Guidebook for Anchorage
Essentials
Carrs
1650 W Northern Lights Blvd24-hour Safeway-owned supermarket.
Walgreens
1470 W Northern Lights BlvdPharmacy; open 8 am - 10 pm.
Walgreens
1470 W Northern Lights Blvd24-hour pharmacy.
Small liquor store with all the basics. Attached to the Carrs/Safeway supermarket.
Oaken Keg Spirit Shops
1650 W Northern Lights BlvdSmall liquor store with all the basics. Attached to the Carrs/Safeway supermarket.
Shopping
REI
500 E Northern Lights Blvd Outdoor clothing, equipment, supplies, maps, and rentals.
Great source for secondhand outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment.
9 locals recommend
The Hoarding Marmot
1231 W Northern Lights BlvdGreat source for secondhand outdoor clothing, footwear, and equipment.
Play It Again Sports
2636 Spenard RdSecondhand and budget sports clothing and equipment.
Fantastic independent used book store with an incredible selection of Alaska-specific literature. Located next to a Kaladi Coffee shop and Yak and Yeti, a Himalayan lunch spot.
39 locals recommend
Title Wave Books
1360 W Northern Lights BlvdFantastic independent used book store with an incredible selection of Alaska-specific literature. Located next to a Kaladi Coffee shop and Yak and Yeti, a Himalayan lunch spot.
Outstanding outdoor clothing and equipment store, with experienced, knowledgeable staff and high-end inventory.
20 locals recommend
Alaska Mountaineering & Hiking
2633 Spenard RdOutstanding outdoor clothing and equipment store, with experienced, knowledgeable staff and high-end inventory.
Nordstrom Rack at Midtown Mall
680 E Northern Lights BlvdGreat selection and prices.
Parks & Nature
A local gem. Miles and miles of walking and biking trails, with stunning ocean and mountain views. Expect to see moose and be on the alert for bears!
197 locals recommend
Kincaid Park
9401 Raspberry RoadA local gem. Miles and miles of walking and biking trails, with stunning ocean and mountain views. Expect to see moose and be on the alert for bears!
This classic Anchorage paved trail runs for miles along the coast, from downtown all the way to Kincaid Park. It has stunning view of Cook Inlet and several mountain ranges--on a clear day, you can even see Denali! It's a great place to walk, bike, or run. In the summer it's filled with locals and tourists alike.
32 locals recommend
Tony Knowles Coastal Bicycle Trails
Tony Knowles Coastal TrailThis classic Anchorage paved trail runs for miles along the coast, from downtown all the way to Kincaid Park. It has stunning view of Cook Inlet and several mountain ranges--on a clear day, you can even see Denali! It's a great place to walk, bike, or run. In the summer it's filled with locals and tourists alike.
Glen Alps provides access to miles and miles of hiking trails in the Chugach mountains. You can get spectacular views just a short stroll from the parking lot. If you're feeling more adventurous, climb Flattop mountain--the quintessential Anchorage hike! You can also head out to "Powerline Pass" for a less strenuous hike with stunning valley views.
Make sure to pay the $5 State Parks parking fee at one of the kiosks in the parking lot.
23 locals recommend
Glen Alps Trailhead Rest Area
Glen Alps RoadGlen Alps provides access to miles and miles of hiking trails in the Chugach mountains. You can get spectacular views just a short stroll from the parking lot. If you're feeling more adventurous, climb Flattop mountain--the quintessential Anchorage hike! You can also head out to "Powerline Pass" for a less strenuous hike with stunning valley views.
Make sure to pay the $5 State Parks parking fee at one of the kiosks in the parking lot.
Urban park. Don't expect peace and quiet or great views--it runs alongside Minnesota Drive, a major road--but it does have built-in ping-pong tables and tennis courts.
Minnesota Park
3305 Greenland DrUrban park. Don't expect peace and quiet or great views--it runs alongside Minnesota Drive, a major road--but it does have built-in ping-pong tables and tennis courts.
Arts & Culture
Comprehensive art and history museum, with a great children's section and excellent gift shop.
313 locals recommend
Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center
625 C StComprehensive art and history museum, with a great children's section and excellent gift shop.
Unique displays of Alaska Native history and culture. Many of the displays are outdoors, so go when the weather's nice!
176 locals recommend
Alaska Native Heritage Center
8800 Heritage Center DrUnique displays of Alaska Native history and culture. Many of the displays are outdoors, so go when the weather's nice!
Food Scene
SteamDot = coffee geniuses. Pourover, french press, siphon, espresso--they have it all, plus a small but well-curated selection of pastries. Downtown and midtown locations. Free wifi at both makes them good places to set up with a laptop.
11 locals recommend
Steamdot Coffee Benson Bar
600 E Northern Lights BlvdSteamDot = coffee geniuses. Pourover, french press, siphon, espresso--they have it all, plus a small but well-curated selection of pastries. Downtown and midtown locations. Free wifi at both makes them good places to set up with a laptop.
