgers. Those who love bacon will be excited to learn the restaurant serves a different type of bacon every month.
Where to Drink
Williwaw Social
Serving up Alaskan-themed drinks, this bar is a fun spot to find during your time in Anchorage.
Where to Visit
Learn about Alaska’s history
Alaska has a rich history, and there’s no better way to take it all in than with a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center or the Anchorage Museum. Both offer an assortment of carefully curated exhibits that reveal how Alaska and the city of Anchorage were developed into what it is today.
Go hiking and witness Alaska’s breadth of wildlife
The wildlife and nature are some of the top reasons to visit Anchorage, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Chugach State Park are the best spots to take it all in. Anchorage is best known for its trails, wildlife, and glaciers, and these locations will give you a firsthand opportunity to see the beauty of Alaska.
Visit Spenard, Anchorage’s trendiest neighborhood
With an assortment of delicious restaurants, a high concentration of microbreweries, and a few incredible trails, Spenard is a must-visit neighborhood in Anchorage. While in the neighborhood, check out the Lanie Fleischer Chester Creek Trail and the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. It’s also worth visiting the north end of Spenard Road, which is the home to the Bear Tooth Theatrepub.
Try Flightseeing
For views of untouched, remote nature, you’ll want to try flightseeing. The tours depart from Anchorage all year and provide extraordinary views of mountains, glaciers, and lakes as you glide up high via plane or helicopter.
Glaciers via Dog Sledding
While winter tends to be the peak season for dog sledding on fresh snow, in the summer, the dogs have the opportunity to train on glaciers at higher elevations. Take a helicopter flightseeing trip, land on a glacier, and go dog sledding for an epic Alaska experience.
See the Northern Lights
From late August to April, Anchorage, Alaska, is a fantastic place to view the northern lights. The city hosts an assortment of tours.
In partnership with Visit Anchorage
