Anchorage - Things to do in and around town -

One Hundred Fifty+ (150+) Things to Do In and Around Anchorage (Summer)
(Subject to weather)

1. Beluga whale watching from Beluga point
2. Hiking any of the trails in town or in the mountains
3. Attend a Nature Center lecture/demonstration in Eagle River
4. Flight-see the area by helicopter or fixed wing aircraft
5. Fly an ultralight aircraft
6. Visit Native Heritage Museum
7. Enjoy a terrific meal and view of the sea port at the Crow's nest
8. Birdwatching at Potters Marsh, West Chester Lagoon, and elsewhere
9. Pan for (REAL) gold
10. Shop for unique gifts or fresh farm vegetables at Saturday Market
11. Hunt moose (with a camera) at Kincaid Park
12. Fly-in fish by floatplane from Lake Hood
13. Watch for bears
14. Pick wild berries
15. Play golf on one of the areas twelve public golf courses
16. Play miniature golf with the family at one of Anchorage's three miniature golf courses
17. Drive a dog mushing team (Yes, even in summer!)
18. Paddle a canoe or kayak
19. Visit the sod roofed visitors center in downtown anchorage
20. Shop in one of the eight shopping malls in Anchorage
21. Experience a simulated earthquake
22. Visit the earthquake display at earthquake park
23. Tour historic homes in Anchorage
24. Get up close to native animals at the Wildlife Park
25. Visit the Anchorage Zoo to see native species and several not native to Alaska
26. Have a party at a nightclub
27. Dance the night away at a local lounge
28. Take the kids to the imaginarium
29. Show the kids the only chocolate waterfall in Alaska
30. Tour the Performing Arts Theatre
31. Sing, or play with a musically inclined group
32. Enjoy a picnic or barbeque in the woods
33. Visit the State Trooper Museum
34. Listen to the sounds of wolves, loons and other Alaskan critters at the Wolfsong store
35. Visit the diorama animal exhibits at Ft. Richardson or Elmendorf Air Force Base
36. Watch the sun set over Cook Inlet while sitting atop Woronzof Point
37. Check out the History and Art Museum
38. Investigate educational opportunities at one of the two local Universities
39. See the historical Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetary
40. Play baseball in Delany Park
41. Play tennis
42. Go swimming, indoor pool or outdoors
43. Go exploring at the Locomotive Playground
44. Learn about Alaska bush pilots and aviation at the Aviation Museum
45. Relax in the cool woods at the Botanical Garden
46. Travel the Seward highway just south of Beluga Point to see the Dall sheep
47. Watch beavers building their home at Campbell Creek
48. Visit the Elmendorf state fish hatchery
49. Take in a scenic drive and visit the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer
50. Envy eagles as they soar overhead
51. Ride the horse drawn carriage downtown
52. Ride the Anchorage trolley
53. Discover the Athabascan Spirit Houses at the Eklutna Cemetary on your way to Eklutna Lake
54. Camp in the cool woods, and listen for bears rummaging around at night
55. Get wet on a rafting trip in Girdwood
56. Climb Mt. Alyeska by tramway for a spectacular view of Cook Inlet
57. Attend a cultural festival with Irish traditions
58. Climb Flat Top mountain or Near Point to see what's on the other side
59. Bounce around on the back of a horse on a trail ride
60. Play bingo
61. Visit the Matanuska, Knik, Eklutna, Portage, or Exit glaciers
62. Go fishing in local streams or lakes
63. Roller blading on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
64. Bike riding one of the numerous bike trails, city or mountain
65. Drive a jet ski
66. Prolong your life by visiting one of the health clubs
67. Rent a "hog" (Harley motorcycle)
68. Drive your own hotel around by renting a recreational vehicle
69. Meet new people and share experiences at a Bed & Breakfast
70. Take a tour by airboat
71. Visit a native Alaska village
72. Watch a large screen Imax show
73. Buy a natural fur to keep you warm next winter
74. Discover Alaskan treasures at a souvenier shop
75. Watch a presentation of the northern lights
76. "Shoot" wildlife with a photo camera
77. Get closer to your maker at a local church or synagogue
78. Explore new vistas with friends aboard a bus tour
79. Watch the salmon runs as they swim upstream at Ship Creek or Campbell Creek
80. Float above the Anchorage Bowl in a hot air balloon gondola
81. Read your way through one of the many bookstores in Anchorage
82. Find out where you are, or where you are going by visiting the USGS mapstore
83. Expand your cultural awareness by visiting the new Alaska Native Hospital
84. Watch the midnight sun descend from on top Flat Top Mountain
85. Fly a kite - One you bought ready-to-fly, or one you made yourself
86. Rent an airplane and fly yourself around the area
87. Paint a nature scene
88. Smell the flowers found all over town
89. Go snipe hunting at Cook Inlet
90. Participate in Alaska craft work projects using leather, beads, fur, or other materials
91. Go ice skating at one of the seven ice skating rinks in Anchorage
92. Acquire lifesaving knowledge by attending a wilderness survival course
93. Intimidate your taste buds by dining on fresh shushi
94. Drown in the mudflats (Definitely NOT recommended, but could happen if you are dangerously careless)
95. Look for constellations and count the stars (There are more of them in Alaska, you know)
96. Visit the earthquake museum exhibits
97. Attend group events at Kincaid Park
98. Visit aviation conference at the Fedex hanger
99. Bend your neck at the Elmendorf air show
100. Watch floatplanes takeoff and land at the worlds largest seaplane base
101. Fly a paraglider
102. Climb the new airport tower at Merrill Field
103. Practice your marksmanship at an indoor firing range
104. Visit the firehouse and safety store
105. Blow along on the water in a sailboat
106. Fatten up at the State Fair in Palmer
107. Marvel at the rainbow over the snow capped mountains
108. Walk a dog
109. Make plaster casts of wild animal footprints in the woods
110. Make a list of all the Alaskan wildlife you see on a day trip
111. Watch a bore tide roll in near Bird Creek
112. Watch commercial aircraft land and take off directly over your head at Woronzoff Point
113. Collect native rock and mineral specimens
114. Collect feathers, beads, fabrics, and other materials to make colorful native clothing
115. Attend classes to learn to speak a native Alaskan language
116. Create your own walking cane from natural willow
117. Compete with friends to see who can smash the most mosquitoes in one hour
118. Introduce yourself to five sourdough Alaskans and ask them what they like best about Alaska
119. Set up and run an orienteering course
120. Tie fishing flies and test them on the real thing
121. Collect rock specimens to keep your luggage from blowing away
122. Rent a cabin to add a real wilderness experience to your visit
123. Scare yourself by reading one of the many books on Alaska bear tales
124. Practice knot tying skills that you will use in camp
125. Build and fly model rockets or airplanes
126. Discover what a moose nugget, oosik and billikin are, and what they have to do with Alaska
127. Sample eskimo candy
128. Investigate educational opportunities at one of the two local universities
129. Skip stones on the water at a local beach
130. Discover why the "thousands of miles between the United States and Russia" as described by our Secretary of State only looks like two miles
131. Make a souvenir whistle from native woods
132. Make a native drum from natural Alaskan materials
133. Watch for a sun dog display in the sky
134. Sound off with Karaoke
135. Laugh with friends and relatives at a dinner/variety show
136. Count snakes in Russian Jack Springs Park
137. Run in the 5K Challenge
138. Listen to music in the park, an on-the-grass concert
139. Watch a baseball game played by the Glacier Pilots
140. Get a taste of Scotland at the Scottish Highland Games
141. Canine aficionados may want to sit and beg at the Alaska Kennel Club Dog Show
142. Hunters and competitive shooters won't want to miss the Summer Gun Show
143. Attend the Hispanic Summer Festival at Delaney Park
144. Watch for bees at the Garden Club Flower Show
145. Discover the latest in recreational vehicles at the Annual Winter Recreation/Travel Show
146. See the reindeer and take a trail ride at the Reindeer Farm in Palmer
147. Gaze at Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in the United States (when the sky is clear)
148. Chill out by SCUBA diving in sub-arctic waters
149. Watch for signs of new volcanic activity west and south of Anchorage
150. Toss a frisbee along the ridge uplifts in Cook Inlet
151. Savor the taste of Alaska home brewed beers
152. Climb a rock wall at the rock gym
153. Practice shooting at clay birds at the trap shoot range
154. Meditate and contemplate under a spruce tree
155. Get sweaty by playing vollyball or badminton in one of the nearby parks
156. Pitch horseshoes
157. Cool off with a good book near one of our waterfalls

