Things To Do
Girdwood
Must See's in Girdwood include Girdwood Brewing Co, Alyeska Resort & Nordic Spa, Winner Creek trail, and taking the ski lift to the top of the mountain for beautiful views of the Turnagain Arm!
Whittier
Continue south to the Portage area where you will find beautiful glacier fed lakes and rivers. Sites to see include Byron Glacier, Portage Lake, and take the tunnel through to Whittier! In Whittier you can take a fishing charter, jet ski, or hike the Portage Pass for amazing views. Before taking the turn to Portage and Whittier, take a tour of the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to see rescued bears, moose, bison, and more!
Seward
Only a 2 hour drive from Anchorage and you are in for some beautiful views! Our top recommendations include a fishing charter through Charter House, a wildlife boat tour, camping at Primrose or Trail River campground, hiking to Lost Lake (13 miles), kayaking around Kenai Lake, and of course sampling some local beer and coffee (Resurrection Coffee).
Homer
One of our favorite little towns. A 4 hour drive from Anchorage, but 100% worth the drive! Homer is home to the best halibut fishing in the world! Take a walk along Bishop's beach, eat a delicious crepe from Wild Honey Bistro, sip on delicious mead at Sweetgale Meadworks, walk along the Homer Spit, and take a boat taxi across the bay to the secluded Kachemak Bay State Park! There is lots to do in this little town. Be sure to stop in Cooper Landing on the drive to Homer!
Hope
Hope is the best hole in the wall town one could ever dream of. Lodging is limited but includes Creekbend cafe, Porcupine campground, Coeur D'Alene Campground, and a handful of cabins to rent. Creekbend cafe also offers concerts Friday and Saturday night, hosting only the best local and out of state artists! Hikes include Hope Point and Gull Rock. Don't miss out on a drive on the backroads, take Palmer Creek Road for miles and miles of pristine views.
Anchorage
Food/Drinks: Moose's Tooth, 49th State Brewery, Tent City Taphouse, Snow City Cafe, Midnight Sun Brewery, Spenard Roadhouse, and King Street Brewery. Hikes: Little O'malley, Rabbit Lakes, trails around Kincaid Park, Thunderbird falls, and Mount Magnificent.
Hatcher Pass
Do not leave Alaska without driving through Hatcher Pass! Our favorite hikes include Reed Lakes, Marmot Mount, and Gold Mint Trail. Other things to see include Hatcher Pass Lodge and Independence Mine.
Matanuska Glacier
The drive to Matanuska Glacier is breathing taking. A 2 hour drive from Anchorage with plenty of scenic stops along the way. In Glacier View you can take a tour to the glacier itself or hike Lion's head for a view overlooking the glacier.
Talkeetna
3 hours north of Anchorage and on the way to Denali National Park, Talkeetna is a quirky little town with delicious food, beautiful lakes, and views of Mount Denali. I recommend looking into a glacier flight tour, kayaking on the X,Y,Z lakes, sampling a beer at Denali Brewing Company, and strolling through downtown Talkeetna sampling the food trucks.
Denali National Park and Preserve
Take a drive through Denali National Park for sightings of wildlife, hope on one of the parks buses for further park access, walk around Horseshoe Lake, or take a train ride. There are plenty of campgrounds in and around the park. We recommend looking into other tours such as rafting, flight seeing, and ATVing.
