Arguably the largest neighborhood in Anchorage, South Anchorage encompasses a wide range of experiences, from shopping centers to trailheads and wildlife areas.
South Anchorage is one of the best stops for shopping. Many national retailers have stores in the neighborhood; if you are looking for your favorite brand, odds are you’ll find it here. However, don’t be fooled by unassuming architecture; plenty of great places are tucked away. Midnight Sun Brewing Company, for example, serves up suds next to more industrial neighbors in southeast Anchorage.
South Anchorage stretches to the city’s southern extremes and east into the bordering Chugach State Park, so the neighborhood is a must for wildlife and outdoor adventures.
Huffman Road connects visitors with the Alaska Zoo. The zoo is home to more than 70 arctic and sub-arctic animals. Alaska wild residents include moose, wolverine, black, brown and polar bears, musk oxen and wolves. The zoo has animals from similar climates as well, including Bactrian camels and Amur tigers.
Further along Huffman Road, the Glen Alps trailhead is one of the most popular spots for hiking, biking, and backcountry cross-country skiing. Even from the parking lot, the views are fantastic, and one of Alaska’s most popular hikes, Flattop, provides even more stunning views of the city below.
Potter Marsh, at the extreme southern end of the neighborhood, is part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. From the boardwalks of the marsh, visitors can watch three salmon species return and hundreds of bird species as well as moose, muskrats and beavers.
South Anchorage’s watery wonders draw plenty of humans, too. H2Oasis is the state’s only indoor water park. Jump in the wave pool, zip along slides or down the water coaster, blast away with water cannons or relax and float the lazy river.
In any season, the neighborhood is a great pick for outdoor fun. The Anchorage Golf Course provides duffers with 18 holes, not to mention more wildlife viewing chances. Alpine skiers and snowboarders can check out 30 acres of groomed terrain at Hilltop Ski Area.
