One-day Itineraries

Portage Glacier is one of Alaska’s most visited attractions. Take a one-hour cruise on the mv Ptarmigan to get face-to-face with the icy-blue glacier. Photo: © Robin Hood, ATMC/ATIA

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The following one-day itineraries are designed to be a guide for travelers planning trips using Anchorage as a base camp, showcasing the variety of things to see and do year-round.

Day Spa Alaska Style

A combination of invigorating activities with high-style pampering and a night on the town.

Start the day with an Alaska adventure, fish Anchorage’s fresh water, lakes and streams (guides and fly fishing classes available) OR rent a bike or Nordic skis and glide along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail to Kincaid Park – home to its own network of unpaved, wooded trails and world-class Nordic ski areas.
Pick up a gourmet coffee and a good book at a locally owned bookstore.
Relax, unwind and get pampered at a local day spa. Therapeutic treatments include massages, body treatments, pedicures, manicures, and facials in the most tranquil and serene atmospheres.
Feast on wild Alaska salmon, king crab and other culinary delights offered on a variety of fine dining menus.
Take in a local performance or theater production, followed by a horse-drawn carriage ride through downtown Anchorage.

Anchorage Local Scene

Get a taste of the local life.

Hop on a Segway for a guided one-hour tour of downtown Anchorage.
Grab a reindeer sausage from a Fourth Avenue hot dog cart and follow the live music for a picnic in the park, or dine on an open deck while basking in the sun and surrounding views.
Hike Flattop Mountain – the most climbed peak in Alaska and within 20 minutes of downtown. Shuttle and guided hikes available.
Enjoy a brew with halibut tacos or a salmon quesadilla at a local microbrew pub.
Check out a hysterical, historically accurate history lesson on Alaska Hullabaloo on 3rd Avenue. Enjoy this musical comedy with spoofs on Sonny and Cher and more, runs June - September.

Seasonal Sampler

Play in the snow and on the greens – all in the same day!

Drive along scenic Turnagain Arm to Girdwood – an All-American Road.
Helicopter to a glacier for guided summer snowmobiling or sled dog ride.
Enjoy lunch at one of Girdwood’s fine cafés or restaurants.
Return to Anchorage for the 2:30 p.m. Alaska Zoo Naturalist Tour.
Enjoy dinner in south Anchorage or at a midtown restaurant.
Tee off at an Anchorage golf course, where play can range from as early as 4:30 a.m. to after midnight.

Cozy Winter Day

The ideal winter itinerary for a day off the slopes

Wake up with sourdough pancakes or stuffed French toast.
Enjoy a horse-drawn sleigh ride through an enchanting forest to a cozy cabin, complete with hot beverages, a dessert or cheese fondue.
Explore Anchorage art galleries and gift shops.
Dine fireside at an Italian restaurant or warm up to Mexican, Greek or European cuisine.
See a Broadway production or live sports action from the sidelines of an Anchorage Aces professional hockey game, club-style boxing match or University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves game.

Alaska Culture Pass

Find insight into Alaska’s amazing past.

Start the day at the Anchorage Museum* with a docent tour of the Alaska Gallery, world-class art, exhibits and the Children’s Gallery.
Lunch at the Marx Brothers Café, located in the Museum Atrium.
Take the courtesy transport to The Ulu Factory for an Ulu Knife demonstration. (year- round)
Shuttle to the Alaska Native Heritage Center* and explore Alaska’s cultural heritage while experiencing the passing of traditions between generations.
Make advanced arrangements to pick up the Grizzly Junction shuttle to the Sourdough Mining Co. restaurant shuttle from downtown for dinner, The Adventures of Dusty Sourdough show and stop by Alaska Wild Berry Products. The shuttle is available to transport guests to their accommodations or directly to the airport.

A special joint-admission ticket can be purchased at *either facility during summer hours.

Ridin’ Rails, Makin’ Waves

Climb aboard the Alaska Railroad at the Anchorage depot for an amazing journey through Alaska wilderness complemented by a variety of outdoors activities.

Travel north or south in comfort through spectacular Alaska wilderness to:

Spencer Glacier for a gentle float tour among the icebergs at Spencer Lake and down the Placer River.
Grandview Valley and the historic “loop district” for incredible views of Trail Glacier, Bartlett Glacier and Spencer Glacier.
Whittier or Seward for a glacier and wildlife cruise through Prince William Sound or the Kenai Fjords National Park.
Talkeetna for a gentle raft trip along a glacial river or wilderness jetboat adventure.
Return to Anchorage either by rail or motorcoach, depending upon the activity.

Take Flight

Aviation has long been a lifeline to rural Alaska ("the bush"), and an unforgettable way to realize the magnificence of the “Last Frontier."

