Anchorage Grand Hotel

Ten Days with my College Student

by uaamom

"Accommodations and Food"

Anchorage Grand Hotel- good thing, Best Western Golden Lion- bad thing, Big Bear Bed and Breakfast- delightful thing!
Crow's Nest- Very good, very pricey but worth it for a celebration splurge, in our case a family reunion. Beautiful views across town and to the mountains as the sun set and the lights began to twinkle.
Moose's Tooth- good, casual, always busy. Remarkable, inventive pizzas.
Humpy's -excellent halibut & chips. I had Moose's Tooth Apple Ale with it. I liked this alot!
Taco King- surprisingly good Mexican food (I live in the southwest, I know).
Gwennie's- interesting interior. The salmon was fishy- in a bad way. The service was lackluster, our waitress seemed annoyed and bored. My son's heaping serving of biscuits and reindeer sausage gravy were the highlight.
The Snow Goose has beautiful local quilt art adorning the walls and the food was very good. All dining establishments are (joy!) smoke-free!

"Activities in off season Anchorage"

Rent a bike and ride parts of the 120 miles of paved, lighted bike routes with over and underpasses to avoid contact with motorized traffic. Fantastic! (Or buy one at a pawn shop & sell it back when you leave!) In snowier weather these become cross-country ski trails!
Check out the native artwork collection at the Alaska Native Medical Center on Tudor. The gift shop has short hours- 10-2 most weekdays I think.
The Native Heritage Center is closed after mid-Sept except for special activities.
Take a walk through the Botanical Garden or some of the other thickly wooded city parks, many with lakes & creeks, where moose, beaver and other wildlife can be seen.

Many Great Views to be found

by spintobecca

As many people have built their homes in the Chugach mountain range, many great view of the city can be found by simply driving residential streets up for a while. There are a good number of turn outs for photo opportunities. The "best chance" drive for a great view is to either get off the Seward Highway at Potters Creek, or take Abbot Road east, which will take you straight up into the mountains. This view on your left is from Skyline Drive in Eagle River looking out onto the Glenn Highway and the city of Anchorage.

everyone is friendly here

by goingsolo

expect to meet people wherever you go- literally on every street corner! People are extremely friendly and will always stop to give you a hand with directions, a recommendation for a place to hike, to fish, to eat, etc. Don't hesitate to talk to any of the residents about their great state. They love to tell stories about life here and are very proud of the state's history and geography. Most people will also extend an invitation to their favorite fishing spot or a floatplane ride to a place you'd otherwise never see. Mixing with the locals is the best way to see the real Alaska.

Iditerod

by kaloz

A race to celebrate the famous serum run, that saved many lives in Nome. A must see event for sports enthusiasts. Dog sled, dog team, rations, emergency supplies, warm clothing, and a strong sense of adventure.

Along the Seward Hwy

by akskibunny

When you head south out of Anchorage you'll be driving one of the most scenic byways in the nation... and it's been designated as such. The first section of the highway takes you around Turnagain Inlet. There are numerous pull-offs along the way. Stop and take in the beauty that surrounds you! Look for Beluga Whales and Dall Sheep. At Bird Creek watch the salmon run. Hike some of the best trails in AK (McHugh Creek, Bird Ridge, Rainbow, etc....) Don't be in such a hurry to get to your next destination!! (Just don't hold up traffic either... you must pull over if you are blocking 5+ vehicles from driving the speed limit!!)
Potters Marsh is the first "attraction" south of Anchorage. It's a great place for bird-watching. Across from the marsh you'll see a green house and an old snow-plow train... this is the Chugach State Park Hdqtrs. Stop in for info.