10 Things to do Around Anchorage, Alaska
It’s a big and fabulous ask to invite friends and family up to your Alaskan wedding.
For some folks, it might be a once-in-a-lifetime adventure!
As a lifelong Alaskan, with stints in the mid-west and West-coast, I have some favorite places I want you to be able to share with your guests.
Here are 10 things that your guests will love to do, in and around Anchorage:
1) Walk the Coastal Trail. Start at Westchester Lagoon and walk north or south along the coast. Stunning views of the water, the Anchorage, and surrounding mountains will WOW everyone. You can also rent bikes near the downtown Coastal Trail access point and ride all the way to Kincaid park if you have some extra ambitions folks. If you want to start walking from Kincaid Park, you can easily access Kincaid Beach. A 2-ish mile walk down the main paved Coastal Trail will bring you to a marked trail leading to the left (south) and down to the beach. This is a magical place and you feel like you’re in the middle of the wilderness. Plus on a sunny day, it’s a warm and sunny treat!
2) Visit Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop. The best bakery in Anchorage with locations downtown, on the south side of town, and in my cozy and cute Airport Heights neighborhood. Grab a coffee and a croissant, a delectable cupcake, or a crusty loaf of bread!
3) Visit Whittier. If you have a car, please take a trip to this funky seaside town south of Anchorage. There you can get amazing vistas of Prince William Sound and its quaint harbor, grab a fish and chips, hike up to Portage Pass and it’s quite the adventure to get there - you get to drive through a mountain! The tunnel allows cars through every 30 minutes. In all, it’s the quickest way to get to the “real ocean”.
4) Hike Bird Ridge. This is for the fit individual who wants to get up high quickly! Located along the scenic stretch of highway along Turnagain Arm.
5) Visit the Peter Bronz Pottery studio. This cozy and quaint studio is also located along the Seward Highway in Bird Creek. My favorite keepsake when I travel is a locally crafted ceramic mug. Peter has a lovely studio. You can walk in and view his work and purchase products on the honor system (it’s not staffed).
6) Visit the Eagle River Nature Center. Located 40 minutes north of Anchorage, this nature center is nestled at the very end of Eagle River Road. It has stunning views of towering peaks, a rushing river, and gorgeous trees.
7) If you’re in and around Eagle River after the nature center, hop on over to Odd Man Rush Brewing and Pizza Man. Pizza Man is a classic establishment that has been around for 30 years.
8) Visit a brewery or grab a cider. The brewery scene has exploded in the last few years, here in Anchorage. There are so many options. But here are a few of my favorites: King Street Brewery, Anchorage Brewing, Cynosure Brewing, Onsite Brewing, and Double Shovel Cider Company.
9) Grab an Ice cream at The Motley Moo or Wild Scoops. Motley Moo is by far the true ice cream artisan. Delightfully creamy and all your classic favorite flavors. Wild Scoops has all sorts of exciting and wild flavors. Although the quality doesn’t measure up with Motley Moo, their adventurous flavors will delight everyone!
10) Enjoy a coffee at Black Cup. As a coffee lover, my first task when visiting a new town is finding the best coffee. I’ve done the hard lifting for you! Hands down, this place thas THE BEST COFFEE.
Well, there you have it. I hope this gets your guests out around town a bit and enjoying some truly awesome places in Anchorage.