5 days in Anchorage

Day by day

1. Day 1: Anchorage Museum and Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

   Anchorage Museum, Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and Ship Creek salmon run, then Northern lights viewing in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Anchorage Museum

      Start with the Smithsonian gallery on the second floor; it gives the best background for the rest of an Alaska trip. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

      Rent a bike and ride to Kincaid Park and back; keep at least 25 metres from any moose you meet. (2–4 hours by bike, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Wild salmon

      Seafood restaurants downtown and in Girdwood; smoked salmon from local fish shops.

   4. Afternoon

      Ship Creek salmon run

      Visit in late June or July for king salmon or August for silvers; wear boots if you go near the muddy banks. (30 minutes–1 hour, free).

   5. Evening

      Northern lights viewing

      Check the aurora and cloud forecasts, wait until late evening, and dress for temperatures well below freezing.

2. Day 2: Alaska Native Heritage Center and Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm

   Alaska Native Heritage Center, Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm and Flattop Mountain, then Downtown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alaska Native Heritage Center

      Time your visit for a dance or Native games demonstration, and talk with the hosts at each village site. (2–3 hours, mid-priced).

   2. Late morning

      Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm

      Check bore tide timing tables and watch from Beluga Point; never walk on the mudflats, where glacial silt can trap people as the tide rises. (Half a day, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Halibut

      Casual seafood restaurants and food trucks across the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Flattop Mountain

      Go on a clear evening in summer for long light, wear sturdy shoes, and carry bear spray as on any Chugach trail. (2–3 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Downtown

      Hotel bars, brewpubs and a few cocktail lounges within walking distance of the main hotels.

3. Day 3: Earthquake Park and Lake Hood Seaplane Base and Alaska Aviation Museum

   Earthquake Park, Lake Hood Seaplane Base and Alaska Aviation Museum and Alaska Zoo, then Spenard in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Earthquake Park

      Combine it with a Coastal Trail bike ride; on clear days the park has a good view of Denali. (45 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Lake Hood Seaplane Base and Alaska Aviation Museum

      Watch takeoffs from the lakeside road on a summer evening, or book a flightseeing trip to see glaciers from the air. (1–2 hours, low cost).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: King crab

      Seafood restaurants downtown; prices vary with the season and catch.

   4. Afternoon

      Alaska Zoo

      It is a reliable way for children to see moose and bears up close if wildlife does not appear on the road. (2 hours, mid-priced).

   5. Evening

      Spenard

      Long-running roadhouse-style bars, live music and local breweries along Spenard Road.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Girdwood and Alyeska

   About 45 minutes by car each way. Getting there: Car on the Seward Highway, or Alaska Railroad in summer.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Girdwood and Alyeska

      About 45 minutes by car (Car on the Seward Highway, or Alaska Railroad in summer); about 65 km.

   2. Day

      Girdwood and Alyeska

      A mountain valley with Alyeska Resort's aerial tram to a ridge-top viewpoint over hanging glaciers and Turnagain Arm, the Winner Creek Trail's hand tram over a gorge, and skiing in winter. Best for couples, families and luxury.

   3. Evening

      Back in Anchorage

      Dinner: try Reindeer sausage.

5. Day 5: Kincaid Park and Potter Marsh

   Kincaid Park, Potter Marsh and Eagle River Nature Center, then Midtown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Kincaid Park

      Walk out to the bluff by the chalet at sunset for views across the inlet. (1–3 hours, free).

   2. Late morning

      Potter Marsh

      Stop here on the way to Turnagain Arm, ideally in the morning or evening when birds are most active. (30–45 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Reindeer sausage

      Street carts on 4th Avenue in summer and breakfast menus all over town.

   4. Afternoon

      Eagle River Nature Center

      Walk the Rodak Nature Trail to the salmon-viewing deck in late summer, and keep alert for bears near the river. (2 hours, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Midtown

      Brewery taprooms and sports bars spread around the commercial district.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Downtown keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Midtown ($$) suits budget, families and shopping. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–33 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 5.5 hours in December to 19.3 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Anchorage
• 2 days in Anchorage
• 3 days in Anchorage

Questions travellers ask