Luke & Kendall
Things To Do
Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
This is the address of Elderberry Park downtown. It is a great access point to the coastal trail. Easily walkable (5 minutes) from Hotel Captain Cook. The trail is paved the whole way and relatively flat. There are several bike rental shops off of 5th avenue, right before you get to Elderberry Park. You can ride bikes or walk; either way, the views are incredible! My favorite spot is Point Woronzof. From the point, there are excellent views of Knik Arm, Cook Inlet, Chugach Mountains, and Mount Susitna, aka the "Sleeping Lady." There is a beach down below the point that Dante and Bane love. The boys enjoy running around on the sand, and Bane likes swimming in the chilly water. We highly recommend checking out the coastal trail to get a glimpse of Alaska's beauty without having to leave the city!
Fire Island Rustic Bake Shop
Upscale shop for breads, pastries & desserts baked in-house, serving gourmet sandwiches & coffee. This bakery is great! They also have an adorable plant shop/coffee shop next door called That Feeling Co.
Wild Scoops
This is the most popular ice cream shop in Anchorage. I know we have ice cream lovers on both sides of the family... You guys will have to check this place out! The downtown location is only open in the summertime. So, it'll be open and easy to walk to when ya'll are here visiting!
F Street Station
F Street is one of the oldest bars in downtown Anchorage. They consistently serve up delicious food and a great time! This is one of our go-to spots in downtown Anchorage.
Darwin's Theory
Local dive bar that Luke and I like to go when we're out downtown. It's small, but charming, and they have a popcorn machine. (The popcorn is the main reason Luke loves this place).
Some of our other favorite Anchorage spots!
49th State Brewing: This is a popular brewery/restaurant in Anchorage. This is where the rehearsal dinner and welcome party will be held on Friday. Restaurants: The Crow's Nest, The Rustic Goat, Hearth Artisan Pizza, Simon & Seaforts- If you're looking for happy hour or king crab legs. (We suggest you sit on the saloon side, it's open seating.) Brunch spots: Snow City Cafe (2-minute walk from Hotel Captain Cook). South Restaurant + Coffeehouse: Great breakfast & drinks. 12-minute drive from downtown. Coffee: We usually make our coffee at home, but when we do go out for coffee, we like Black Cup, Steam Dot, and That Feeling Co. All these places are Anchorage-based coffee roasters. Breweries: Brewerks is our favorite Brewery in Anchorage. Other breweries we recommend are... King Street Brewing Company, Anchorage Brewing Company, and Turnagain Brewing.
Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a must-do activity if you want to see some Alaskan wildlife. They have grizzly bears, black bears, moose, wolves, caribou/reindeer, elk, musk ox, wood bison, a bald eagle, a great horned owl, a lynx, coyotes, and porcupines. Not only are the animals cool to see, but the property is located in a beautiful area. It's about a 50-minute drive from Anchorage. The drive down there is gorgeous as you head south down the Seward Hwy. Keep an eye out for bald eagles on your drive down there. We have seen quite a few on that route. There are multiple points to stop off at where you can view the Turnagain Arm, the Chugach Mountains, the Kenai Mountains on the opposite shore, and maybe even Denali on a clear day. The admission fee for the AWCC is $27. You can reserve a guided tour or walk through at your own leisure. **For guests who aren't renting a car** You can book with a tour company, and a guide will shuttle you to and from the conservation center.
Alaska Railroad
You can travel from Seward all the way to Fairbanks with the Alaska Railroad! My family came to visit in August, and we took the train for a trip up to Denali National Park. We had an awesome experience. This train is a great option for folks who want to visit more of Alaska, but don't want to drive all those hours.
Talkeetna, Alaska
Talkeetna is about a 2-hour drive from Anchorage. Check out Park Connection Motorcoach for the shuttle bus options to Talkeetna. If there is one tour you should spend money on during your vacation to Alaska, it is the Talkeetna Air Taxi- flight sightseeing tour and glacier landing. Luke and I have gone twice so far, and it has been amazing! Although the flight is expensive, it is worth every penny in our opinion. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! The town of Talkeetna is a wonderful place to visit. It boasts a historic charm, featuring numerous charming shops, art markets, and eateries. Denali Brew Pub: Our favorite place to grab a bite and beer in town. The small town of Talkeetna has much to offer. There are a lot of excursions we haven't done yet. Check out the website below for more Talkeetna adventures. https://www.alaskatravel.com/talkeetna/things-to-do/
Seward, Alaska
Seward is a spectacular seaside town! It's about a 2-hour drive from Anchorage. There are shuttle buses & train transportation options for those without a car. -Major Marine Kenai Fjords boat tour. You will be able to see all types of sea life and several glaciers, depending on the length of the tour you choose. -Fishing charter. We went with J Dock Fishing Co. We met the daily limits for halibut, salmon, cod, and rockfish. Make sure to book this fall if you're interested. -Alaska Sealife Center- Aquarium in downtown Seward, $33 admission, worth it! -Hikes: Easy: Exit Glacier view & overlook loop. Hard: Harding Icefield Trail. -Restaurants: Ray's Waterfront, Tidewater Taphouse, and Seward Brewing Company, The Cookery, and Flamingo Lounge. -For a sweet treat: Check out Harbor Street Creamery or Sweet Darlings. **Luke and the groomsmen will be in Seward on Thursday, 6/18, on a Fishing Charter. This may be a good day for others to check out Seward if you're arriving early.**
Whittier, Alaska
Whittier is a cute little port town with stunning tidewater glaciers. It's also known as the Gateway to Prince William Sound. If visiting Whittier, you should check out: -Hiking: Portage Pass Trail. Moderate hike, 4.5 miles out and back. You will be able to see beautiful views of Portage Lake, Portage Glacier, and the surrounding mountains. Emerald Cove Trail: Moderate hike along the coast, 3.8 miles out/back. Gorgeous view of the cove at the end. -Take a short drive out to Shotgun Cove Road for a pretty view of the coast. -Phillips cruises and tours: 26 Glacier Cruise. View 26 glaciers in 5.5 hours + wildlife. -There is a company that offers jet ski glacier tours, too, if you want to get closer to a glacier. -Swiftwater Seafood cafe- Tasty fried local seafood. -To enter/exit Whittier, you have to pass through a 2.5-mile tunnel. The tunnel is a one-lane system, so they only let cars pass from either direction once an hour. There is a $13 fee for the round-trip.
Denali National Park
Denali National Park is a little over a 4-hour drive north of Anchorage. If you don't have a rental car, there is a train or a bus you can take to get up there. Once you get to the park, it is easy to navigate via the Denali transit and Denali Bus Tour routes. No personal vehicles are allowed in Denali National Park past Mile 15 at the Savage River. The bus passes for the Natural History and the Tundra Wilderness Tour seem to be the best way to see the entire park. Denali Recommendations: -Denali sled dog kennels: Take a short bus ride to the dog kennels. My family and I got to interact with some of the sled dogs and meet the 12-week-old litter of puppies. The park ranger gave a great speech explaining the history and importance of the park's sled dogs, and then they did a quick mushing demonstration. Hiking: Savage Alpine Trail- Moderate/Hard. 4.2 miles point to point. We saw an awesome view of Denali when the clouds cleared at the peak of our hike.
