Things to do in Anchorage
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Anchorage: Wilderness, Wildlife & Portage Glacier Day TripYou’ll leave Anchorage behind for a day trip into Alaska’s wildest corners—watch brown bears at the conservation center, glide past Portage Glacier (cruise optional), and walk through alpine meadows with your local guide sharing stories along the way. Expect laughter, quiet moments by icy water, and that feeling of being small beneath endless sky.
Anchorage Trolley: 1-Hour City Tour & Seaplane ViewsYou board a narrated trolley for a 15-mile loop through Anchorage's defining sites: seaplanes at Lake Hood and Lake Spenard, the 1964 earthquake's visible scars at Earthquake Park, the historic Railroad Depot, and Captain Cook Monument overlooking Cook Inlet. A local guide narrates throughout, and you get a coupon book for 40+ nearby businesses. The whole tour runs one hour.Is it for me?Book this if you have an hour in Anchorage and want to understand the city's layout and history without arranging separate transportation or planning multiple stops—the trolley does the routing and the guide does the explaining.
Anchorage Trolley Tour: Earthquake Park, Lake Hood & Ship CreekAnchorage Trolley's Deluxe City Tour is a guided trolley ride covering 20 miles of the city in 1.5 to 2 hours, with stops where you step off to explore Earthquake Park, Lake Hood, Ship Creek, and Point Woronzof. Your guide shares stories of Alaska's history tied to each landmark—the 1964 earthquake that reshaped the terrain, the floatplanes that take off and land on the water, the salmon runs anglers work, and the panoramic views that frame the city. The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle and a coupon booklet worth around $200 in local savings.Is it for me?You get a guided overview of Anchorage's history and landmarks without arranging your own transport or timing—the trolley's fixed route and live guide handle the navigation and storytelling, so you sit back and absorb the city at a comfortable pace.
Anchorage: City Tour with Salmon Tasting & Reindeer SausageYou’ll taste wild smoked salmon and reindeer sausage, watch float planes land on Lake Hood, sample chocolates at Alaska Wild Berry Products, and hear real Anchorage stories from your local guide. Expect laughter, unexpected flavors, and maybe even a moose sighting—plus all the little moments that make Alaska feel close.
Anchorage wildlife and glaciers tour: Bears and mooseThis half-day tour from Anchorage combines wildlife viewing at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with glacier sightseeing in Portage Valley, led by a professional guide. The itinerary includes a one-hour visit to the sanctuary, stops at Beluga Point and three named glaciers, and a walk through rainforest; pickup is downtown across from the Hilton. Winter weather may alter the Portage Valley portion, and the full route involves roughly 40 minutes of walking.Is it for me?You've just landed in Anchorage or have a free half-day and want to see Alaska's most famous animals and glaciers without renting a car or buying separate tickets—the guide handles the route and timing, the entry fee is built in, and you're back downtown by early afternoon.
Anchorage: Matanuska Glacier Hike & Ice Walk from DowntownYou get picked up from your hotel, driven two hours to Matanuska Glacier with mountain views along the way, then spend two hours hiking across the ice with guides, spikes, and helmets provided. Lunch at a glacier-view lodge is included in the price, and you're back in Anchorage by late afternoon. The only thing not covered is the actual meal itself — you buy that at the lodge.Is it for me?A good fit if you want to walk on actual glacier ice without arranging your own transport or equipment — the pickup, the spikes, the helmets and the guides are all handled. Plan for a full day out and a moderate hike on uneven terrain; that's what makes two hours on the ice possible.
Willow Alaska: Dog Sledding with Iditarod Huskies & Denali ViewsYou’ll meet real Iditarod huskies in Willow, Alaska and help harness your own team before gliding through snowy trails with Denali peeking out ahead. Warm up after your dog sled ride with hot drinks and snacks in a cozy cabin — there’s something about those moments that just sticks with you.
