Anchorage: City Tour, Lake Hood & Chocolate Factory Tasting

Summary

Anchorage culture, float planes at Lake Hood, local flavors and crafts

You’ll ride through Anchorage with a local who knows every corner—watch float planes on Lake Hood, taste smoked salmon and reindeer sausage, marvel at a real chocolate waterfall (with samples), and stand where the earth shifted at Earthquake Park. Expect laughter, stories from locals, unexpected textures and flavors—and maybe even spot a moose if you’re lucky.

What’s the experience like?

“If you see a moose before I do, you get bragging rights,” our driver joked as we pulled away from downtown Anchorage. I liked him right away — he had that dry Alaskan humor and seemed to know every street by heart. The city felt bigger than I expected, but in a friendly way. First stop was this shop where they make Ulu knives. The metal smelled sharp and clean, and the woman behind the counter showed me how to rock the blade — she said her grandmother still uses one for salmon. I tried it (not well), and she smiled without saying anything. There was something comforting about watching people work with their hands.

We rolled past a creek right in the middle of town — apparently salmon swim up here in summer, though today it was just quiet water and a couple of hopeful anglers. At Earthquake Park, our guide pointed to where the ground dropped twenty feet during the 1964 quake. It’s strange to stand where the earth once moved like waves; you sort of feel it under your shoes if you let yourself imagine. The air smelled like wet grass and pine needles. Someone asked about statehood and he pointed out the Eisenhower monument — “Alaska’s only been a state since ’59,” he said, which still feels recent somehow.

Lake Hood was next — honestly, I’d never seen so many float planes in my life. They were lined up all around the lake, some bobbing gently on the water. One took off while we watched, its engine rattling through the air until it disappeared into cloud. There’s something old-fashioned about it all; made me wish I could fly one just once.

The food stops were more fun than I expected: smoked salmon (sweet-salty-smoky), reindeer sausage (surprisingly good), and then this chocolate factory with an actual chocolate waterfall inside — yes, really! The smell hit me before I saw it: warm sugar and cocoa everywhere. Free samples too; I may have gone back for seconds when nobody was looking. Oh, there’s a polar bear at the door (stuffed) that startled me into laughing out loud.

The last shop had mammoth tusks and walrus ivory carvings — not stuff you see every day. Our guide knew half the artists by name; he told stories about each piece like they were old friends. By the end of this Anchorage city tour I felt like I’d seen more than just sights — little pieces of people’s lives stitched together across town. Still think about that moment at Earthquake Park sometimes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Anchorage city tour and tastings

• See downtown Salmon creek
• View Eisenhower statehood monument
• Explore Earthquake Park
• Visit Lake Hood float plane harbor
• Watch Ulu knife craftsmen
• Sample smoked salmon and reindeer sausage
• Enjoy chocolate factory and samples
• Shop Alaskan native gifts and fossils

Top questions

How long is the Anchorage city tour?

The tour lasts approximately 3.5 hours including round-trip driving time.

Is hotel pickup included in this Anchorage city tour?

The tour includes pickup arrangements; check with your provider for exact details.

Do you get to try local foods on this tour?

Yes—smoked salmon, reindeer sausage samplings, and handcrafted chocolates are included.

What is special about Lake Hood?

Lake Hood is the busiest float plane harbor in the world with over a thousand planes around or on the lake.

Can children join this tour?

Yes—the tour is suitable for all ages including infants (who must sit on an adult's lap) and strollers are allowed.

Is there wheelchair access?

Please inform ahead if bringing a wheelchair or walker; accessibility can be accommodated as noted by provider.

What will I see at Earthquake Park?

You’ll see where land dropped 20 feet during Alaska’s 1964 earthquake—rolling hills formed by moving soil waves.

Are there shopping opportunities on this city tour?

Yes—shops feature Ulu knives, mammoth tusks, walrus ivory jewelry, jams from Alaskan berries, fudge, and more crafted items.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup with an experienced local guide who shares stories along every stop; bottled water is provided throughout; food tastings include smoked salmon, reindeer sausage, and chocolate samples; plus entry to unique shops featuring Alaskan crafts before returning to your starting point in Anchorage.