SteamDot = coffee geniuses. Pourover, french press, siphon, espresso--they have it all, plus a small but well-curated selection of pastries. Downtown and midtown locations. Free wifi at both makes them good places to set up with a laptop.
SteamDot Williwaw
609 F StSteamDot = coffee geniuses. Pourover, french press, siphon, espresso--they have it all, plus a small but well-curated selection of pastries. Downtown and midtown locations. Free wifi at both makes them good places to set up with a laptop.
Anchorage's oldest coffee shop! Recently remodeled but still cozy. Great coffee, great ambience.
17 locals recommend
Black Cup
341 E Benson BlvdAnchorage's oldest coffee shop! Recently remodeled but still cozy. Great coffee, great ambience.
Theater: Order pizza (and tacos) straight to your seat in the movie theater, then grab a house-made microbrew (or cocktail) from the bar at the back of the house. Showing second-run, cult, and indie films at just a few bucks a pop.
Restaurants: If you aren't in the mood for a film, you have two other dining options: the TheatrePub (pizza parlor) and the Grill (New American, fusion). They're in the same building but at opposite ends. Both serve food late.
315 locals recommend
Bear Tooth Theatrepub
1230 W 27th AveTheater: Order pizza (and tacos) straight to your seat in the movie theater, then grab a house-made microbrew (or cocktail) from the bar at the back of the house. Showing second-run, cult, and indie films at just a few bucks a pop.
Restaurants: If you aren't in the mood for a film, you have two other dining options: the TheatrePub (pizza parlor) and the Grill (New American, fusion). They're in the same building but at opposite ends. Both serve food late.
Open Saturdays, in the parking lot of Chilkoot Charlie's, under the windmill. Pick up some Alaska-grown produce, local crafts, or just get breakfast from one of the many food stands and enjoy the live music.
15 locals recommend
Spenard Farmers' Market
2555 Spenard RdOpen Saturdays, in the parking lot of Chilkoot Charlie's, under the windmill. Pick up some Alaska-grown produce, local crafts, or just get breakfast from one of the many food stands and enjoy the live music.
Home Town Restaurant
3020 Minnesota DriveTiny, no-frills, family-run Korean restaurant with great food. Open late.
Sami's City Diner
3000 Minnesota DrClassic 1950s-style diner, with everything you'd expect.
Stylish eatery with some interesting menu items, great beer selection, and fantastic balcony. Built using reclaimed wood from an old cannery.
124 locals recommend
Rustic Goat
2800 Turnagain StStylish eatery with some interesting menu items, great beer selection, and fantastic balcony. Built using reclaimed wood from an old cannery.
Naruto Japanese Restaurant
3600 Minnesota DrJapanese restaurant specializing in ramen.
KUBO Resataurant
Filipino specialties, with nice ambience.
Peter's Sushi Spot
3020 Minnesota DrOne of the better sushi restaurants in town.
Aftershock Espresso LLC
3201 Minnesota DrDrive-through coffee stand that also has inside seating.
Kaladi Brothers Coffee
1340 W Northern Lights BlvdLocal Alaskan coffee company.
Middle Way Cafe
1200 W Northern Lights BlvdHealthy breakfast and lunch spot.
Phở Lena
3311 Spenard RdGreat Lao, Thai, and Vietnamese food.
Tommy's Burger Stop
1106 W 29th PlNo-frills operation with great burgers.
Arctic Roadrunner
2477 Arctic BlvdGreat burgers and shakes.
Trendy atmosphere, best bourbon selection in town, serves food pretty late.
141 locals recommend
Spenard Roadhouse
1049 W Northern Lights BlvdTrendy atmosphere, best bourbon selection in town, serves food pretty late.
Alaskan-Italian cuisine. Strange, but entertaining. Located in an old Quonset hut. Expect lots of gooey cheese.
21 locals recommend
Fiori D'Italia
2502 McRae RdAlaskan-Italian cuisine. Strange, but entertaining. Located in an old Quonset hut. Expect lots of gooey cheese.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar with great food that showcases local talent. It usually has something cool going on almost every night of the week, so check their calendar before heading over!
29 locals recommend
TapRoot in Spenard
3300 Spenard RdBar with great food that showcases local talent. It usually has something cool going on almost every night of the week, so check their calendar before heading over!
The classic Anchorage dive bar. Bring in takeout from the Bear Tooth or Pizza Olympia and settle in for a night of pitchers and shuffleboard.
19 locals recommend
Buckaroo Club
2819 Spenard RdThe classic Anchorage dive bar. Bring in takeout from the Bear Tooth or Pizza Olympia and settle in for a night of pitchers and shuffleboard.
Everything Else
Aquarian Charter School
1705 W 32nd AvePlayground.