Tour Anchorage on a budget

Exploring Alaska’s largest city

October 9, 2018 By Alyssa J. Cobb

Editor's note: This article was updated April 26, 2019, to remove reference to an attraction no longer available in Anchorage, Alaska.

It’s only a few weeks before summer, but the blistering wind at Flattop Mountain’s overlook makes me feel like I’m wearing shorts and a T-shirt even though I’m suited up in snow pants and a winter jacket.

Overlooking Anchorage from Flattop Mountain as the sun begins to set over Cook Inlet. Even though it is spring in Alaska, some snow still blankets higher elevations. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.
These "tireless hunters of the north" are sleeping on the job at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.
The nonprofit Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center covers more than 200 acres of land and is a sanctuary for animals that have been injured or orphaned, or are ill. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.
The Alaska Railroad runs along Highway 1 south of Anchorage. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.
Regardless of the weather, the Anchorage area is always beautiful. Whether it is nature or the weather itself, you won't get tired of the view. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.
If you are thirsty, drink some glacier water fresh out of the mountain! This pipe is a popular hit with tourists who pull off of Highway 1 south of Anchorage for a cold, refreshing drink. Photo by Jason Cobb.
Gwennie’s Old Alaska Restaurant is a favorite among locals who say you have to eat there when in Anchorage. The reindeer sausage, scrambled eggs, and potatoes are hearty and delicious! Photo by Jason Cobb.
An antique car sits outside Gwennie’s Old Alaska Restaurant welcoming tourists and locals alike. Photo by Jason Cobb.
You know Alaska is the aviation state when you see a general aviation aircraft hanging in the terminal of Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.

The frozen faces, tears, and laughter are worth the cold adventure as my husband and I walk to get a breathtaking view of Anchorage and Cook Inlet. A little chill is a small price to pay to soak up the natural beauty of this state.

The overlook is a short drive from downtown Anchorage, the highway weaving through upscale residential areas on the mountain to the trailhead. We had only hiked about a half a mile around the overlook trail but felt quite accomplished when we made it back to the SUV. As we reached the parking lot, however, we were quickly brought back to the reality that we are Easterners who are accustomed to much warmer weather, for the most part. A young woman pulled up and hopped out in flip flops and a man drove up in a tank top. It was, after all, springtime in Alaska.

The largest city in Alaska, Anchorage offers something for everyone—and every pilot. And you don’t have to break the bank to have fun.

Economical eateries

When you visit, folks in and near Anchorage love to offer advice on what to see and do—and where to eat—and I’ve never been disappointed when following their guidance. Anchorage offers several fine dining options, but my husband and I stuck to casual diners and cafes.

Gwennie’s Old Alaska Restaurant near Ted Stevens International Airport is a must for breakfast. It even came highly rated from The Flying Chef Mark Bly, who lives on Flattop Mountain in Anchorage and knows his food. The portions are enormous. I ordered eggs, potatoes, and reindeer sausage (reindeer meat is plentiful and popular) and could have eaten it for three breakfasts.

The Moose’s Tooth Pub and Pizzeria came highly recommended. Though I was skeptical about ordering something as common as pizza while in Alaska, my husband and I decided to try it for a quick bite during our sightseeing. The Moose’s Tooth is so popular, you'll need to go at an off time if you don't want to wait. We enjoyed a phenomenal smoked salmon spread appetizer and a delicious pizza. The Moose's Tooth is worth a visit even if the smoked salmon appetizer is all you order.

Acai Alaska is ideal for a light yet filling breakfast or snack. Their fruit smoothie bowls come with one of three bases—original, nutty heaven, and Hawaiian blends—and you can pick your own fruit and nut toppings or order off the menu. My husband and I enjoyed this place so much that now we make our own smoothie bowls.

Budget-friendly attractions

Helicopter and floatplane tours

$110 and up

With spectacular views in all directions an aerial tour is one of the best ways to take in all the natural beauty. Photo by Mike Fizer.

Take to the air to explore Anchorage, Denali, or Lake Clark National Park, which is accessible only by airplane and sometimes by boat. The scenery around Anchorage itself is stunning, with the Chugach Mountains filling the skyline to the east and Cook Inlet to the west. If you’re going to splurge, do it with an aerial tour!

Chugach State Park/Chugach National Forest

Free

Snow-covered mountains line the Glenn Highway traveling north from Anchorage. Photo by Jason Cobb.

These popular attractions are close to Anchorage and on the road system. They offer hiking, access to glaciers, and more. Flattop Mountain and overlook are in the Chugach, and Flattop is considered the most-hiked mountain in the state. (Hiking in the Chugach Mountains is beautiful, but if you fly along the mountains, watch for small waterfalls dotting cliffs as the snow melts in the spring and summer—they are absolutely awe-inspiring!)