Take a Trolley Tour from the 4th Avenue Theatre for a one-hour tour through Anchorage.
Stop by the Alaska Aviation Museum for a look at Alaska’s fascinating aviation history. See historical Alaska aircraft and rare film footage of Alaska’s pioneer aviators, and explore 20 different vintage aircrafts!
Capture the magnificence of Alaska on a flightseeing tour from Anchorage. Go bear viewing, land on a glacier, find a remote fishing spot, or just soar above Chugach Mountains, Mount McKinley, Prince William Sound, the Harding Icefield, and other parts of Alaska not accessible by any other means year-round.
Check out the wacky, wild salmon statues decorated by local artists along the Wild Salmon on Parade Walking Tour.
The Hullabaloo on Third Avenue provides family entertainment nightly in the Snow Goose Theater with a hysterical, historically accurate history lesson about everything important that shaped Alaska.

Denali in a Day

Perfect for travelers with a long “to see and do” list.

Climb aboard a twin-engine aircraft in cabin class comfort and make the scenic journey to the Denali National Park and Preserve.
Board the park shuttle for the 63-mile journey to Fish Creek. On a clear day, this eight-hour shuttle bus trip into the park affords outstanding views of Mount McKinley, the Alaska Range and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities.
In the evening, return to Anchorage. The one-day tour includes a flight around Mount McKinley and a deluxe box lunch.

Road Trippin’ South – All-American Road

An unforgettable sightseeing journey along the shores of Turnagain Arm on the nationally recognized, 127-mile Seward Highway, which connects Anchorage to the Kenai Peninsula.

First stop is Potters Marsh. Follow the boardwalk through wetland habitat.
Pull over at Beluga Point Interpretive Site – a lookout for bald eagles, beluga whales, and Dall sheep.
McHugh Creek Recreation Area offers a picnic area, scenic views, and a link to 9.4-mile Turnagain Arm Trail.
Stop at the Indian Valley Mine for an introduction to Alaska’s gold rush history and gold panning.
Turn at the Alyeska Highway to the community of Girdwood, home to picturesque Alyeska Resort – a world-class ski destination, an enclosed aerial tram that climbs up Mount Alyeska to access restaurants, great hiking, mountain biking and many more outdoor activities.
Continue south to Portage Glacier for a one-hour cruise to get up close to the face of an icy-blue glacier.
Step into the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center to learn about glacial and geological history. Ask about naturalist programs, guided and self-guided hikes.
Cross the Seward Highway to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center – a wildlife rehabilitation center and spot for safe wildlife viewing within their natural habitats.

Road Trippin’ North – National Scenic Byway

The natural, untamed wilderness surrounding the Glenn Highway lures sightseers out of their vehicles and into the wild. The Glenn Highway heads north through scenic Matanuska-Susitna Valley towards Denali National Park, and connects to the Alaska Highway.

A popular first stop is Thunderbird Falls. Take the one-mile hike to the waterfall, which freezes each winter to an intense, aqua-blue hue.
Continue north to Eklutna Historical Park and see the St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, built in 1830, along with colorful Native spirit houses. Take the Native Village of Eklutna Athabascan cultural tour.
Cross the highway to Eklutna Lake Recreation Area. The bluish-green lake is fed by Eklutna Glacier and runs parallel to a network of trails. Picnic facilities, kayak and bike rentals are available. Guided ATV adventures to Eklutna Glacier explore the shoreline and surrounding mountains.

Destination Girdwood

Kids of all ages play hard at this mountain resort community situated at sea level

Drive 45 minutes along scenic Turnagain Arm to Girdwood.
Board the *Alyeska Resort Tramway for a climb up to the top of Mount Alyeska with lunch. Thrill-seekers can launch off the mountain for an amazing tandem paraglide or ultra light glider trike.
Adventures on an ATV adventure to the high alpine meadows of Hidden Valley, snowshoe with a naturalist guide through alpine meadows, learn how to rock climb, or experience Alaska's scenic backcountry by snowmobile. There are a variety of Eco and Adventure Tours.
Explore the Crow Creek Gold Mine, an original mining camp dating back to the 1890s (open in the summer only)
Stop and shop the Kobuk Valley Jade Co. and Alaska Candle Factory.
Feast in a funky Girdwood restaurant. Appealing menus feature Mediterranean, New Orleans-style dishes or “fat and lean world” cuisine, famous steaks, Alaska seafood, gourmet burgers, sushi and more. First-class diners can revel in 360-degree views, 2,300 feet above sea level, at the four-diamond, award-winning Seven Glaciers Restaurant.

*Aerial Tram is open at various times spring and fall during shoulder seasons.

Destination Eagle River

Head north to Eagle River for unbelievable views, wildlife, spectacular waterfalls, crystal-clear streams, an assortment of wild berries and much more.

Pack up a picnic lunch and head north to the Eagle River Nature Center for engaging year-round natural history events, kid activities and guided summer nature walks. Snowshoe rentals and Nordic ski trails are available in winter.
Raft Eagle River on a half-day float or whitewater adventure.
Exit the Glenn Highway at Arctic Valley Road: fall for berry picking, summer for a hike to Rendezvous
Peak or winter for alpine skiing at Alpenglow at Arctic Valley.
East Anchorage offers plenty of restaurants with national flair to the neighborhood bar and grills.
End your day with a live local theater performance at Cyrano's Playhouse or live music at a downtown club.

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