Anchorage: Knik Glacier Helicopter Tour & 3 LandingsYou fly 30 minutes up the Knik River Valley, then land three times across the glacier system: once on alpine terrain for the full view, once at a 100-foot ice wall where calving happens, and once on the glacier itself where you can walk and explore for 30 minutes. The whole tour takes 2 hours and includes the helicopter flight, all fees, and a guided glacier hike. Wildlife sightings (moose, bears, sheep) are possible but not guaranteed.Is it for me?Book this if you want to land on a glacier and explore it on foot without spending a full day arranging logistics — the 2-hour format fits a single morning or afternoon, and the three separate landings give you real time on the ice rather than a quick pass overhead.
Glacier View Wildlife Tour Anchorage: Bears & GlaciersThis 7-hour guided tour from Anchorage combines wildlife viewing at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center with glacier scenery and scenic driving along Turnagain Arm, one of the most dramatic routes in the United States. Hotel pickup is included, and the guide provides binoculars, snacks and water throughout the day. A seasonal walk to Byron Glacier (late May through September) lets you step onto snow and see the glacier's runoff up close.Is it for me?The tour leaves from your Anchorage hotel, so it works whether you are renting a car or not — the guide drives the scenic route, handles the timing at each stop, and knows where the wildlife shows up. If you are staying in the city without a vehicle, this is how you see bears, glaciers and Turnagain Arm in a single day.
Alaska Glacier Day Tours: Portage Glacier Cruise & WildlifeYou get picked up from your Anchorage hotel, driven down one of America's top scenic highways with stops along Turnagain Arm, then cruise to within 300 yards of Portage Glacier with a Park Service ranger on board. After that, you walk through the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see bears, moose, and wolves in a refuge setting. A shuttle returns you to your hotel by evening, with photo stops included on the way back.Is it for me?A good fit if you want the main Anchorage glacier and wildlife sights in one day without renting a car or planning the logistics yourself—the fixed schedule and included transport are what make fitting the glacier cruise, the scenic drive, and the wildlife center into a single outing possible. Plan for a full day out from morning to early evening.
Willow, Alaska: Summer Dog Sledding & Iditarod Training TrailsYou ride a two-person cart pulled by a trained dog team across private Iditarod training trails near Willow for 1–2 miles, then meet the dogs in an open yard, tour the kennel, and walk to a pavilion overlooking Denali for a hands-on look at winter racing gear and sleds. Snacks and rain gear are provided, and the whole experience is built around questions — there's no script, just a family operation that knows their dogs and their trails.Is it for me?Book this if you want to experience sled dogs in their working environment without the winter travel logistics — the family operation handles everything, and the two-person cart keeps the experience intimate and real.
Turnagain Arm: Wildlife Center, Glaciers & Girdwood LunchYou’ll travel from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm with a local guide, stopping first at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see bears, moose, and more up close. Glaciers fill your view as you explore Portage Valley before sitting down for lunch in Girdwood’s rainforest setting. Expect animal encounters, glacier air, and small surprises you’ll remember long after.
Portage Glacier Cruise: Glaciers & Wildlife Day Tour from AnchorageThis 8-hour small-group tour from Anchorage combines a one-hour cruise to Portage Glacier with wildlife viewing at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and a scenic overlook in Chugach State Park. A local guide narrates throughout, hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and the tour provides water and snacks on board. Lunch is available for purchase at the Portage Glacier lodge.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want to see both glaciers and Alaskan wildlife in one day without arranging your own transport or timing — the guide handles the route and the stops, and the van picks you up at your hotel. The small-group size keeps the experience intimate and the guide able to answer questions as they come.
eBike ride on Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, AnchorageA two-hour eBike ride on Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail with a local guide, bottled water and pedal-assist bikes that let you cover distance without exhaustion. You ride along Cook Inlet with the Alaska Range as backdrop, watching for local wildlife and migrating birds heading to summer breeding grounds. Minimum age is 12; moderate fitness is expected, and the ride operates in all weather.Is it for me?The ride starts from a central Anchorage location with public transportation nearby, so you don't need a rental car or a ride arranged—book, show up, and ride. The pedal-assist bike means you cover the full Tony Knowles Coastal Trail without the exhaustion of a regular bike, so the two hours stay enjoyable instead of punishing.
