1. Anchorage Market and Festival - FREE
Held in downtown Anchorage every Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer, this open air market mixes one-of-a-kind arts, crafts and giant Alaska grown vegetables with live music, street performers and a selection of local and international food.
2. Tony Knowles Coastal Trail - FREE
This spectacular and paved, multi-use trail hugs the Anchorage coastline of Cook Inlet from Second Avenue in downtown Anchorage all the way to south Anchorage’s Kincaid Park, located 11 sprawling miles away. Whether walking, running, biking or blading, keep an eye out for dramatic views of Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, six mountain ranges surrounding Anchorage and the beauty of Sleeping Lady mountain across the water, Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof. Wildlife viewing is abundant with many birds, small mammals, beluga whales, moose and even an occasional bear sighting.
3. First Friday Art Walk - FREE
Art enthusiasts can gallery hop and view local Alaska artwork at many of Anchorage’s finest showrooms, coffee shops and eateries the first Friday of each month. This after-five affair is a great way to mingle with locals and meet Anchorage artists. A complete list of participating businesses is found in the free Anchorage Press newspaper.
4. Music in the Park - FREE
Music in the Park is a favorite among both visitors and residents. Local musical acts perform at Peratrovich Park, located right downtown in front of Visit Anchorage headquarters, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at noon throughout the summer.
5. Anchorage Downtown Walking Tour - FREE
Visitors can explore Anchorage by foot and see how it has grown from the tent-lined streets of its early years to a cosmopolitan city complete with unique attractions, shops, galleries and historical treasures.
6. Ghost Tours of Anchorage
This tour skips cheap frights for real-life murder mysteries and tales of spirits dwelling in some of Anchorage most iconic buildings. Guide Rick Goodfellow personally researched each tale included in the 90-minute tour. While the 2.5-mile walking tour may not convince you ghosts exist, you'll certainly never look at Anchorage the same way. Admission $15
7. Salmon Viewing at Ship Creek - FREE
Ship Creek runs through the Port of Anchorage to the ocean waters of Cook Inlet. A favorite local fishing spot set against the backdrop of the Anchorage skyline. Sedge flats and ocean fed waters provide strong salmon runs, as well as a habitat for migratory shore birds. Nearby, watch salmon struggle upstream at the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery, located on the north bank of Ship Creek at the corner of Reeve Boulevard and Post Road.
8. Alyeska Roundhouse Museum - FREE
Located just south of Anchorage, visitors can hike up Mount Alyeska and visit the historic roundhouse museum. Take in the history of the small community of Girdwood and find out why Alyeska is called the perfect mountain. Hikers get a free ride down via the Alyeska Tramway.
9. Alaska Public Lands Building - FREE
Located in downtown Anchorage, the Alaska Public Lands Building is a great information center with wonderful data and maps about Alaska’s national and state parks, as well as museum displays, and informational videos and movies about Alaska.
10. Bird Viewing at Potter Marsh - FREE
Potter Marsh is located in south Anchorage along the scenic Seward Highway, where bird watchers can stroll along a 1,150-foot wooden boardwalk that stretches into the 2,300-acre Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. This is where more than 220 bird species are found. During the late spring and early fall, the wetlands are a great spot for viewing red-necked phalaropes, horned and red-necked grebes, northern pintails, Canada geese, canvasback ducks and northern harriers. And keep an eye out for moose in the marsh.
11. Alaska Trooper Museum - FREE
Visitors can learn all about the history of law enforcement in the Last Frontier at this interesting museum. The museum features a fully restored Hudson Hornet automobile among other memorabilia.
12. Geocaching - FREE
Visitors with a GPS device can pick up a geocaching guide from the Anchorage Log Cabin Visitors Information Center at Fourth Avenue and F Street and go on a high-tech treasure hunt around Anchorage.
13. Disc Golf - FREE
A popular summer activity is a round of disc golf under the endless midnight sun. Anchorage has four scenic courses. Players often see wildlife wandering around the baskets!
14. Oscar Anderson House Museum
Built in 1915, the Oscar Anderson House Museum is an original Anchorage town-site house and one of the first wood structures built in the city. The 45-minute guided tour provides a great explanation of Anchorage's short history and life before statehood. The house contains many of the Anderson family's original belongings, including a working 1909 player piano around which the structure was built. Admission $5.
15. Gold Panning
Nestled in the Chugach Mountains in the Girdwood Valley, historic Crow Creek Mine offers a unique blend of historical buildings, antiques, rare mining equipment, beautiful gardens, wildlife viewing and hiking trails as well as access to explore the mine’s original claims. Visitors can learn to pan for their own gold and give it a try along Crow Creek (extra fees apply). Admission $5
Between Anchorage and Girdwood, Indian Valley Mine offers visitors the opportunity to learn gold panning, browse through some of the oldest structures built on the Turnagain Arm, or just to sit back and take in the panoramic views. Admission $1
16. Flattop Mountain Trail
The most hiked trail in Anchorage, Flattop Mountain is great for hikers of all abilities and offers stunning views of the city and surrounding mountain ranges. Located up the hillside from Anchorage, there is ample parking at the trailhead and a shuttle that runs by request from downtown Anchorage (for an extra cost). Cost for parking $5
17. Anchorage Museum
The Anchorage Museum features exquisite artwork by Alaskans, exceptional historical artifacts and traveling exhibits from around the world. Enjoy the recently completed expansion project; Alaska’s home for the Smithsonian Institution, new galleries, new shop and café and a planetarium. The Anchorage Museum is a favorite of residents and out-of-state visitors. Admission: $15 for adult, $10 for senior/student/military
18. Alaska Botanical Gardens
With more than 1,100 species of hardy perennials, and 150 native plant species, the Alaska Botanical Garden is the place to experience the abundance of the summer sub-arctic growing season and to learn about flora native to Southcentral Alaska. Admission $5.
19. The Bear Tooth TheatrePub
Named after Bear Tooth Peak in the Alaska Range near Mount McKinley, the Bear Tooth TheatrePub is not your ordinary movie house. The concession counter is a full-service kitchen featuring gourmet pizza, burritos, tacos, salads and desserts. Food is made to order and delivered to you in the theatre (with the help of a glow in the dark number), where every other row of seats has been removed and replaced with table tops. The movie house features second-run contemporary, independent, foreign and classic films. Admission - $3
20. Eagle River Nature Center
Traveling north of Anchorage, just 20 minutes from downtown Anchorage is the Eagle River Nature Center, located in a gorgeous glacier-carved valley. The Nature Center is open year round and offers weekly interpretive programs and guided nature walks for summer visitors. Wildlife abounds here including brown and black bears, Dall sheep, moose, lynx, wolverines, eagles and salmon. $5 parking, $1 for self-guided walks; $10/per person for 1.5 hour naturalist guided walk.
Rates are subject to change; please contact the organization directly for the most recent information.
