One full day & evening in Anchorage

[Auntiejo]

Alaska Airlines just changed our post cruise flight home from Anchorage that was supposed to leave in the afternoon to now leave after midnight (technically the next day at 1:15 AM). Our original plan was to have late breakfast, check out of the hotel, and head to the airport. Now we've got a whole day and evening free in Anchorage and are looking for suggestions on how to spend it.

 

We are in Vancouver 3 nights pre cruise, then NB Inside Passage 7 day on Sapphire Princess, then 2 nights post cruise in Seward and doing the 8 1/2 hour Major Marine Kenai Fjords cruise from there one of the days. Taking the Alaska Railroad from Seward to Anchorage and spending the night there.

 

Looking for suggestions on what to do with this extra day. Don't want to do another glacier cruise since we're already doing the all day one from Seward. There's plenty of options on Trip Advisor, etc. but would love to hear from you all on personal experiences from day trips in/from Anchorage that you recommend. I fear that whatever we do won't compare with what we've already seen on the trip, but I'm probably overthinking that.

 

Thanks!

Edited April 16 by Auntiejo

[karatemom2]

Here are a few things we enjoyed;

 

Alaska Native Heritage Center - we found this a very worthwhile, interesting, and enjoyable place to spend a few hours. 
 

Tony Knowles Trail - great place to ride bikes or take a walk. It’s very beautiful and we saw moose!

 

Earthquake museum - really interesting and fun simulation for this Californian.   
 

Independence Mine Historical Site - super interesting place to visit, but about an hour outside of Anchorage. 

[Northern Aurora]

If you are willing to rent a vehicle for the day and the weather is nice definitely consider Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Historical Site.  Also research Matanuska Glacier to determine if that might be of interest.

[AKStafford]

Rent a car and drive to the Matanuska Glacier for a guided glacier hike. Include going up into Hatcher Pass.

Or drive to Talkeetna and hope for a view of Denali. Maybe do a flight seeing trip around the mountain.

[disneyochem]

Salmon Berry Tours has a number of tours out of Anchorage if you don’t want to rent a car.  We have taken the Matanuska Glacier Trek and the Hatch Pass/Independence Mine tour from them.  I highly recommend this company.

 

https://www.salmonberrytours.com/alaska-tours/summer-tours/

 

 

[TheArtfulPenguin]

I was about to post asking about things to do in Anchorage because we are treating it as another port on a trip in late June.  Our ship departs on the 26th so we are flying in about noon on the 24th to have the rest of that day and the 25th to explore or do an excursion.

 

I was thinking of a wildlife tour, or something else historic. I thought glaciers but I think I'll save that for the cruise.

It's just me, a widower, and my 9-year-old daughter. So anything someone might think she would like would be great.  She loves animals and nature, I'm getting her into history so gold rush stuff might be good.

[karatemom2]

A few ideas to consider:

 

https://www.alaskazoo.org
 

https://www.crowcreekgoldmine.com  
 

https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/indepmineshp.htm
 

https://www.alaskanative.net

 

https://www.anchorage.net/outdoors/wildlife-viewing/
 

 

[torybruno]

MICA guide tour at Manatuska glacier.  Rent a car or do a day tour with a group on Viator.  It’s the best thing we did in all of Alaska.  (We rented the car).  

[karatemom2]

2 hours ago, torybruno said:

MICA guide tour at Manatuska glacier.  Rent a car or do a day tour with a group on Viator.  It’s the best thing we did in all of Alaska.  (We rented the car).  

 
It’s a great tour but I am not sure it would be the best for a 9 year old child. There are likely age minimums. It’s pretty strenuous and there are some inherent hazards. As a parent, I would not have chosen that excursion for my child at that age. We did it with them when they were in high school and college. 

[Auntiejo]

We ended up booking a 6 hour tour with Pic Tours Alaska. Looks like a fun day and very highly rated and it fit in with our timeline for the day. 

[TheArtfulPenguin]

18 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

A few ideas to consider:

 

https://www.alaskazoo.org
 

https://www.crowcreekgoldmine.com  
 

https://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/matsu/indepmineshp.htm
 

https://www.alaskanative.net

 

https://www.anchorage.net/outdoors/wildlife-viewing/
 

 

Thank you.  Looks like some great stuff.  I think the gold mine and native are things she would like.  

[TheArtfulPenguin]

14 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

 
It’s a great tour but I am not sure it would be the best for a 9 year old child. There are likely age minimums. It’s pretty strenuous and there are some inherent hazards. As a parent, I would not have chosen that excursion for my child at that age. We did it with them when they were in high school and college. 

I did think about the glacier, but we are doing glaciers as part of the cruise. I have heard some good family versions of going to the Manatuska glacier.  So maybe.