Your Jumping-off Point to The Last Frontier: Things to Do in Anchorage, Alaska

Arts & Culture

• Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center: A cultural center and museum where you can learn about Alaska's many different indigenous people through storytelling, performances and exhibits.

• Anchorage museum: Tour current exhibits, learn the history of the city, let kids explore the Discovery zone or check out a show at the planetarium. They also have a great gift shop and cafe for lunch.

Active Pursuits

• Walk, Bike or Ski along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail explore this eleven mile local treasure stretching from downtown to Kincaid park. Along the way you can visit Earthquake park, dedicated to the 1964 earthquake. You may also spot moose along the trail and view Denali, North America's tallest mountain, on a clear day.

• Brewery tour: Tour some of Anchorage's 13 breweries while learning about the robust history of Alaskan brewing.

• Take a hike: Chugach State Park is the backdrop to Anchorage, residents love taking to one of the many trails after work and on weekends. Some of my favorites are Flattop Mountain, Harp Mountain and Mount Baldy

• Visit Eagle River Nature Center: A few minutes outside of Anchorage in the suburb of Eagle River, is Eagle River Nature Center, a collection of easy trails and the start of the original Iditarod Trail.

Crow's Nest: Enjoy fine dining with spectacular 360 degree views at this penthouse establishment.

Moose's Tooth Pizzeria: Local brewery serving up classic and creative pizzas.

Bubbly Mermaid: Charming, tiny dive with a boat bow bar serving champagne and oysters.

Simon & Seafort's: Classic seafood with great inlet views and an even better happy hour.

Whiskey and Ramen: Authentic ramen house with an impressive Japanese whiskey list.

Crush Wine Bistro & Cellar: Inventive takes on classic dishes, served in shareable portions with excellent wine pairings.

El Green-Go's: Mexican food truck convenient to downtown and the Coastal Trail.

Queen of Sheba: Excellent Ethiopian food in an unassuming strip mall.

Ray's Place: Family owned Vietnamese food in the trendy Spenard district

Wild scoops: Unique ice cream flavors sourcing Alaskan add ins and all natural ingredients

49th State Brewing: Delicious appetizers and house made beers enjoyed on the best outdoor patio in town

• Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center: An animal sanctuary that takes in orphaned and injured Alaskan animals, giving them a comfortable life in spacious enclosures. The proceeds go to caring for the animals, conservation of habitat, education and research.

• Hatcher Pass & Independence Mine: Explore the gold filled hills of Hatcher Pass and try your hand at gold panning.

• Whittier glacier cruise or jet ski adventure: Depending on your desired level of adventure, this is a great way to get up close to many glaciers and Alaskan sea life.
  Pro Tip: if you're here in May or June you will see lots of baby sea otters with their mamas! So cute!

• Knik Glacier ATV tour: Take a scenic ride through a glacial valley to the toe of Knik Glacier.

• Matanuska Glacier Tour.

• Denali Sightseeing tour out of Talkeetna: Travel in the footsteps of those hoping to summit North America's tallest mountain and hop on a flightseeing tour with glacier landing on Denali.

• Dogsledding Tour: Meet your team of genuine Alaska huskies and learn to mush from five time Iditarod champion, Dallas Seavey, on a 10km run.

• Take to the hills on an exciting snow machine tour in the Chugach mountains with Glacier City Tours.