Anchorage, Alaska is a beautiful place to visit rich with culture and many outdoor activities. It is a great place to bring your family to discover wildlife and a different way of living.
For those of you who want to sit on the beach with a drink in your hand and be waited on, Anchorage is not for you. Anchorage is for those of you who love the outdoors and learning about different cultures and ways of life. It's for those of you who enjoy seeing wildlife and breathtaking mountain scenes.
There are so many outdoor activities available in Anchorage you probably couldn't do them all if you tried. If you visit in the wintertime, there is skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, ice fishing, and sledding. Winter is also a great time to view the Northern Lights, a beautiful phenomenon best witnessed on a moonless night during sub-zero temperatures. In February, you can check out the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, the largest winter festival in North America, or witness the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in March.
Summer time visits are better for bird watching, camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, golf, hunting, rafting, and canoeing. There are seven beautiful golf courses located in and around Anchorage offering views of the mountains and forests. Alaska is famous for its large fish, mostly halibut, salmon, and rainbow trout, and offers fishing guides that provide your transportation and gear. Anchorage is also known for some of the world's best rafting and kayaking, offering a variety of rides in all classes of rapids. If you love the outdoors in a more relaxed way, try one of the day tours or cruises. These offer you a sit-down tour of the wildlife and mountain scenery.
Anchorage is also a great place to bring your children. They offer many family oriented activities designed to help you and your child learn about native culture and wildlife. For wildlife viewing there is the Alaska Zoo, Alaska SeaLife Center, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and the Musk Ox Farm. All of these offer you a view of a variety of Alaskan animals including brown bears, polar bears, moose, seals, birds, otters, sheep, buffalo, elk, and reindeer. For simple fun, there is an indoor water park, panning for gold, berry picking, and the botanical gardens. To entertain your brain, try out the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Alaska Experience Theater, Alaska Native Heritage Center, and the Imaginarium Science Discovery Center.
As for great dining and shopping, this can be found in Anchorage, too. Try some of the fresh seafood caught right there in town, or one of the many charming bars and pubs waiting to be discovered. As for the shopping, imagine all the original native art and souvenirs you could ask for, including masks and carved ivory and jade.
As you can see, Anchorage is beautiful, interesting, entertaining, and most of all, not what you would expect. It's a great place to go with your family to give them a vacation experience they'll never forget.
