Summer Fun in Alaska — Top Things to Do in Anchorage This Summer! Lauren Saccone June 21, 2019 Destinations, Top US Destinations, Travel Guide There’s plenty to see and do in Anchorage throughout the year — particularly in the summer. Summer in Anchorage is a special time; this vibrant and dynamic city comes into its own and shows visitors what it really has to offer, and it can all be easily accessed with the abundance of flight deals available online. If you’re looking to have some summer fun in Alaska, look no further! We’ve got the rundown on the best things to do in Anchorage this summer to ensure a memorable visit for everyone. Bicycle Tours When the weather gets warm in Anchorage, you’ll see tons of people heading out on bikes. Bicycling is a great way to fully experience the beauty that Anchorage has to offer. There are plenty of places to rent a bicycle to explore the area, but we suggest trying out a bicycle tour. Expert guides can show you the ins and outs of Anchorage depending on your particular interests. You can go on a tasting tour of local restaurants and bars, or get in touch with the wild side of Anchorage in some breathtaking bicycle tours through the wilderness. Whatever side of Anchorage you want to experience, a bicycle tour is a great way to do it. Visit the Wildlife Conservation Center For nature lovers, summer is the ideal time to visit Anchorage. When you arrive, make it a point to head to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. This gorgeous preserve is home to 12 separate endangered species. And you can take tours with nature experts that will provide you with fascinating information about each and every one. There are also tours that give you unparalleled views of the stunning glaciers throughout Anchorage. So do some research and find the tour that’s perfect for you and your family. Celebrate the Summer Solstice Anchorage takes the summer solstice seriously, celebrating the longest day of the year with some seriously fun parties and events. There are plenty of free festivals to choose from, and no end to the activities they have to offer. Sample delicious local cuisines, enjoy live music and entertainment, and let the kids get in on a variety of different fun games. It’s a great way to embrace the summer season, and a day everyone is sure to remember for a very long time. Catch Dinner – Literally Fishing fans will adore visiting Anchorage in the summer, with plenty of prime spots scattered throughout the area. Urban angling is a popular hobby, allowing you to catch prize-worthy fish without straying far from your lodgings. Whether you’re interested in landing salmon, trout, or char, there’s sure to be a spot for you. And for those who want to make fishing the prime focus of their trip, Anchorage is the place to be. There are all-day fishing trips throughout Anchorage that will let you while away the hours and focus on catching a fish that’s really worth bragging about. Related: How You Can Experience Alaska’s Unbelievable Wildlife in Just a Week! Go Flightseeing For those who don’t have a fear of heights, flightseeing is one of the many things you can do for some summer fun in Alaska. You can get a fascinating look at places you could never normally reach by foot, providing you with an insider’s look at what Alaska really has to offer. There are tours devoted to bear watching, giving you a chance to experience the savage beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. Or you can take a look at the awe-inspiring glaciers that have to be seen to be truly believed. Flightseeing is a fun and exciting way to see another side of Anchorage and will leave you with a deeper appreciation of what this vibrant part of Alaska really has to offer visitors. Go Ziplining in Hoonah Ever wonder what it’s like to fly? Guests of Hoonah’s ziplining course can learn just that as they undertake an aerial adventure 300 feet above the ground. Hoonah’s zipline is the longest course in the world at 5,330 feet with a 1,300-foot drop. Participants begin their adventure by taking a bus to Mount Hoonah, a 1,550-foot peak. During the journey up the mountain, adventurers can behold some of the most breathtaking parts of Alaska’s beauty, including exquisite fauna like deer and bear. You’ll also get views of Glacier Bay Park and the Hoonah skyline. Next, you’ll be taken to the launch area and fitted with special safety equipment. You’ll zipline down the mountain at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour. You’ll get quite the adrenaline rush as they descend over the tops of the trees to Icy Strait Point, one of the most well-known beaches in the state. Icy Strait Point is itself an excellent starting point for a variety of other fun activities, including whale watching. Have a Picnic at Kincaid Park Kincaid Park is one of the most spectacular picnic spots in all the Last Frontier. Located close to Anchorage, Kincaid Park is a massive 1,500-acre recreational center with over 40 miles of walking trails. Picnickers at Kincaid have their choice of what view they would like as they settle down for a nice meal. The park has several specially designated picnic areas and seven grass fields that afford great views of the surrounding wilderness and neighboring mountains. You can also check out the beach at Cook Inlet for a chance to spot beluga whales. Hiking through Kincaid is also a great opportunity to get to know the local tree and animal life. Lucky visitors have been known to see moose, bears, and even river otters. Other activities available to guests of Kincaid include fishing, golfing at the park’s 18-hole course, and biking. Hike the Trail of Blue Ice Alaska is known for its beautiful woodland parks, one of the most striking being Chugach National Forest. Nestled about 80 miles from Anchorage, Chugach is home to the Trail of Blue Ice, one of the most exciting hikes in the state. At five miles long in just one direction, the Trail of Blue Ice may seem a little daunting for many novice hikers. But the walk isn’t too difficult. The entirety of the Trail of Blue Ice is made up of paved gravel and boardwalks. Wooden bridges will help you cross the many streams that wind through the path. The trail allows easy access to Chugach’s many campgrounds and is a great way to see the park’s glaciers. It’s predominately located in Portage Valley, the site of a massive glacier hundreds of years ago. The Trail of Blue Ice now curves through woodlands and the many ponds that dot much of the area. When you make it to the end of the trail, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Portage Lake and the mountains that sit just outside of the park. Comb the El Capitan Cave El Capitan Cave is only accessible during the summer. It’s the longest mapped cave in Alaska, and it extends two miles below ground. El Capitan, located in Tongass National Forest on Prince of Wales Island, allows you to travel 500 feet into its incredible rock structures. Because the cave was formed 400 million years ago when Alaska was a tropical forest, rock structures at El Capitan are made of limestone, one of the most beautiful types of cave formations found in nature. To prevent harm to the cave complex and for safety precautions, the only way to explore the cave is as part of a guided tour hosted by one of the park’s rangers. Tours of El Capitan focus on its incredible geology as well as its storied archeological history. Over the course of the past several decades, scientists studying El Capitan have found the remains of ancient animals in the cave. This includes bones of a brown bear that lived on Prince of Wales Island 12,000 years ago. While adventurers don’t have to worry about running into any prehistoric bears during their visit to El Capitan, they can get a look at some of the cave’s current inhabitants, which include bats and river otters. What other activities in Anchorage have you done? Tell us in the comments below!
