Tourist Attractions in Anchorage, Alaska

Heritage Center Market & Festival Conservation Center Wild Salmon 49th Reel Coastal Trail Mat-Su Valley

There is much to see and do in Anchorage for visitors of all ages. Outdoor attractions in Alaska include Chugach State Park, Turnagain Arm and skiing at Alyeska.

Alaska is also known for its cultural tourist attractions such as the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum. Puffin Inn is conveniently located a short distance from many Anchorage attractions.

Alaska Native Heritage Center. The Alaska Native Heritage Center offers in-depth information on the native people of Alaska. Displays, exhibits, performances, workshops and tours offer insight into the archeological and legendary history of Alaska, and serve to preserve and celebrate Native Alaska’s heritage, cultures, language and traditions. The Center is located in Anchorage. Visit www.alaskanative.net.

The Alaska Zoo. The Alaska Zoo in Anchorage is home to approximately 100 arctic and sub-arctic birds and mammals such as bald eagles, tundra swans, polar bears, wolves and river otters. The zoo is open daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visit www.alaskazoo.org.

Anchorage Museum. The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska. Exhibits and programs celebrate the arts, history and culture of Alaska and the circumpolar north. The museum’s collection includes art, artifacts and other historical material and documents from Alaska, northern Canada, Siberia and Greenland. Visit www.anchoragemuseum.org.  [Top]

Anchorage Market & Festival. The Anchorage Market & Festival is a lively summer weekend marketplace featuring over 400 vendors selling locally grown produce, arts and crafts, jewelry, furs and more. Live entertainment includes street performers, bands and musicians. The market is located in downtown Anchorage off West Third Avenue, between C and E Streets. Visit www.anchoragemarkets.com.

Alaska Center for the Performing Arts (ACPA). The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Anchorage plays host to over 600 events and performances each year, ranging from Broadway productions, lectures and concerts to elegant banquets and weddings. ACPA features four performance areas and large lobbies to accommodate groups of almost any size. Visit www.alaskapac.org.

H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark. H2Oasis Indoor Waterpark in Anchorage in the fifth largest waterpark in the United States. The park features exciting water slides, a wave pool that generate 3- to 4-foot waves, white water kayak lessons and a video game arcade. Visit www.h2oasiswaterpark.com.  [Top]

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center provides refuge for orphaned or injured wildlife, cares for animals that cannot survive in nature, and serves to educate visitors on Alaska’s diverse wildlife. At the Center, visitors can safely observe such animals as bears, moose, caribou, elk, bison and birds of prey. The Center is located at the entrance to Portage Valley and is open daily. Visit www.alaskawildlife.org.

Eagle River Nature Center. Located within Chugach State Park, the Eagle River Nature Center provides year-round recreational and educational opportunities for visitors. Interpretive programs for children and adults, guided nature walks, nine miles of hiking trails and overnight camping in a rustic cabin and yurts are available through the nature center. Visit www.ernc.org.

Alaska Aces. Cheer for the ECHL hockey team, the Alaska Aces, at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage. This AA hockey team offers action-packed games that are sure to please crowds of any age. Visit www.alaskaaces.com.  [Top]

Wild Salmon on Parade. The streets of downtown Anchorage teem with the wildest fish run of the season when dozens of originally crafted salmon decorate the city’s parks, retail centers and sidewalks each summer. View the entire school of Wild Salmon on Parade on a self-guided tour. The giant salmon statues are later auctioned to raise funds for local organizations. Visit www.wildsalmononparade.com.

Iditarod. Also known as the Last Great Race on Earth, the annual Iditarod is a 10 - 17 day race that attracts competitors and their dogs from around the world. Each self-sufficient team of 12 - 16 dogs and a musher must cover 1,150 miles of rugged Alaskan terrain before crossing the finish line. The race starts in Anchorage and passes through many Alaskan towns and villages. Visit www.iditarod.com.

Alyeska Resort. Alyseka Resort is among the top-rated ski and snowboard resorts in North America. The resort offers 2,500 vertical feet of terrain spread over 1,400 acres with wide open bowls and top-to-bottom runs for all levels of skies and snowboarders. The resort also offers tubing, terrain parks, and ski and snowboard lessons, including an adaptive program. Mt. Alyeska is open from mid-November to mid-April and on weekends through Memorial Day, weather and conditions permitting. Visit www.alyeskaresort.com.  [Top]

49th Reel. Learn about exciting Anchorage attractions and South Central Alaska wildlife and nature with short videos produced by the Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau. Videos can be watched online or downloaded onto iPods. Visit www.49threel.com/preview4.html.

Turnagain Arm. Turnagain Arm, south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway, is arguably one of the most beautiful stretches of highway in the United States. View Chugach State Park’s 3,000-foot mountains to the left and sprawling flats that stretch for miles and Cook Inlet to the right. Visit www.alaska.org/driving/turnagain-arm-drive.htm for a list of other attractions along Turnagain Arm.

Bird Creek. Bird Creek, located along the Seward Highway, is a popular and scenic spot for angles and other outdoors enthusiasts. Hike Bird Ridge, bike to Girdwood or take advantage of incredible photo opportunities of Turnagain Arm from the Bird Point scenic overlook. Visit www.alaska.com.  [Top]

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Anchorage offers a labyrinth of paved and dirt trails. Among the most popular for walkers, joggers and cyclists is the 11-mile Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The trails winds alongside Cook Inlet and Knick Arm from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park. The mostly flat trail that passes by numerous landmarks is suitable for beginner cyclists and families. Visit www.alaska.com.

Begich, Boggs Visitor Center. Learn about the Chugach National Forest at the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center in Portage Valley. The Chugach is the second largest national forest in the United States. The Visitor Center features natural history exhibits, educational programs and presentations and park information services. Visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/chugach/chugach_pages/bbvc/bbvc.htm.  [Top]

Mat-Su Valley. Visit Mat-Su Valley for the ultimate outdoor adventure getaway. Hiking, kayaking, backcountry trekking, “flightseeing” tours, skiing, fishing and wildlife observation await visitors of all ages. The region also offers interesting museums and historical landmarks reminiscent of the Last Frontier’s Gold Rush era. Visit www.alaskavisit.com/.

Anchorage Fishing. Fish for King and Coho salmon, Dolly Varden, trout, pike and whitefish, among others, in Anchorage-area streams and lakes. Seward, Homer, Kenai and the Mat-Su Valley are popular fishing destinations within a short drive from Anchorage. Numerous Anchorage guides and outfitters can help anglers plan the perfect excursion whether for an afternoon or multiple days. Visit http://www.outdoorsdirectory.com/areas/fishing/southcentral/anchorage_fishing.htm.

Anchorage Hiking. Anchorage offers a variety of hiking options for all ability levels. An extensive network of paved and dirt trails are located throughout the city. Local favorites include Flattop Mountain, Kincaid Park, Thunderbird Falls Trail and Turnagain Arm Trail. Visit http://www.visitanchorage.net/651.cfm.  [Top]