Stand at the railing in Resolution Park on a clear evening and the whole geography of Anchorage explains itself: the bronze Captain Cook gazing west across Cook Inlet, the water opening toward the Turnagain Arm, and the Chugach foothills rising behind the downtown blocks. It is a small park, easy to pass without noticing, and it rewards anyone who stops.
Anchorage suits travellers who want a city as a base rather than as the whole trip. The museums and downtown sights fill a day or two comfortably, and the surrounding state is the reason most people come. This guide covers the sights and experiences within the city and just beyond it, with practical notes on timing and what to pair with what.
Top things to do in Anchorage
1. Anchorage Museum
The largest museum in Alaska, on C Street downtown between 6th and 7th Avenues, tells the story of the North through social, political, cultural, scientific, historic and artistic threads. An extensive exhibit on the first peoples of Alaska anchors the collection, alongside Alaskan history, a Discovery Center for hands-on exploration of northern history and science, and part of a Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center. A 25,000 ft² expansion added gallery space for the museum's art collection and the art of the North.
Allow several hours rather than a quick pass. In summer the museum is open 9AM-6PM daily; in winter it is closed Mondays, so plan around that. A Culture Pass joint ticket covers both the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center, with a free shuttle between downtown and both museums in summer only.
2. Alaska Native Heritage Center
Off the Glenn Highway in northeast Anchorage, this is more than a museum of display cases. The various native Alaskan cultures are represented here, with a large stage for native dance performances and other events. Behind the center, a short trail around the lake leads to several stations showing aspects of life in each native Alaskan culture, staffed by native guides who give short demonstrations and answer questions. Inside, artwork, kayaks and ulu knives are on display, and a small theater runs films.
Summer hours are 9AM-6PM daily; in winter the center opens only on Saturdays. The Culture Pass joint ticket with the Anchorage Museum is the economical choice if you plan to see both, and the summer shuttle links downtown with each.
3. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
South of Anchorage on the Seward Highway, the center provides refuge for orphaned, injured or ill animals. Resident animals include brown bear, black bear, moose, musk ox, caribou, wolves, birds, porcupine, wood bison and elk, with daily animal programs featuring some of the residents. You can drive the loop or walk the grounds at your own pace.
It is a popular stop for tours running between Anchorage and Seward or Whittier, so it works well as a break on a longer drive south rather than as a standalone outing. Hours shift with the season, so check before setting out.
4. Alaska Aviation Museum
On Aircraft Drive at Lake Hood, home to the world's largest seaplane base, this museum features four display hangars and vintage aircraft. The Cecil Higgins Restoration Hangar lets you watch volunteers restore a World War II Curtiss P-40, and the Seybert Tower lets you watch seaplanes from the cockpit while listening to Ted Stevens International radio live from the Lake Hood tower. It is open daily, 10AM-6PM.
The tower view is the part to linger over. Pair the visit with the nearby general aviation activity around Merrill Field if aircraft interest you, and keep an eye on the water for takeoffs and landings while you are there.
5. Alaska Zoo
A small zoo in South Anchorage, about 20 minutes from downtown, with animals native to northern climates: bald eagles, moose, musk oxen, grizzlies and a polar bear. Several animals were rescued from the wild after sustaining life-threatening injuries that would have prevented them surviving on their own. Wednesdays feature zoo storytelling and animal encounters.
In summer a free shuttle runs from downtown at 4th Avenue and F Street to the zoo and back, which saves you the drive. Note that pets, balloons, firearms and any kind of smoking are not permitted on zoo grounds.
6. Resolution Park
A small downtown park on W 3rd Avenue featuring a bronze statue of Captain Cook standing on a wooden deck gazing out on Cook Inlet, which he explored in 1778 aboard HMS Resolution. The park was dedicated in 1978 and named for his ship. The interpretive display, powerful mounted telescope and commanding vantage point make it a rewarding stop.
Come for the view rather than to fill an afternoon. It combines naturally with a downtown walk, and the Alaska Public Lands Information Center is a short distance away if you want ranger advice on the rest of your trip.
7. Oscar Anderson House Museum
On M Street, this house was built in 1915 and is one of the oldest houses in Anchorage and the city's only house museum. Oscar Anderson claimed to have been the 18th person to arrive in the tent city of Ship Creek in early 1915, and was an active Anchorage businessman with interests in meatpacking, coal production, airlines and newspaper publishing. It is open weekdays, 10AM-5PM.
The house gives a domestic scale to the railroad-and-tent-city story you will read about elsewhere downtown, so it works well as a companion to the Anchorage Museum rather than a substitute for it.
8. Alaska Public Lands Information Center
On West 4th Avenue, kitty corner from the log cabin visitor center at 4th Avenue and F Street, this center is staffed by National Park rangers. They also lead a walk through downtown, stopping at some statues and ending with a view of Cook Inlet. Entry is free.
Summer hours are daily 9AM-5PM; in winter it opens Tuesday to Friday. Use it early in your stay to gather information for the rest of your trip, and take the ranger-led walk if the timing suits.
9. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
On West 6th Avenue downtown between G and F Streets, this performance venue opened in 1988 and consists of three theaters. Together with the Dena'ina Center at 7th and F and the Egan Convention Center at 5th and F, these three facilities linked by covered walkways form a civic center in the heart of downtown.
Check what is on during your dates if you want an evening indoors. The covered walkways make the surrounding blocks easy to move between regardless of weather.
10. First Friday Art Walk
On the first Friday of every month, the art galleries downtown stay open late, sometimes hosting opening parties, to encourage art crawls. The tradition was established in Anchorage more than 20 years ago to bring more visibility and visitors to local arts. It generally runs from 5PM to 9PM or so, and in summer more than 1,000 people may take part.
The International Gallery of Contemporary Art on D Street near 5th Avenue, the event's founding venue, and the Anchorage Museum see the largest turnouts. Check the local papers, such as the Anchorage Press or the Anchorage Daily News, to find out what is open. Some venues are free, others may charge.
11. FOAST Law Enforcement Museum
On West 5th Avenue downtown between C and B Streets, this is the state's only collection of historical law enforcement memorabilia from Alaska and beyond. It is open weekdays 10AM-4PM and Saturdays from noon to 4PM, and admission is free.
It is a compact downtown stop, best folded into a day of walking between the museum district and the civic center rather than treated as a destination on its own.
12. Alaska Veterans Museum
On West 4th Avenue downtown, this veteran museum has large exhibits covering World War II and the Cold War, with the oldest material starting with the Civil War. It is open Wednesday to Saturday, 10AM-5PM, and admission is $3.
Its downtown location makes it easy to combine with the other 4th Avenue stops, including the Alaska Public Lands Information Center and the log cabin visitor center nearby.
13. Anchorage Summer Music Concerts
The Anchorage Downtown Partnership hosts three weekly concert series in summer. Music for Little Ones runs Mondays noon-1PM in Peratovich Park at 4th Avenue and E Street, which has WiFi access. Music in the Park runs Wednesdays noon-1PM in the same park. Live After Five runs Thursdays 5:30-7:30PM in Town Square Park at E Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, with food and a beer and wine garden. Music is free.
Check locally for programming, since the series are seasonal. The Thursday event is the one to build an evening around if you are downtown anyway.
14. Wildlife viewing around Anchorage
The Anchorage area is home to moose, brown and black bears, Dall sheep and many migratory bird species. Moose can fairly easily be found by driving any neighbourhood on Anchorage's Hillside, in the foothills of the Chugach mountains. Dall sheep, similar to the bighorn sheep of the American Rockies, can often be spotted by driving down the Seward Highway.
Bears are sometimes spotted in residential areas, but if you hope to see wild bears, plan an excursion to Denali National Park or Katmai National Park rather than counting on a sighting in town.
15. H2Oasis Indoor Water Park
On O'Malley Road, this indoor water park is an option for families, particularly on a wet or cold day when outdoor plans fall through. It sits in the same part of South Anchorage as the Alaska Zoo, so the two can be paired if you have children along.
If you only have one day
Morning. Start at the Anchorage Museum on C Street when it opens, and give the first peoples exhibit and the art galleries proper time. If you are visiting in summer and want the joint ticket, the free shuttle makes it straightforward to continue to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where the lake trail and the native guides are the highlight.
Afternoon. Return downtown and walk to Resolution Park on W 3rd Avenue for the Captain Cook statue and the view over Cook Inlet. From there, work through the 4th Avenue stops at your own pace: the Alaska Public Lands Information Center for ranger advice and the downtown walk, then the Alaska Veterans Museum and the FOAST Law Enforcement Museum if their hours suit. If you have children with you and the weather turns, the Alaska Zoo or H2Oasis Indoor Water Park are both a short drive south.
Evening. If it is a Thursday in summer, finish at Live After Five in Town Square Park for the free music, food and beer and wine garden. On the first Friday of the month, the First Friday Art Walk runs from around 5PM to 9PM, with the International Gallery of Contemporary Art and the Anchorage Museum drawing the largest crowds. Otherwise, check what is on at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the museums?
Summer hours are the most generous: the Anchorage Museum is open 9AM-6PM daily from May through September, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center is open 9AM-6PM daily from early May to late September. In winter both reduce their days, and the Anchorage Museum closes on Mondays.
Can I see both the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center in one trip?
Yes. A Culture Pass joint ticket covers admission to both, and in summer a free shuttle runs from downtown and between the two museums.
Where can I see wildlife without leaving the Anchorage area?
Moose are fairly easy to find by driving neighbourhoods on the Hillside, and Dall sheep can often be spotted by driving down the Seward Highway. For bears, the sources point to excursions to Denali National Park or Katmai National Park rather than expecting a sighting in town.
Do I need a car in Anchorage?
Several downtown sights are within walking distance of each other, and in summer free shuttles run from downtown to the Alaska Zoo and between the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, south on the Seward Highway, is a drive or a tour stop.
Pick your dates, check the seasonal hours for the museums and the summer concert series, and start building the rest of your Alaska trip around a day or two in Anchorage.