Most of us have the same imagery of the Alaska we want to visit: glaciers, mountains, waterfalls, and maybe even bears.
That’s why a lot of people who fly into Anchorage tend to stay there for one night at most before heading off to their adventures elsewhere, whether it’s hopping onto a cruise or driving to Denali.
After exploring Anchorage, though, I realize not spending enough time here is a mistake, and one that too many travelers make.
Anchorage is not only the gateway to Alaska, but it also offers opportunities to visit glaciers and explore the wilderness all within an hour drive. And as Alaska’s largest city, it also offers urban amenities like museums and a more diverse dining scene. So before you book your next flight out of Anchorage, here are six reasons to linger a few days there.
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Visit a Glacier Less Than an Hour Away
You can’t visit Alaska without seeing at least one glacier, and there are certainly famous ones like Matanuska Glacier 100 miles northeast of Anchorage, or the Hubbard Glacier about 400 miles away in the southeastern part of the state, which you can really only see from an Alaska cruise.
Yet there’s one less than an hour away from Anchorage: Knik Glacier. The Knik Glacier is more than 25 miles long and 5 miles wide, and it’s most easily visited on a helicopter tour that departs from Palmer, a city 42 miles northeast of Anchorage.
Alaska Helicopter Tours runs multiple tours on Knik Glacier, including the Grand Knik Glacier Experience, which includes three separate landings on different parts of the glacier. Bring an empty water bottle: during my helicopter tour we landed near some pools and streams created by the melting glacier, and I filled up my water bottle with the pristine glacial water to drink (it was very refreshing).
Anchorage has a Walkable Downtown
Anchorage is actually the third largest city by area in the country, spread out over 1,700 square miles. That might seem daunting to explore, but the downtown area is actually compact and walkable.
I stayed at the stylish boutique hotel in downtown Anchorage, The Wildbirch Hotel, which opened in the summer of 2025 (for those playing the hotel loyalty programs, this one is part of JdV by Hyatt). I didn’t have a car during my stay at this hotel and easily walked to restaurants, museums, and meeting points for the day tours that I’d booked. I never had to walk more than 15 minutes between any of my destinations.
En route to restaurants and museums, you can shop for carvings made by Alaska Natives at the Alaska Art Alliance or check out the International Gallery of Contemporary Art.
There are Great Museums
One of the things Anchorage has that Alaska’s other cities don’t is a world-class museum.
The Anchorage Museum is Alaska’s largest museum and it has exhibits focused on everything from art to science to history. I was impressed by the diversity of the content, which included art from Alaska artists, as well as pieces explaining the atomic age, arctic marine science, and even one centered around Alaskan humor. There was also a large collection of Alaska Native cultural pieces on loan from the Smithsonian Institution.
Beyond the Anchorage Museum, the city also has the Alaska Native Heritage Center, a cultural center showcasing native culture and traditional dwellings, and the Alaska Aviation Museum, which has a collection of vintage aircrafts. The heritage center even offers free shuttles between downtown or midtown and the center in the summer.
Chugach Mountains’ Trails are 30 Minutes Away
This is Alaska, after all, so wilderness is never far away.
Just 30 minutes from Anchorage is one of the largest state parks in the country, Chugach State Park. Just next to that is the second-largest national forest in the country, Chugach National Forest, so there are miles and miles of hiking trails to explore.
It’s an easy drive but for those traveling without a car like I was, you can book guided hikes through Go Hike Alaska and they’ll pick you up from a central downtown location. I chose the more relaxed nature walk, but they also offer full-day hikes that take you on a 13 mile trek and even multi-day backpacking tours. On my tour, we visited waterfalls, foraged for mushrooms, and saw quite a bit of wildlife.
Anchorage Has a Beautiful Coastal Trail That is Accessible From Downtown
One of my favorite ways to explore Anchorage is by e-biking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.
This trail is an 11-mile paved trail that takes you along the coast, passing beaches and old-growth trees, with a view of the water and Alaska’s majestic mountains behind it. On a clear day, you can even see Denali in the distance. Along the trail is Point Woronzof Park, which is a great place to watch planes take off and land.
Another way to explore is by renting bikes from Pablo’s Bike Rentals, which is only a couple of blocks away from the start of the trail. I rented e-bikes because I was short on time, and I would recommend this option for people who want to see more of the trail, but you can also rent a regular bike or even jog the trail, if you wish.
Anchorage Has a Diverse Food Scene
Alaska is known for its seafood, and restaurants like Crimson serve local specialties like reindeer sausage and king crab omelets. But the Anchorage dining scene is actually pretty diverse.
You can also find Peruvian rotisserie chicken, Indian and Nepalese food, and more.
I think Whisky & Ramen is one of the best places to eat and drink in downtown Anchorage. This James Beard Semifinalist actually has really good ramen, even compared to other major U.S. cities, and excellent cocktails to complement the meal. I also enjoyed the nostalgic vibes and the prime rib at Club Paris, one of the oldest restaurants in the city.
The Shortcut
Most visitors to Alaska fly into Anchorage as it’s home to the state’s primary airport, but a majority of them don’t stay long enough to explore.
Anchorage is surrounded by the same beautiful nature that Alaska is known for, including Knik Glacier and a large state park full of hiking trails, lakes for kayaking, and waterfalls.
Downtown Anchorage is a walkable cultural hub, with a boutique hotel, great restaurants (including Whisky & Ramen, a James Beard semifinalist), a world-class museum with pieces from the Smithsonian, shops, and galleries.
