Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and the hub for a wide range of activities that suit any interest or ability. Situated as the perfect destination for those looking to capture the essence of life in Alaska, it’s the savvy visitor who spends a few days exploring Anchorage’s history, industry, and culture, utilizing the city as a base camp for all kinds of fun.
Check out these options for Anchorage adventures; whether you have all day or just a few hours.
Have just a few hours to explore? The downtown Anchorage area is rich with opportunities to learn more about Alaska culture and history, starting with the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, located at 625 C Street. Open daily during the summer months, this world-class facility features four floors of unique Alaska-themed art, science, and history, including excellent exhibits about the development of Anchorage over the years. The museum also features the Smithsonian Arctic Studies exhibition, exploring the traditions and ancient ways of Alaska’s Indigenous peoples.
The Anchorage museum pairs well with a trip to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, located just east of downtown at 8800 Heritage Center Drive. Open daily, the center tells the stories of Alaska’s major tribal groups with indoor and outdoor exhibits, including a series of village sites with hands-on activities in each. Don’t have a vehicle? Take the shuttle between the Anchorage Museum and Alaska Native Heritage Center, operating all day and available for booking at www.anhcshuttle.com.
Looking to explore the wider reaches of Anchorage? Greatland Adventures hosts a fantastic private city tour that begins with pick-up at Anchorage hotels. This fully-private Anchorage sightseeing tour travels to several unique destinations in Alaska’s largest city. Visit Earthquake Park and Point Woronzof to see remnants of the 1964 earthquake and ogle at the stunning skyline of Anchorage set in the middle of the Chugach mountains and scenic Cook Inlet. You may even glimpse a moose as you travel through town!
Next, your guide will drive along the shores of Lake Hood, the busiest seaplane base in the world, where you’ll watch bush pilots maneuver to and from their landing slips. From there, transit the Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm to Beluga Point, where you’ll take in majestic views of the mountains while searching for Dall sheep, black bears, and bald eagles along the cliffs, and beluga whales in the silty water of the Arm.
Your journey continues on the way back to town, with a stop at Potter Marsh, part of the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge and home to many migratory bird species during the summer months. Then, the van turns east for a visit to Chugach State Park and the sweeping views of the Anchorage “Bowl” from Glen Alps Trailhead, and Sleeping Lady (also known as Mount Susitna), Denali, and the Alaska Range on clear days.
If you have an entire day to travel beyond the downtown core of Anchorage, there are several destinations within easy driving distance, and we highly recommend the opportunity. Not sure which direction to take? Greatland can help you decide, and manage all the driving as well!
The Matanuska Glacier is located two hours northeast of Anchorage and is Alaska’s most accessible glacier and a popular destination for visitors. With an experienced Greatland Adventures guide, walk on the amazing blue ice of this massive glacier, and capture incredible photos as you explore the area in a small group of no more than six adventurers per group in our Matanuska Glacier Tour. In the summer months, the ice pops among the surrounding green of the Matanuska-Susitna valley; and in the winter, the stark background of snow provides an amazing opportunity to see the blueish hues of the dense, massive glacial formations and caves. Guests receive round-trip transportation, lunch, snacks, and all the safety gear necessary for an incredible Alaska adventure.
The historic village of Talkeetna sits near the base of North America’s highest mountain – Denali, and at the confluence of three rivers: the Talkeetna, Chulitna, and Susitna. Featuring outstanding panoramic views of the Alaska Range from several locations around town, Talkeetna also boasts a wide variety of outdoor activities and a thriving community arts scene, making it one of the most popular destinations for visitors and locals alike.
This flexible, full-day tour provides guests with multiple options for activities, from ziplining to flightseeing and jet boat tours. If you’d like a more relaxed Talkeetna experience, take advantage of ample free time to stroll quaint Main Street, dine at a local eatery, or sample beers and craft cocktails from an award-winning brewer and distillery.
Experience the Seward Highway’s scenic beauty as we travel from Anchorage to Portage Valley on this full-day wildlife tour. In addition to observing Alaska’s iconic animals, activity choices abound for guests, from a tram ride to the top of a mountain to cruising an iceberg-dotted lake or hiking a forested trail.
This interesting tour travels south of Anchorage along the Seward Highway, one of only 13 United States highways featuring the designation of an “All-American Road.” The trip will be filled with chances to stop and savor the scenery and take photos as we drive Turnagain Arm’s winding roadway on the way to Girdwood and Alyeska Resort. Take an optional tram ride to the top of Mount Alyeska for lunch with a stunning view of the glacial valley below, then climb aboard the van for the short drive to Portage, where guests may choose to embark upon a one-hour cruise to hidden Portage Glacier. Icebergs are a large part of the cruise, so keep an eye out for those beautiful bergy bits! After the cruise, visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, a 200-acre facility dedicated to the preservation and protection of our state’s most iconic animals. See moose, bears, wolves, musk ox, and more as you walk or drive the beautiful property, any time of year.
It’s always a great day for hiking through Chugach State Park’s most popular trails, located right in Anchorage’s backyard! This is the ultimate Anchorage day tour for visitors (minimum age five years old) wanting to experience the flora and fauna of Southcentral Alaska from the vantage point of a hiking trail.
Beyond the foothills of Anchorage’s city limits lies the third-largest state park in America – over 500,000 acres of trails, meadows, and forests, and those of us lucky enough to live here feel the influence of Chugach State Park almost daily. This mountainous backdrop to Anchorage reminds us that, although we live in an urban setting, we truly do reside in the middle of a vast wilderness. Your naturalist guide will safely lead you along one of the many trails available in the park, with each day’s hike carefully selected to take advantage of local weather conditions, group ability levels, and group interests. Learn about the rich geologic, natural, and human histories of the park, and have fun identifying local flora and fauna with your expert host.
The phenomenon of aurora borealis is one of the most amazing natural wonders on Earth, and they are often visible between August and April around the greater Anchorage area. The most important aspect of northern lights viewing is finding a spot away from the ambient light of streetlights, buildings, and other industrial areas, so traveling a bit of distance from cities is often recommended. Join us on our Anchorage Northern Lights Tour to view and photograph these spectacular swirling lights!
Our team uses innovative technology to forecast aurora viewing conditions. Each night’s tour location is chosen to maximize your chances to view the lights, with tour locations chosen based on weather forecasts, aurora strength, and driving distance from Anchorage. Our team of experts will get you to the most strategic location possible to witness the northern lights.
Turnagain Arm Winter Scenic Tour
Travel the scenic Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm to Portage Valley. Take a scenic tram to the top of a mountain and view Alaska's iconic animals up close. The choice is yours!
Private Anchorage Sightseeing Tour
Get a perfect introduction to the greater Anchorage area on this 3-hour tour. Stops include Earthquake Park, Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Beluga Point, Potter's Marsh, and Flattop Mountain.
Experience the joys of Alaska's official state sport with real Iditarod sled dogs.
