While working remotely for a few weeks from Anchorage in July 2021, I had the chance not only to explore the city but also to check out some of the areas nearby. (Check out my posts for more information on my weekend road trip on the Kenai Peninsula or car-free weekend in Denali National Park.) Here are some tips for Anchorage weekend activities as well as nearby to the south and to the north.
Day 1 – Anchorage & Girdwood
2pm – Grab a late lunch before you leave town. There are lots of great options in Anchorage; a few I enjoyed are Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria, Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop (has sandwiches) and South Restaurant & Coffeehouse.
3pm – Head to the Bird Creek Campground, just a 30 minute drive south. (Although it’s convenience to the city does mean that there is some noise from the highway.) All campsites are first come, first served, so set up your tent to snag a spot and then you’re ready for an afternoon adventure.
4pm – The Alyeska Resort, just down the road from Bird Creek, has amazing skiing/boarding in the winter, but also hiking in the summer! Head up the North Face trail, and then you can take the tram down.
7pm – There are a few dinner options in Girdwood; we checked out the Girdwood Brewing Company food truck scene before heading back to camp.
Day 2 – Girdwood & Anchorage
8am – No rush to pack up camp, because your day-hike is just down the road back in Girdwood. Hike a few miles up to the first pass on the Crow Pass trail and you’ll get to see a glacier, eat lunch by an alpine lake, and make it back in plenty of time to head back to Anchorage for dinner.
6pm – If you didn’t already try an Anchorage brewery, I can again recommend Moose’s Tooth, or 49th State Brewing (especially the rooftop views).
8pm – Take advantage of that late Alaska sunset to roll in late to Eklutna Lake Camprgound. (These sites are also first-come, first-served though, so you could also consider going to the campground first and cooking up a camp dinner – maybe with some beers to go from a brewery.)
Day 3
9am – Sleep in if you like, and then enjoy the lake! Take the lakeside trail as far as you like along the lake, or explore the nearby trial system. There are boats to rent at the lake as well.
Other Anchorage Weekend Activities
Here are some other adventures I loved in and around Anchorage:
- Rent a bike and ride along the Coastal Trail to Kincaid Park
- Visit the Anchorage Museum
- Hike the Flattop Trail
- Walk around downtown
Anchorage is a great city so there is of course much more to do – this is just a sampling of what I got up to!
Google probably wants me to make sure you know that you can find other sample weekend 48-hour trip itineraries here, and other national park guides here. You can see all my Alaska posts, including a guide to taking the ferry to Alaska, here. And, I should probably re-state that this is a post about Anchorage weekend activities and what to do nearby. Happy walking!
