Being the state’s most populated city, Anchorage is home to Alaska’s largest airport, Ted Stevens International. Even still, it isn’t really known for being a tourist destination. Most travelers are often passing through on their way to one of Alaska’s eight national parks or smaller, coastal towns. While I don’t blame you for wanting to rush off and explore the beautiful but rugged nature of the last frontier, try to plan for at least one day of sampling all that Anchorage does have to offer. Without further ado, here are the top five things you should do in Anchorage, Alaska for a perfect one-day itinerary!
Thunderbird Falls Trail
After getting a morning coffee from one of Anchorage’s many drive-through stands, head slightly north of the city to the Thunderbirds Falls Trail. Located within Chugach State Park, this relatively easy out-and-back trail is just under two miles. There are two paths; one that leads you down to the riverbed, and another that lets you admire the falls from above on a viewing deck. The fork happens late in the trail and it’s very easy to do one and then the other. The path by the river does get extremely muddy. While it was cool to get this photo of myself sitting and looking at the falls, it was quite slick and I ended up slipping from this spot into the shallow, but extremely cold, river below. So a word to the wise: while I’ve seen other people online successfully take this photo op, I would advise against it. Learn from my mistakes! Even without the photo op, the riverbed trail is worth your time as it allows you to fully admire the 200-foot falls. If you’re parking in the Thunderbird Falls Trail lot, you’ll need to buy a pass for approximately $5.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is by far our top suggestion for your next trip to Anchorage, being our personal favorite part of our time in the city. There is no better way to learn about the 11 major cultural groups that make up the state than from members of those groups themselves. Indoors, you can explore the Hall of Cultures to read about the different communities as well as view artifacts and purchase Alaska Native art. The Theater and The Gathering Place both have daily programming where you can view films or watch live dancing, game demonstrations, or listen to stories. We were in The Gathering Place during one of the dancing performances and it was truly captivating.
Our favorite part of our visit was taking a guided tour of The Village. This tour taught us about the different types of structures in traditional Alaskan Native communities from directly within authentic dwellings. It’s a great opportunity for you to learn about farming, fishing, and building practices as well as cultural routines and rituals. There are a plethora of interesting artifacts, including seal fur, whale bones, canoes, totem poles, and fishing traps. Having four totem poles from different cultures explained to us as well as the current whaling practices still used by Alaskan Natives today was of particular interest. While you can walk around via a self-guided tour, the signs simply do not have enough space to contain the extensive knowledge the Culture Bearer provided — nor can you ask the signs questions, which our guide was happy to answer. Seriously, don’t miss the Alaska Native Heritage Center!
Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk
Alaska is known for its glaciers and mountains, but the marshes deserve some love too! South of the city, along Seward Highway, the Potter Marsh Wildlife Viewing Boardwalk offers a quiet space to observe the picturesque wetlands. This half-mile of boardwalk is an easy stop on your way in or out of the city and was practically empty during our visit. While this seemed like the perfect place to spy some smaller critters and birds, informational signs allude that you may also get a chance to spot some larger wildlife. This seems to always be the case in Alaska, even close to urban developments!
Street Art Around Anchorage
One of the most surprising parts of Anchorage was the vast amount of public art. For a city in such a cold state, and therefore potentially less people walking around, I didn’t expect there to be so many murals. Local artists have really made the walls of the city reflect the natural vibrancy and diversity of the state and its people. A photo with any one of these masterpieces makes for a memorable souvenir, but one with the Greetings from Alaska Mural (our title image for this post) is truly iconic. Located at 610 E 5th Ave, this mural is on a side of a building with an empty parking lot in front of it, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled to not miss it. Some of our other favorite works were the Hope Wall Mural (West 7th Avenue and E St) and the Full Spectrum Mural (504 W 5th Ave). History buffs with interest in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race should also check out the Balto statue at 400 W 4th Ave. Also, just a few hundred feet away is a totem pole. No matter which streets you’re exploring in Anchorage, you’re sure to see some awe-inspiring art!
Anchorage Museum
A reprieve from the often unpredictable or downright cantankerous weather of Alaska, The Anchorage Museum has hours worth of displays on art, history, culture, and science for you to explore. The Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska exhibition was engrossing, especially if you visited the Alaska Native Heritage Center prior. Seeing the clothing made from furs and animal intestines was worth the museum visit alone. The Alaska Exhibition was immersive and ranged from histories of the past to modern day. It contained multiple fun and interactive pieces. In The Art of the North galleries, there were too many beautiful pieces to choose a favorite! A temporary exhibition until March 2025, Alaska From Above: The Art of Bradford Washburn is a black-and-white photo gallery of aerial shots of mountains such as Denali from the 1930s to the late ‘70s. Given the date these were taken, they were an amazing feat and are truly breathtaking. For families — or children at heart such as myself — get some hands-on learning and see some live coastal creatures in the Discovery Center. There is also a planetarium which requires additional tickets. We visited on the first Friday of the month when the museum is free from 6-9 p.m.
Honorable Mention — Tent City Taphouse
If you’re looking for somewhere to grab a warm bite near the museum, check out Tent City Taphouse. There are, of course, plenty of brews to choose from around the state, but what sold us here was the gluten-free fish and chips with garlic parmesan fries. You can’t go wrong with fish and chips in Alaska, and for celiac eaters, we know it can be hard to come by!
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