Downtown shopping offers a wide variety of options. Browse the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall, pop into gift shops and local art galleries, and visit the Oomingmak Cooperative to see qiviut clothing made from soft musk ox fiber, a true Alaska keepsake. 

What’s there to do in Anchorage? Look for moose, see and hear glaciers (yes, you can hear them!), and even spend an afternoon watching floatplanes take off and land at Lake Hood, the world's largest seaplane base. And don't forget, Anchorage area fishing is among the best in the world!

Anchorage restaurants pair local craft beer with a surprising range of flavors. Downtown menus feature everything from fresh Alaska seafood and sushi to Thai curries, Italian classics, and creative vegan dishes, so finding a table that fits your taste is easy. 

Do not leave without trying reindeer sausage, a true Alaska staple that shows up in breakfast plates and gourmet entrées alike. With plentiful brewpubs and cafés spread across the city, you will stay well fed and never run short of new places to sample.

Anchorage hosts the ceremonial start of the world‑famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, drawing crowds each March to cheer teams down Fourth Avenue. Nearby Far North Bicentennial Park offers a ski area plus miles of hiking and mountain‑biking trails where you may spot resident moose or black bears. 

For more wildlife viewing, head to Chugach State Park or the Anchorage Coastal Wildlife Refuge. Both protected areas sit minutes from downtown and give visitors prime chances to see Dall sheep, bald eagles, and migrating waterfowl while soaking up classic Alaska mountain and coastline views.