The forget me not is Anchorage’s state flower and forget you won’t once you’ve visited. Described as urban, but wild, Anchorage is an excellent base for adventure, cultural immersion and some of Alaska’s greatest food and drink. Here’s why Anchorage should be on your bucket list.
Arts
For those who enjoy the arts, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what Anchorage has to offer. First stop – the tourist information centre to pick up a city map and directions for a self-guided mural walk. There are 22 murals found throughout the downtown area, all designed by local artists that tell stories about Anchorage’s history and culture. On the music front, musicians arrive in droves during the summer months to perform at food truck events, festivals and weekend markets.
Adventure
No matter the season, Anchorage is likened to the Adventure Capital of Alaska. Discovering glaciers are an absolute must while you’re visiting, and with 600 found within a 2-hour radius of Anchorage, it won’t be hard to find one. Once you’ve ticked (at least) one off, you can then tackle rafting, fishing, mountain biking, polar plunges and ice skating (in winter, of course).
Despite its first impressions, dogsledding is a year-round sport in Alaska. However, the pinnacle event is the Iditarod. This is held each year in the first weekend of March, a great race from Anchorage to Gnome. Even though it’s winter, Anchorage comes alive with competitors and viewers. Don’t miss out on visiting the athletic huskies and their mushers before the race!
Culture
The first people of Alaska – the Alaska Natives, or Inuits – have been living off the land since the 1800’s, giving this state a fascinating history to discover. There are even some Alaska Natives who still live traditionally in the far north, preserving a precious way of life.
Anchorage features the largest cultural centre in Alaska, the Alaska Native Heritage Centre. From local performances and strength- or agility-based games to walking through a village site and seeing traditional homes are built, you can easily spend half a day here. We also recommend the Anchorage Museum which showcases how young the city is as it was only crowned the 49th state once the USA bought it from Russia.
Food and drink
Anchorage has a wide variety of food and drink options. Food-wise, you’ll find an abundance of fresh, local seafood (namely salmon and halibut), root vegetables and ice cream. Did you know that Alaska eats more ice cream per capita than any other US state? If you’re in need of a refreshment, choose from a cosy coffee shop, a rooftop bar with views of Denali, or one of the 18 breweries that uses glacial water to produce their craft beer.
Wildlife
With over 1,500 moose found within the city limits, there is a high probability that you’ll spot one of these majestic animals roaming around. Slightly further out, there are several places to continue your wildlife adventures. Mid-May to mid-September is the time of year that really shows off – from watching bears catch salmon, sea lions lounging on sunny rocks, whales breaching in the water, and flocks of birds migrating to their winter nesting grounds.
Anchorage is calling, and it’s time you answered! Visit this epic city on a Globus or Cosmos tour of Alaska.