Day trips from Anchorage

1. Whale watching via boat cruise
2. Charter a salt water fishing trip
3. Visit Denali National Park (Actually, allow two days minimum)
4. Visit the Sea Life Center in Seward
5. Cruise the Alaska Marine Highway
6. Ride train to Whittier or Seward
7. Watch glaciers calving while relaxing on a catamaran
8. Visit the oil spill exhibit
9. Dig razor clams
10. Ride the sightseeing boat at Portage Glacier
11. Get your feet wet on a tidal pool walk at low tide
12. Run the Mt. Marathon climb in Seward
13. Stop, look and listen to the birds at the Homer Shorebird Festival
14. Pick up specimens of sea coal at low tide in Homer
15. Flight-see Mt. McKinley in a vintage aircraft

Fun Things to Do In and Around Anchorage in the WINTER

1. Aurora viewing - When and where it happens - Chena Hot Springs is supposed to be extraordinarily good for this. Unpredictable
2. Avalanche viewing (Do you really want to be there?)
3. Curling On outdoor iced lake
4. Craft authentic native dress/costume -
5. Dog Sledding
6. Watch Dog sled racing
7. Dog events- Classic Iditarod, Yukon Quest
8. Fire in fireplace
9. Flying - Private aircraft or charter
10. Fly ski plane
11. Fly models - Rockets, aircraft, balloons
12. Fur Rondi
13. Heliskiing
14. Hot air balloon
15. Hunting
16. Ice carving/sculpture
17. Ice climbing
18. Ice fishing - Dress very warmly!
19. Ice Hockey
20. Ice sailing - Big Lake
21. Ice Skating - Outside or Indoors
22. Moose watching -
23. Musk Ox Farm -
24. Skiing - cross country
25. Skiing - downhill:
26. Sledding, tobaggoning, tubing
27. Sleigh ride
28. Snow boarding -
29. Snow Cat Tours
30. Snow carving - Making figures, castle (like sand castle)
31. Snow ice cream -
32. Snowmobiling
33. Snowmobile Classic Iron Dog Race
34. Snow shoeing
35. Theatre presentations
36. Winter Festival - Fur Ronde
37. Winter hiking - Wear cleats for safety
38. Winter photography
39. Miscellaneous -
    • Build snow angels
    • snow men
    • Build an igloo
    • Build snow fort - Snowball fight - (Avoid ice in snowball)
    • Build snow/winter survival shelter - for practice or training

NOTE: In addition to the activities listed Anchorage has all of the usual amenities for every day life necessities including modern health care facilities, banks, post offices (airport post office is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), libraries, barbershops, malls, grocery stores, dry cleaning and laundromat, e-mail and fax services, and shipping services by Fedex, UPS, Air Courier, or DHL.

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