Although Alaska is on many US travelers’ bucket lists, often it is not at the top. Maybe it should be.
What came as a surprise to me on a recent visit is that in spite of the 49th state’s vast size (it’s over twice the size of Texas), much of what Alaska has to offer tourists can be experienced in a relatively short amount of time. Based in Anchorage, value luxury adventure seekers will have plenty of options no matter what their idea of adventure is.
Spend the Day Experiencing the City of Anchorage
Early in your trip, I suggest starting your morning with a drive up to Flattop Mountain and Chugach State Park. Located just east of urban Anchorage, Flattop (pictured above) is the most climbed mountain in Alaska and features Anchorage’s most iconic views. One of the best view points is handicap accessible and within easy reach of the parking lot at Glen Alps. On very clear days you may be able to see Denali, North America’s tallest mountain.
There are two main hiking trails at Flattop, one easy and the other more strenuous. In summer months you will likely encounter families picking berries and maybe even a moose! For those traveling without a rental car, Flattop Mountain Shuttle offers roundtrip service from downtown Anchorage for $22 per person.
Bike-riding enthusiasts of all levels will not want to miss taking a spin on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The 11-mile trail wends its way from the center of town, through Earthquake Park and several other parks, forests, residential neighborhoods, and past the airport. Ending at Kincaid Park, mountain bikers may want to continue from there on one of several mountain bike trails, while the more leisurely cyclist can easily turn around at any time. Another easy but more urban bike trail is the 2.6 mile Ship Creek Trail, which passes by bridges over waters where you can stop to see if salmon are running, depending on the season and a local fish hatchery.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Anchorage is indeed home to many parks, and one of the things if returning to Anchorage, I would look into more ahead of time. When you happen to be strolling around downtown, be sure to stop by Resolution Park. Named after one of Captain Cook’s ships, Resolution Park features a a statue of the 18th century explorer at its center and will give you Anchorage’s best sea level views over Cook Inlet. After wondering what mountains we were looking at earlier in the day at Flattop, my husband and I were very pleased to find a handy sign here that identified each mountain seen in the far distance.
Alaska is only 55 miles east of Russia. And Alaska has more than ten thousand glaciers – of which, one is larger than the state of Rhode Island.
Exploring Outside of Anchorage
Depending on the amount of time you are in town, you will want to plan at least one day trip. Check back on Friday here at STE for photos of my hands-down favorite, where you will either drive or take the Alaskan Railway to Seward, located south of Anchorage, and then board a glacier cruise to experience Kenai Fjords National Park.
By far the best and safest way to experience some of Alaska’s more adventurous excursions is on a guided tour with a reputable outfitter. Mica Guides offers glacier trekking, ice climbing and zip-lining at Matanuska Glacier. That the drive north to Matanuska is incredibly scenic once you get a little north of town, is an added bonus.
For those interested in getting a close look at some of Alaska’s diverse wildlife, consider an animal-focused tour either on your own, or with a guide. 907 Guides has several options, including a tour that visits Ititarod Headquarters. In addition to learning about this annual dog-sled race which is such an important part of local Alaskan culture, visitors have a chance to be pulled on a wheeled cart by Ititarod dogs in training even if there isn’t snow on the ground.
Our tour with 907 Guides also included a visit to Reindeer Farm and Musk Ox Farm (above), both near Palmer in the Matanuska Valley. Depending on your preference, both of these stops could be visited easily on your own. Musk Oxen, Artic mammals dating from the Ice Age, are adorable creatures that resemble miniature wooly mammoths. In spite of the name, the species is actually more closely related to sheep and goats than oxen. Through a non-profit foundation promoting sustainable agricultural practices, the Musk Ox has been domesticated for wool production.
The most popular mode of transport in Alaska? Private plane. Alaska has one pilot for every 58 residents.
Where to Eat and Stay in Anchorage
The Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage is a great accommodation option for several reasons that will appeal to many seekers of an Alaskan adventure, value luxury style. Located between the airport and downtown, from the time our plane landed to hotel front door via the hotel shuttle, our journey was less than 30 minutes: a pleasant surprise after a long travel day. Given our late arrival time and long, busy days enjoying 9pm night sunsets, we were also impressed by the food from the hotel’s full service restaurant that was available until after 10pm. The relaxed atmosphere and accommodating service the brand is known for were all present as well. Even those with a rental car will appreciate additional complimentary shuttle service to downtown. You might also want to check out other Anchorage hotels popular with STE readers, such as the Embassy Suites.
With fine dining, popular microbreweries, and foodie finds, Anchorage has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Located on at the corner of W. 4th Avenue and L Street, Snow City Cafe is a breakfast, lunch and brunch spot favored by locals and tourists. Serving up menu items such as Kodiak Eggs Benedict complete with Alaskan king crab cakes, cold meat loaf sandwiches, veggie and chevre paninis and daily soup specials, this sunny restaurant is definitely worth visiting hungry. However with a lengthy beverage menu that includes espresso concoctions, beer, wine and even their own champagne cocktail, don’t miss out! Another downtown hotspot where you will find thirsty and hungry people of both the tourist and local variety is Glacier Brewhouse located at 737 W. 5th Avenue.
Every seafaring town needs a local seafood dive with great eats and prices, and Mamma O’s, found south of downtown at 2636 Spenard Road, fills the role divinely. Don’t let Mamma O’s claim to have “the best butt in town” put you off either – they’re referring to their Halibut! Deep fried or grilled halibut, salmon and cod, all probably swimming until a couple of hours ago, served with rice and salad are the house specialties. Attesting to both value and food quality, several local families were dining around us when we were there, enjoying seafood and hamburgers and noodle bowls too.
If a bit of a splurge is in order, Marx Brothers Café is a top choice for sophisticated food preparation, presentation and top notch and friendly service. Local seafood is heavily featured on the menu, which is designed daily by the chef , but non-fans will find plenty on the menu to choose from as well, such as Kobe beef or pan-seared pheasant. This intimate, 14-table spot, located right downtown on W. 3rd Avenue, is also highly regarded for its wine list and pairings.