EXPLORE THE TOWN
MORNING
Fuel your Anchorage day with breakfast at Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop, where your choices range from fresh bread and pastries to cookies and cupcakes. Oven master Carlyle Watt was recognized as an Outstanding Baker by the James Beard Foundation in 2017, so consider ordering a few extra items for later. Next, head over to Pablo’s Bicycle Rentals to get a temporary set of wheels with which to cruise the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. The trail winds for 11 miles along the coast, and is only part of Anchorage’s 135mile paved trail system. While you roll along, you’ll have views of Cook Inlet, and there’s always a possibility to get a glimpse of wildlife. If you’re not into two wheels, you can walk along the coastal trail, too. Bike folks in search of a challenge should pedal over to Kincaid Park on the west side of Anchorage. This huge park backing up to Cook Inlet has almost 40 miles of trails that offer advanced riders grueling hills and a fair share of natural obstacles, including moose. Give them a wide berth — moose are a lot faster than you think, even without a bakery breakfast. (Tip: They can’t get around trees as fast as you can.)
MIDDAY
The largest museum in Alaska, the Anchorage Museum offers an indoor way to get acquainted with the true North, and lets visitors explore the art, history and cultures of the state. September’s opening of the museum’s 25,000-square-foot expansion includes the Rasmuson Wing, the Art of the North galleries, the new Alaska exhibition and an expanded Discovery Center. Don’t miss “Murmur,” an installation that combines kinetic sculpture with a mixed-reality holographic experience, placing guests within an Arctic landscape. Afterward, drop by 49th State Brewing for a lunch of freshly sourced Alaskan products — salmon, crab, halibut, elk and even yak. Oh, and beer. Lots of Alaskan beer.
AFTERNOON
Even if you’re not an intrepid adventurer, you can get up close to a glacier through a flight-seeing trip out of Lake Hood and Merrill Field in Anchorage. Rust’s Flying Service offers a chance to soar above the Chugach Mountains and Prince William Sound, over belugas in Cook Inlet or Turnagain Arm, near Columbia Glacier, or even where climbers summit Denali’s massive south face. Flight-seeing is the easiest way to reach the remote areas off the road system, and also to get a chance to take photos your Facebook friends (and actual friends) will envy.
EVENING
After a long, active day, take it easy with some Alaska oysters and Champagne at Bubbly Mermaid. Belly up to the bar, made from a piece of a former fishing boat, and choose from the hot and cold oyster offerings, as well as classic plain oysters that taste of seawater. Add tastes of sparkling wine from nearly a dozen open bottles, and you’ve got an Anchorage tradition that could just as easily be in San Francisco. If you’re in a cocktail mood, try Blues Central, a speakeasy that serves up craft cocktails with an extensive selection of whiskeys and other spirits. Use the phone booth downstairs to get the password.