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Anchorage Attractions

Anchorage sightseeing presents Alaska visitors a variety of things to see and do year-round. Self-guided walks and local sightseeing tours are a great way to discover Anchorage’s fascinating past.

Log Cabin and Downtown Visitor Information Center
Begin any exploration at the sod-roofed cabin. Friendly, knowledgeable staff can provide brochures, maps and information about anchorage. Open daily, year-round. 4th Ave. & F Street.

Historic City Hall
This two-story building opened in 1936 and once housed all of the city’s municipal services. Today, find a free exhibit of early Anchorage in the lobby. Enjoy Music in the Park each Wed. and Fri. from Noon - 1 p.m., then take a one-hour Historic City Tour that departs Mon.– Fri. at 1 p.m. from June to August. 4th Ave. & E Street.

4th Avenue Theatre
An art deco-style landmark which first opened in 1947. Find original floor-to-ceiling bronze murals inside. Trolley tours and shopping available near the front entrance. (907) 263-2787

Anchorage Museum
Experience the Museum’s extraordinary permanent collection depicting 10,000 years of Alaska history - Native subsistence lifestyles, European exploration, Russian America, and contemporary times. View art of the North. Restaurant and gift shop. Open daily, May to Sept., and Wednesdays – Sundays from October to April. 7th Ave. & A Street. www.anchoragemuseum.org

Alaska Public Lands Information Center
Explore Alaska’s public lands through wildlife and cultural exhibits, interactive videos and trip-planning information. Maps and guides for purchase. Free movies and special programs. 4th Ave. & F Street. www.nps.gov/aplic/center

Ship Creek
Fish for salmon in the shadows of downtown office buildings. From the viewing deck, spot huge kings or silver salmon swimming upstream to spawn. Ship Creek Avenue.

Ship Creek Center
Alaska Native dancers perform free, twice daily, May through June.

Imaginarium: Science Discovery Center
Kids of all ages will enjoy the fun, exploratory exhibits and hands-on experiences at this award-winning science discovery center. www.imaginarium.org

Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Three theaters host many extraordinary world-renowned performances. Lobbies are decorated with Alaskan art, including 23 Native masks. 621 W. 6th Ave., between F & G Streets. Daily showing of Aurora - Rivers of Light - rare aurora photography set to beautiful music, May - September. www.thealaskacollection.com

The Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk
The Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk provides an engaging and outstanding educational experience about our solar system for students, residents and visitors alike. This unique educational and community contribution is a scale model of the solar system based on the speed of light/speed of walking correlation. For more information, visit the interactive kiosk on the corner of 5th and G, in Downtown Anchorage.

Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers
Uncover the story of the officers who brought law and order to the "Last Frontier.” Free Admission. 6th Ave., between C & D streets. (907) 279-5050. www.alaskatroopermuseum.com

Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op
Step inside for a look and feel the unique quality of qiviut (pronounced "kiv-ee-ute"), the soft underwool of the musk ox. The luxurious wool, which is eight times warmer than sheep wool of equal weight, is hand knit into warm garments by Natives in western Alaska. 604 H St. (907) 272-9225. www.qiviut.com

Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
Enjoy spectacular views of mountains and ocean on this popular paved bike, ski and walking trail that traces the coastline 11 miles (17.6 km) to Kincaid Park. Begins at western end of 2nd Ave. Bicycle rentals available from local businesses.

Oscar Anderson House, Elderberry Park
Built in 1915 by Swedish immigrant Oscar Anderson, this is Anchorage’s only house museum, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Open Mon. – Fri. from June to mid-September plus two weekends in December for the annual 1915 Swedish Christmas Celebration. 420 M Street. (907) 274-2336.

The Ulu Factory
Inuit (Eskimo) Natives invented this knife (pronounced "ooloo") centuries ago for every imaginable domestic cutting need. Learn the history, and see how they are being manufactured today. www.theulufactory.com

Russian Orthodox Museum, Inc.
Russian-Alaska history, gift shop, active chapel. (907) 276-7257.

Alaska Museum of Natural History
Fascinating information about prehistoric Alaska, a collection of Alaska fossils and artifacts and educational programs about Alaska's unique geological, cultural, and ecological history. (907) 274-2400

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Beyond Downtown

Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum and Lake Hood Air Harbor
Lake Hood and Lake Spenard form the largest floatplane base in the world with more than 800 takeoffs and landings on a peak summer day. See vintage aircraft and learn about the state’s unique aviation history from special exhibits at the museum located on the south shore. Aircraft Drive. (907) 248-5325

Alaska Botanical Garden
Learn about flora native to Southcentral Alaska while strolling along easy trails that wind through a 110 acre spruce and birch woodland retreat. www.alaskabg.org

Alaska Native Heritage Center
Experience the diverse cultures, languages, and traditions of Alaska’s indigenous peoples. Explore five traditional outdoor village sites, displays, films, performing and demonstrating artists. A free shuttle departs from Heritage Gifts located downtown in the Village at Ship Creek Center. Open daily mid-May to mid-September; Saturdays from mid-September to mid-May. www.alaskanative.net

Alaska Zoo
Find Alaskan animals, including seals, fox, musk ox, moose, and four kinds of bears among the zoo’s many residents – year-round. Gift shop and special programs. 4731 O’Malley Road. www.alaskazoo.org

Alaska Heritage Library Museum
Find displays of Native baskets and artifacts, photos, rare books and paintings. Open Noon – 4p.m. Mon. through Friday year-round. Northern Lights Blvd. and C Street in Wells Fargo Bank lobby. (907) 265-2834.

Alaska Wild Berry Products
Observe the production of jams and candies made with Alaska wild berries, and view the world's largest chocolate waterfall. Get free tours and samples, visit live reindeer and stroll along a nature trail to learn more about the berries used in Wild Berry jams, jellies, and chocolates. See a 30-minute film of Alaska, stop by the Wild Berry Beer & Wine Garden and see the Inuksuk Messenger Man, a 25-foot rock structure. www.alaskawildberryproduct.com

Earthquake Park
The site where huge tracks of land slid into Cook Inlet, destroying 75 homes in the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. Measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, this is the most powerful tremor ever recorded in North America. Interpretive displays feature information on the quake, along with the area’s geology and wildlife. W. Northern Lights, just past Satellite Dr.

Eklutna Historical Park
The park features the Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, a cemetery with colorful spirit houses and displays that explore the fascinating history of the Russian influence on Athabaskan culture. The visitor center has a gift shop and offers guided tours. (907) 688-6026

Elmendorf State Hatchery
See king salmon from late May – July, Coho from August – September. Open year-round. (907) 274-0065

Flattop Mountain
One of the most popular hikes in Alaska, this 1.5-mile, steep trail rewards trekkers with a panoramic view of greater Anchorage. From O’Malley Road follow signs for Chugach State Park from Upper Huffman Road to Glen Alps Road.

Arctic Valley
A popular mountain biking and berry picking area during the summer, and Nordic and alpine skiing during winter. Get spectacular views of Anchorage and beyond from the top. www.skialpenglow.com