Anchorage City Tour: Chocolate Factory & Lake Hood FloatplanesYou'll watch floatplanes at Lake Hood, stand in Earthquake Park where the 1964 quake dropped the land twenty feet, sample smoked salmon and reindeer sausage at a sixty-year-old shop, and taste free chocolate from the world's largest chocolate waterfall. A local guide handles all the stops and timing across 3.5 hours, with bottled water included.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see what makes Anchorage different—floatplanes, earthquake geology, and real local food—without arranging transport or timing between stops yourself. The fixed 3.5-hour schedule fits the whole experience into one morning or afternoon.
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail Bike Tour: Anchorage Moose DenaliA guided bike ride along Anchorage's Tony Knowles Coastal Trail starting at Kincaid Park, with a local guide, high-quality bike, helmet and rain jacket. You'll pass through wooded hills, watch for moose and Denali views, stop at Earthquake Park to learn about the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, and finish at Westchester Lagoon where salmon spawn seasonally. Small groups of up to eight, three hours total, suitable for all fitness levels from age ten.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided bike ride on the coastal trail with a local narrator—the small group means real conversation, and the van pickup from downtown saves you from figuring out how to reach the trailhead yourself.
Anchorage: Helicopter & Glacier Dogsledding with HuskiesYou fly by helicopter to a remote glacier camp, meet sled dogs trained by Iditarod champions, drive a dogsled team across the snow, and return by air—all in 90 minutes with a professional musher and photographer time included. Gear and transport from the airport are covered; you just need to show up 30 minutes early.Is it for me?Book this if you want a genuine Alaska experience that combines aviation and dog mushing without arranging transport or logistics yourself—the fixed 90-minute format and included gear mean you show up and the rest is handled.
Anchorage: Downtown Food & History Walking Tour with TastingsYou walk downtown Anchorage for three hours with a local guide, stopping at six small businesses for tastings of regional favorites — everything from sweet treats to savory bites. All food, drinks and tips are included, and each stop gives you time to sit and absorb the neighborhood instead of rushing between spots. The guide shares local stories and history as you move, and you finish at a restaurant a few blocks from where you started.Is it for me?Book this if you want to taste your way through Anchorage without arranging your own restaurant stops or managing separate bills — the fixed route and included tastings let you focus on the neighborhood and the stories instead of logistics.
Matanuska Glacier Guided Hike: Full Day from AnchorageYou get picked up in downtown Anchorage and driven two hours through mountain scenery to Matanuska Glacier, the largest glacier you can reach by car in the US. After a lunch stop in Palmer, you're fitted with crampons and walk directly onto the glacier for several hours with a knowledgeable guide, exploring ice formations and learning the glacier's natural history. Transport, equipment, water, and snacks are included; you're back in Anchorage by evening.Is it for me?Right for travelers based in or visiting Anchorage who want to walk on a real glacier without needing mountaineering skills or a separate car rental. The full day—including four hours of driving—is what makes reaching the glacier and spending real time on the ice possible in one outing.
Anchorage Food & Sightseeing Tour: Lake Hood & Earthquake ParkThis 4.5-hour Anchorage food and sightseeing tour pairs tastings from the city's restaurants and cafes with stops at Lake Hood, Earthquake Park, and Point Woronzof. A certified local guide shares Alaska's history and survival stories while you move between food stops in an air-conditioned van. All food, drinks, and server gratuities are included.Is it for me?This is a shared group tour led by a guide, so the pace and stops are set — you're not choosing the route or the restaurants. It works best for travelers who want to taste Anchorage's food scene without researching restaurants themselves, and who are curious about the city's history and Alaska's role in it. If you prefer to pick your own food stops or need a private vehicle, a different tour would suit you better.