Glacier grandeur

Free and up depending on activities

Portage Lake is a sight to behold whether hiking or taking a cruise. In the summer, hike Portage Glacier. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.

The Knik Glacier near Palmer, about a one-hour drive northeast of Anchorage, and Portage Glacier, about an hour to the southeast, are two of the closest glaciers. I’ve flown by the Knik Glacier and walked on the Portage Glacier (both during the summer; in early spring the Portage Glacier was still closed because of the threat of avalanches). You can glimpse the Knick Glacier from the Glenn Highway, but to go out on it you’ll need to take a tour, which costs. It’s free to hike on the Portage Glacier, and that is an experience of a lifetime—after all, it’s not every day most of us get to stand on such a mass of ice! Cruises at Portage Glacier range from $39 to $90 depending on the type of cruise.

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

$15 per adult (discounts for children, seniors, and military)/$100 for an exclusive tour

An elevated walkway gives tourists a safe but unobstructed view of brown and black bears. Photo by Alyssa Cobb.

This nonprofit sanctuary is for animals that have been injured or orphaned, or are ill. Spread over 200 acres of land, the group focuses on “conservation, research, education and quality animal care,” according to the center’s website. You can walk the exhibits on a self-guided tour to see bison, brown and black bears (and rambunctious cubs playing with balls and tumbling), bald eagle, fox, lynx, moose, musk ox, owl, reindeer, and wolves. Because the conservation center rescues animals in various states, some don’t look as healthy as others. The modest fee to enter not only lets you get up close with Alaska’s wild animals, but it also supports their care and preservation.

Alaskan art

Free

Local artisans display their impressive work at the Turnagain Gallery. Photo by Jason Cobb.

Anchorage boasts many art galleries and museums, but if you have a car check out Turnagain Gallery, about 28 miles south of Anchorage off Alaska Route 1 (right on the way if you go to Portage Glacier or the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center). The gallery itself is an incredible log cabin. Wood-carved statues are displayed outside, but carved octopus and whale sculptures will greet you as soon as you step inside. Paintings and photos of Alaska sites, furniture, and more are also on display and for sale.

Alaska Aviation Museum and Great Alaska Aviation Gathering

Free for museum members or $15 per adult (discounts available)

The Chugach Mountains fill the horizon to Anchorage’s east. The mountains are some of the most popular because they are on the road system. Photo by Mike Fizer.

The Alaska Aviation Museum is located at Lake Hood and is open any time of year. Browse vintage aircraft and see rare birds like the 1943 Noorduyn Norseman, a classic northern bush airplane. Members of the museum get in for free, but general admission prices are modest. If you are in Anchorage in early May, also work in the Great Alaska Aviation Gathering. It’s free to attend and signals the start of the flying season in the state. The gathering features seminars, exhibits, and aircraft displays, but perhaps the main draw is visiting with fellow pilots.

Coastal Trail

Free

To explore and stretch your legs in Anchorage, walk or bike the Coastal Trail that runs along the city’s edges and provides views of Cook Inlet. The trail will take you by Elderberry Park, Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park, and Point Woronzof to Kincaid Park. In the summer, visit the salmon viewing platform at Ship Creek, where you can watch or fish for salmon.

Tips for flying

Anchorage also has the only Class C airspace in the state. The Pac-Man-shaped airspace encompasses Ted Stevens International and airspace to the north, west, and south. Flying into Anchorage on the airlines, make sure you get a window seat to watch a symphony of general aviation operations landing and departing the nearby airports and seaplane base. Parking lots closest to the terminal (which would be prime real estate for car parking at most commercial-service airports) are filled with GA aircraft. The first time I flew to Alaska commercially, my hosts met me, carried my bags to the parking lot, and loaded me up in a Cessna 182 for a short flight to King Ranch 60 nautical miles to the northeast. I had the opportunity to fly into the area with an experienced pilot, and VFR arrival/departure procedures for the airports keep traffic flowing smoothly. Be sure to study the Alaska Supplement carefully before flying in yourself. We came in over the Tudor Bus Barn, and all of the checkpoints were easy to spot. But with the traffic, multiple airspace boundaries, and close reporting points, I was relieved to be with someone experienced at flying in the area.

Alyssa J. Cobb

The former senior director of digital media, Alyssa J. Cobb was on the AOPA staff from 2004 until 2023. She is a flight instructor, and loves flying her Cessna 170B with her husband and two children. Alyssa also hosts the weekly Fly with AOPA show on the AOPA Pilot Video YouTube channel.

Go to Alyssa J. Cobb's Profile

Topics: Travel, Alaska, U.S. Travel