Anchorage day trips

Girdwood is 40 miles south of Anchorage and worth every minute of the drive. 2026 guide to the Alyeska tram, zip-lining, Winner Creek Trail, and dining.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center doesn't hide its animals behind thick glass or keep them in small enclosures. The AWCC occupies 200 acres of Portage Valley between the Chugach Mountains...

Drive 60 miles from Anchorage through the famous one-lane tunnel to reach Whittier — glaciers, Prince William Sound cruises, and a town unlike any other.

Plan your Alaska Railroad adventure from Anchorage: Denali Star north to Denali, Coastal Classic to Seward, and Glacier Discovery — booking tips included.

Six Mile Creek Class V, Matanuska River float, Chickaloon Canyon, and upper Kenai — the complete 2026 guide to whitewater rafting near Anchorage with outfitter picks.

Two and a half hours from Anchorage, Talkeetna combines world-class Denali flightseeing, legendary cinnamon rolls, a mountaineering check-in station, and the Moose Dropping Festival into one of Alaska's most lovable small towns.

Gold panning is one of Alaska's most hands-on visitor experiences, and two excellent sites are within day-trip distance of Anchorage: Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood (operating since 1898) and Hatcher Pass Independence Mine State Historical Park. Here's how to plan your visit.

Discover Alaska's most unusual animal experiences near Anchorage: reindeer farm, musk ox tours, wildlife conservation center, zoo, and SeaLife Center.

Camping inside Denali National Park — from the forested sites near the entrance to the iconic Wonder Lake at Mile 85 — requires planning, patience with reservations, and a willingness to ride the park bus. Here's how to do it right.

Everything along Turnagain Arm: bore tide timing and best pullouts, beluga whale viewing, Dall sheep at Windy Corner, Crow Creek Mine, and Potter Marsh.