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For many Alaska-bound travelers, Anchorage is just a pause — often overlooked on the way to Denali or before boarding a cruise. But here’s the thing: Anchorage is worth more than a glance.

With mountain views, fresh seafood, Native culture and nearly 22 hours of daylight in summer, this scenic, laid-back city offers a welcome contrast to more rugged parts of the state. It’s the perfect place to ease into — or wind down — an Alaskan adventure.

Why Anchorage Works for a Short Stay

Whether you’re beginning your journey or wrapping it up, Anchorage makes logistical and experiential sense. Here’s why:

  • Alaska’s largest city, yet compact and walkable
  • Nestled between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet
  • Convenient to the airport, train station and cruise transfers
  • Excellent hotels, memorable meals and direct access to nature
  • A rewarding add-on for travelers looking to extend their itinerary

Looking for more planning tips? Visit Anchorage is a helpful resource for maps, events and custom itineraries.

A cityscape with tall, tan-colored buildings with Alaskan Totem poles in front
Colorful Totems outside Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage (Photo by Jack Bonney)

Where To Stay in Anchorage

Anchorage accommodations range from historic charm to sleek design. Here are three downtown standouts:

Hotel Captain Cook

Locally owned luxury with rich teak interiors and maritime art.

  • 546 rooms with views of the Chugach Mountains or Cook Inlet
  • Five restaurants, including the Crow’s Nest, a AAA Four-Diamond spot with a 10,000-bottle wine cellar
  • Full-service spa, athletic club, boutique shops and private art collection
  • Member of Historic Hotels of America

Hilton Anchorage

Anchorage’s largest hotel centrally located and currently undergoing renovations. Walkable to key downtown sites.

Wildbirch Hotel

A stylish boutique newcomer with modern alpine design, firepit decks and curated local art.

A red trolley parked in front of a natural area
Exploring Anchorage during a trolley stop at Earthquake Park (Photo by Sharon Kurtz)

How To Explore Anchorage in 48 Hours

Whether you’re here briefly or bridging travel days, these highlights offer a mix of culture, scenery and local character.

Start With the Trolley Tour

The one-hour narrated Anchorage Trolley Tour offers a fun, low-effort way to get your bearings while hearing quirky stories and local history. Ideal for first timers.

Explore the Anchorage Museum

This sleek downtown museum weaves together art, science and Indigenous history. Don’t miss the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center—an immersive experience of Native Alaskan life.

An angled building with a sparkling pond in the foreground
Calm reflections frame the beauty of the Alaska Native Heritage Center (Photo by Sharon Kurtz)

Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center

Located just outside downtown, this cultural hub features traditional dances, artisan demonstrations and replica village sites representing Alaska’s diverse Indigenous cultures.

Bike the Coastal Trail

Rent an e-bike and cruise the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Eleven miles of ocean views, birch forest and moose sightings — doable in just a few hours.

Browse the Anchorage Market & Festival

If you’re in town on a summer weekend, don’t miss this open-air market filled with local artists, reindeer dogs, live music and Alaska-made souvenirs.

A bowl of creamy seafood chowder and a brown bottle of beer
Creamy seafood chowder, a Glacier Brewhouse favorite (Photo by Sharon Kurtz)

Where To Eat (and Drink)

Anchorage’s culinary scene mixes Alaskan flavor with casual charm. Here are some favorite spots:

  • Moose’s Tooth: Creative pizzas and craft beer in a lively setting
  • Glacier Brewhouse: Pub fare made with Alaskan ingredients, craft beer
  • Orso: Upscale Italian-inspired menu with seasonal seafood
  • Snow City Café: Beloved breakfast spot (arrive early, it’s popular)
  • 49th State Brewing: Rooftop views, hearty local fare and house-brewed beer
  • Wild Scoops: Alaskan small-batch ice cream with flavors like wild berry and spruce tip
  • Anchorage Food Carts: Great food right on the sidewalk, from Reindeer sausage carts to popular food trucks.
A group of 10 people walking on a glacier in Alaska
People traverse the sprawling Matanuska Glacier under a clear sky (Photo by Sharon Kurtz)

Easy Day Trips From Anchorage

Anchorage is a convenient base for day trips that showcase Alaska’s wild beauty. In just a few hours, you can reach glaciers, wildlife centers, alpine towns and historic mining sites.

  • Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (48 miles south | ~1 hour): Drive along Turnagain Arm to this nonprofit refuge, where bears, moose and bison roam safely in spacious natural habitats.
  • Matanuska Glacier Walk (100 miles northeast | ~2 hours): Walk across one of Alaska’s only road-accessible glaciers with a guided tour. It’s beginner-friendly and visually unforgettable.
  • Girdwood & Alyeska Tram (40 miles southeast | ~45 minutes): Ride the aerial tram for mountaintop views, browse local art galleries or enjoy lunch with a panorama. Pair with a visit to the Wildlife Center nearby.
  • Portage Glacier Cruise (55 miles southeast | ~90 minutes): Cruise across Portage Lake to the face of the glacier. Great for families and those interested in interpretive nature narration.
  • Hatcher Pass & Independence Mine (60 miles north | ~90 minutes): A scenic mountain drive leads to this restored gold rush-era mining site, surrounded by wildflowers and hiking trails in the Talkeetna Mountains.
A red and white seaplane sits on the edge of the water
Floatplanes take off and land nonstop at Lake Hood Seaplane Base (Photo by Sharon Kurtz)

Midnight Sun Tips

In summer, Anchorage sees up to 22 hours of daylight. Help your clients adjust with a few smart suggestions:

  • Pack a sleep mask
  • Embrace late sunsets with evening hikes or al fresco dining
  • Most hotels have blackout curtains — but binder clips help keep them shut

Our time in Anchorage turned out to be a welcome surprise. It offered the perfect pause between cruise and inland travel — a chance to slow down, savor local culture and experience a different side of Alaska.


Sharon Kurtz

Author image

Sharon Kurtz is a freelance travel writer and award-winning photographer based in Austin, Texas. She crafts compelling stories that celebrate the unique cultures, traditions, and flavors of destinations around the world.  

An assignment to uncover the history of chocolate in Oaxaca, Mexico, deepened her passion for travel’s rich narratives. Since then, Sharon has explored 58 countries across six continents, capturing the essence of each place through vivid writing and photography.  Whether navigating vibrant local markets, trekking remote mountain trails, or savoring regional dishes, she seeks the moments that resonate with readers and ignite their wanderlust.

When not traveling, she’s home in Austin with her husband and two spoiled dogs—but her carry-on is always ready for the next adventure.  


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