What to see in Anchorage...
We're flying to Anchorage next month but can only stay four lousy days before we have to return home. Those who are up that way; what are the "must see" places with such a short time available and fr...
Forum Discussion
Time in Anchorage, it has something for every taste or lack thereof. From 5 star restaurants to sleazy clubs and bars.
So a person has to decide what they want to see and experience. Anchorage is not a favorite place of mine, in that it has little "Alaskan" included. It is basically, a smaller version of Seattle. Just another big town, IMHO. In the rest of the state, the thoughts tend to be that the best thing about Anchorage, is that it is only a 30 minute flight from there to Alaska. :) At one time, prior to the pipeline influx of people and the large military build ups, it was very Alaskan, but that all changed. Now it has all the typical big city problems, crime, gangs, traffic, etc.
Now with that build up for Anchorage, LOL, what to do and see. The Alaska Native Cultural Center is well worth half a day. It is located in the east part of town. Since my wife and I are both pilots, we enjoy grabbing some fast food, perhaps an Arctic Roadrunner burger and going out to Lake Hood and watching the float planes land and take off. In a few hours drive of Anchorage, there is the Portage Glacier area, the town of Hope, or go north to the Palmer-Wasilla area, then a half day up to Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Park. The mine is well preserved, many buildings, a great historical stop. The Matanuska Glacier is just up the road east of Palmer if you like to see lots of ice.
I would take a day and drive to Whittier to take a boat trip, the train from Anchorage to Whittier is reported to be an excellent trip as well. May have to drive to catch the tour boat in time. If a person is in to bird watching, Potter's Marsh, just south of town is excellent. If a person likes to fish, they may wish to check into some of the guided trips in the Mat Su valley for a day, if the salmon are running. You wound see some beautiful scenery whether you caught fish or not.
The Whale Fat Follies should be a great show. I have never seen it but Mr. Whitekeys ran a club/dive/joint, (the Fly by Night Club, in Spenard for many years. He also writes for the Alaska Magazine and is multi talented, is an accomplished pianist as per his stage name. Anything he is associated with in the entertainment area will be first class. Spenard is the section of Anchorage out by the International airport and at one time was the "red light" district of Anchorage, in all forms of entertainment. A great place to have fun, for adults, from what I have been told. :P
Earthquake Park used to be a fun hiking trail but the last time I was by there Mother Nature had removed much of the signs of damage caused by the Good Friday earthquake of 1964. Trees had grown back, etc.
Remember when you are in Anchorage, be street wise, don't leave valuables visible in your vehicle when parked, unless you want to share the stuff. It is no more dangerous than any other big city, but it is not a tourist attraction or a theme park. I used to have to spend way too much time in Anchorage with my job, and survived with no problems. Some of the finest places to eat you will find anywhere. Especially Asian restaurants, due to the highly multicultural population. Not long ago I read that Japan Airlines was doing 58 complete crew changes in Anchorage on their long flights. They have so many personnel in Anchorage that they operate a school for the children of their employees, in Japanese.
So a person has to decide what they want to see and experience. Anchorage is not a favorite place of mine, in that it has little "Alaskan" included. It is basically, a smaller version of Seattle. Just another big town, IMHO. In the rest of the state, the thoughts tend to be that the best thing about Anchorage, is that it is only a 30 minute flight from there to Alaska. :) At one time, prior to the pipeline influx of people and the large military build ups, it was very Alaskan, but that all changed. Now it has all the typical big city problems, crime, gangs, traffic, etc.
Now with that build up for Anchorage, LOL, what to do and see. The Alaska Native Cultural Center is well worth half a day. It is located in the east part of town. Since my wife and I are both pilots, we enjoy grabbing some fast food, perhaps an Arctic Roadrunner burger and going out to Lake Hood and watching the float planes land and take off. In a few hours drive of Anchorage, there is the Portage Glacier area, the town of Hope, or go north to the Palmer-Wasilla area, then a half day up to Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Park. The mine is well preserved, many buildings, a great historical stop. The Matanuska Glacier is just up the road east of Palmer if you like to see lots of ice.
I would take a day and drive to Whittier to take a boat trip, the train from Anchorage to Whittier is reported to be an excellent trip as well. May have to drive to catch the tour boat in time. If a person is in to bird watching, Potter's Marsh, just south of town is excellent. If a person likes to fish, they may wish to check into some of the guided trips in the Mat Su valley for a day, if the salmon are running. You wound see some beautiful scenery whether you caught fish or not.
The Whale Fat Follies should be a great show. I have never seen it but Mr. Whitekeys ran a club/dive/joint, (the Fly by Night Club, in Spenard for many years. He also writes for the Alaska Magazine and is multi talented, is an accomplished pianist as per his stage name. Anything he is associated with in the entertainment area will be first class. Spenard is the section of Anchorage out by the International airport and at one time was the "red light" district of Anchorage, in all forms of entertainment. A great place to have fun, for adults, from what I have been told. :P
Earthquake Park used to be a fun hiking trail but the last time I was by there Mother Nature had removed much of the signs of damage caused by the Good Friday earthquake of 1964. Trees had grown back, etc.
Remember when you are in Anchorage, be street wise, don't leave valuables visible in your vehicle when parked, unless you want to share the stuff. It is no more dangerous than any other big city, but it is not a tourist attraction or a theme park. I used to have to spend way too much time in Anchorage with my job, and survived with no problems. Some of the finest places to eat you will find anywhere. Especially Asian restaurants, due to the highly multicultural population. Not long ago I read that Japan Airlines was doing 58 complete crew changes in Anchorage on their long flights. They have so many personnel in Anchorage that they operate a school for the children of their employees, in Japanese.
