Anchorage is an exciting place to visit and this summer it’s only getting better with new attractions, activities, and experiences coming to Alaska’s biggest city. Everything from hiking across bridges suspended thousands of feet in the air to learning about local flavors on a food tour. 

Catch a Ride

Discover everything the city has to offer with the help of various shuttles and tours. Anchorage Trolley Tours now offers the new Salmon Express tour, perfect for checking out Alaska’s largest sport fishing hatchery. This narrated tour begins in Downtown Anchorage and travels to the nearby William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery where participants take a self-guided adventure among 100 rearing tanks to learn about the lifestyle of Alaska’s salmon. Available from May 15 to Sept. 1, operating daily from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Experience one of the most picturesque areas in southcentral Alaska and take a shuttle with Lifetime Adventures to Eklutna Lake. The perfect spot to hike numerous trails, kayak a glacier-fed lake, or bike to cover even more ground. Passengers are picked up in front of the Egan Civic & Convention Center at 9 a.m. and return at 3 p.m. If you plan on spending the night at a cabin or campsite, they can arrange to bring you back the following day. Daily rides are available from May 15 – 31, June 1 to Sept. 1, and from Sept. 2 to 30 by appointment only.

Learn about all the animals that call the Great Land home at the Alaska Zoo. You can take advantage of their free shuttle every week on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from May 24 to Sept. 1. They run every hour starting at 8:40 a.m. at the Log Cabin Visitor Center at the corner of 4th Avenue and F Street, with the final shuttle returning downtown at 7:40 p.m. Advance online reservations are required.

Outdoor Adventure 

Get out and explore on the Anchorage Bike and Hike Tour. Your journey begins with a 9.5-mile bike trip on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail where you will have the opportunity to spot wildlife along the way including moose, bears, and bald eagles. Follow the shores of the Cook Inlet from Downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park. Take a break and enjoy a scenic drive to the Eagle River Nature Center, where you’ll tackle a trail with an expert guide who shares local knowledge about the area's flora and fauna.

Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to meet Kobuk the Black Bear. Help AWCC staff prepare enrichment items and place them inside Kobuk’s habitat. This 45-minute experience is available Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays (rain or shine) at 2:45 p.m. from June 18 to Aug. 31. Space is limited to 4 people, and participants must be at least 12 years old.

Take your next hike to new heights with the Veilbreaker Skybridges at Alyeska Resort. The Veilbreaker opened last summer and has already welcomed nearly 2,000 guests. Suspended 2,500 feet above the valley floor, participants harness in and walk across both Skybridges. Alyeska’s expert mountain guides take groups of up to six on a two to three-hour journey connecting the peaks of Alyeska Mountain, Mighty Mite, and Glacier Bowl with views of the Chugach State Park, Turnagain Arm, and more. 

Where to Stay

Finding the perfect place to stay in Anchorage is easy, with options ranging from hotels to quaint cabins. The Aviator Hotel, recently opened after a $40 million renovation, features stunning views, rotating art exhibits, and conference rooms. Nearby, the Highliner Hotel is a fully remodeled, 16-room hotel that opened late in the summer of 2023. The rooms incorporate subtle nods to fishing like Japanese-style fishing floats as room décor.

Stay at the brand-new Snob Hollow Inn, conveniently located within walking distance of popular downtown restaurants, Ship Creek, the Anchorage Museum, Alaska Railroad Depot, and more. This three-story property has eight guest rooms ranging from two queen beds to a three-bedroom penthouse. The inn gets its name from the historic downtown neighborhood where well-to-do residents – or “snobs” – built their homes when the townsite was laid out in 1915. 

Get back to nature at Bluewater Basecamp, an outdoor retreat located near Eklutna Lake. Each of the cabins is equipped with a queen-sized bed, kitchenette, shower, and bathroom facilities. Visitors can cozy up in their cabin after a day of exploring the surrounding Chugach State Park trails or kayaking on the Lake. Or relax on the deck and take in the breathtaking views of the mountains and glaciers.

Flavor and Music

Get a feel for all things Alaska at the Anchorage Market this summer as it returns downtown. With over 260 local vendors displaying works of art, photography, apparel, fresh produce, unique souvenirs, and exotic goods from around the world, the market offers something for everyone. Local entertainers and food vendors make for a fun-filled day at the market. It will be open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting May 11.

Live music will take over 4th Avenue every Friday at noon thanks to the Anchorage Downtown Partnership. The event, formerly known as “Music in the Park," is a great chance to hear live music, grab a bite to eat, and end your week on a high note. ADP also hosts Live After Five and Jazz in the Park events throughout the summer.

Join Go Hike Alaska's combo food and hiking tour. Start the day with Alaskan Sights and Bites’ Anchorage Walking Tour – Downtown Food & History, featuring local history and small bites from various stops downtown. Then, hop in with Go Hike Alaska for an afternoon of fun in Chugach State Park with an informative Flora & Fauna Nature Walk.