Anchorage
is more than the largest city in Alaska. It is also
arguably one of the most beautiful, with easy access to
a staggering number of outdoor activities and breathtaking
scenery. Anchorage day trips can take many forms,
whether you plan an Anchorage tour of downtown on foot,
or a guided Anchorage tour to some of the outlying attractions.
Downtown
Anchorage day trips of the downtown area can be easily enjoyed on foot. Begin day trips in Anchorage at the visitor information center. Some great information and maps can be gathered here for Anchorage day trips. From the visitor’s center, you can walk to the Old City Hall, the Wendler Building, a Native Craft and Shop building, the International Gallery of Contemporary Art, the 5th Avenue Mall and Town Square. If you still have energy left in the afternoon after a bite to eat, head to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, the New City Hall, Holy Family Cathedral, Elderberry Park and the Totem Poles of downtown. The 4th Avenue Theater is also located downtown and offers a nice way to end day trips in Anchorage.
Girdwood
A popular day tour from Anchorage begins
with a scenic drive along the Turnagain Arm Road to Girdwood.
Once in Girdwood, travelers can helicopter to a glacier
to enjoy snowmobiling, a sled dog ride, or any number
of outdoor pursuits. Although this make take up
the better part of a day, head back to Anchorage in the
evening for an Anchorage tour of the Alaska Zoo, located
in Anchorage. Stop along the way for lunch and dinner,
or have dinner back in Anchorage.
A day tour from Anchorage on board
the Alaska Railroad is an increasingly popular way to
see some of the beauty of Anchorage and Alaska.
Possible destinations for a day tour from Anchorage on
the train include the Spencer Glacier, Grandview Valley,
Bartlett Glacier, Whittier, Seward
and Talkeetna. All of these destinations feature
great activities such as rafting, jet boating, hiking
and simply enjoying the beauty of the glaciers.
Denali
From Anchorage, many travelers plan
to board small aircraft to make a trip to Denali
National Park and Preserve. Not only is the
flight itself scenic and impressive, but the wildlife
park is as well. Guided tours that bring tourists
through the national park while narrating along the way
are widely available. Travelers will also have an
excellent view of the famous Mt. McKinley. Many
one-day tours from Anchorage to Denali include lunch and
other snacks, and will pick up and bring travelers back
to their hotel in Anchorage.
Day trips in Anchorage and to the surrounding area can include everything from glacial hikes to sipping coffee and enjoying the art galleries of downtown. However you organize your trip, it will be hard to miss the stunning beauty that surrounds almost every activity in Anchorage and Alaska.
