When it comes to vacations, it usually comes down to a choice between a city break or an outdoorsy getaway. That’s why Anchorage bucks that trend, by presenting visitors with both options all year long. 

Here's why. It's the largest city in Alaska, with a geographic footprint roughly as big as the state of Delaware. Anchorage is the kind of place where you can walk the trails and take off in a seaplane, soaring over glaciers and lakes, to get a bird’s-eye view of Denali. Where you can see a Broadway show and then stay up and see the northern lights. Where you can have a craft brew and watch anglers fish for salmon right down the street. Where you can eat at a restaurant and potentially see a bald eagle flying high in the sky or a moose casually stopping traffic downtown.

Anchorage is all these things and more. (Plus, it’s easy to get to with nonstop flights from 26 U.S. cities.) Read our guide to find out how it blends the two choices so you can plot your adventure.

Northern exposure

Whether you’re in the mood for a run, a leisurely walk or a bike ride, Anchorage has plenty of room to exercise within its city limits. (Covering nearly 2,000 square miles, the city holds 227 municipal parks and 250 miles of trails, to be exact.) Fittingly for Alaska, the Moose Loop traces the shape of the animal when viewed on a map.

This 32-mile route is the collective term for four main multi-use trails, including the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which tends to be good for spotting actual moose. For 11 miles, this path follows the shore of Cook Inlet from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park, winding along coastal marshes and over forested hills. Expect views of Mount Susitna every day (and Denali on clear days). Bike rentals are available.

Prepare to be wowed by the 495,000-acre Chugach State Park, one of the largest state parks in America. Starting just seven miles east of downtown Anchorage, Chugach is so extensive that it spans nine different environments, including a temperate rain forest, remote glaciers, craggy mountain valleys and a boreal spruce-birch woodland. No matter the season, there are activities for all, from paddling, boating and camping to skiing, fat-tire biking and snowmobiling. Wildlife viewing is, of course, year-round, but the animals you’ll see depend on the time of year.

British explorer James Cook is probably the only person in history to be disappointed by Turnagain Arm, which got its name because he had to “turn again” in this dead-end waterway when looking for the Northwest Passage in 1778. Today, the Seward Highway runs along the arm on its way from Anchorage down to Seward. On this stretch of road, you can hike, bike, see glaciers and do some of the best salmon fishing in the world. Stop at Beluga Point and watch the beluga whales chase their salmon dinner. At McHugh Creek, you can check out a picturesque waterfall or hike up a mountain. Potter Marsh offers a scenic walk via a boardwalk that young and old can easily maneuver as well.

We’d be remiss not to mention that quintessential Alaska activity: dog sledding. From October through March, live your best life as a warmly-dressed musher as a pack of fast-moving huskies pulls you and your sled along a snow-packed trail. A number of tour companies are at the ready to make your Iditarod dreams come true. (And if you’re in town in March, celebrate the 55^th anniversary of this iconic event as the ceremonial start is in Anchorage.) Should you be in town during the warmer months, you can still go dog sledding, just in a different way. You can either be in a wheeled cart in a forest or take a helicopter ride to a glacier. 

While downtown is full of hotels, bars and restaurants, you can also try a few unexpected things here. From late May through September, go salmon fishing right in town at Ship Creek, an urban salmon fishery. Anglers can catch 20- to 30-pound king salmon and 8- to 10-pound silver salmon here. You can pick up a fishing license at The Bait Shack right on the shores of Ship Creek or even at a gas station or grocery store. Alternatively, from mid-August to April, you can stay at a hotel that offers a northern lights wakeup service, so you won’t miss out on the great outdoors, even in your pajamas.

Abundant flavors 

Anchorage’s diverse dining options tend to surprise visitors who expect limited offerings up north. Historically, Alaska brought many immigrant workers from Pacific nations and Mexico to various industries, including commercial fishing and cannery. Many stayed and opened restaurants, so you’ll see a lot of Filipino, Korean, Thai and Mexican eateries in addition to independent diners and chains from the Lower 48. Ethiopian cuisine has also found a devoted following here too. The annual Spenard Food Truck Carnival offers the chance to sample as much international street food as your stomach can fit. 

You’ll see some uniquely Alaskan ingredients on the menu as you explore the local dining scene. Reindeer sausage can be dished alongside eggs on breakfast plates or served hot-dog style on a bun with onions and mustard. Birch syrup, harvested from Alaska’s paper birch trees, is sometimes found in cocktails, breakfast menus or salmon glazes. Lingonberries, which are pretty tart, are used in jams, syrups and sauces.

When it comes to drinks, there’s a strong coffee culture here, with local roasters taking center stage. Kaladi Brothers Coffee can be found not only in brick-and-mortar storefronts, but also in restaurants and grocery stores. But Anchorage doesn’t just serve up caffeine.

Thanks to the crystal-clear glacier water from Eklutna Lake and locally sourced barley, wheat, berries and fruit, there are plenty of ingredients for the many craft breweries, distilleries and wineries in the city to create innovative drinks. Check out the Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival on Jan. 30 at the Dena’ina Center. Here, you can taste award-winning beers, ciders, meads, wines, seltzers and non-alcoholic beverages; hear live music from local bands and chow down on some local food. 

Local vibes

All of Anchorage is located on the traditional homeland of the Eklutna Dena’ina people. At the Alaska Native Heritage Center downtown, you can immerse yourself in 10,000 years of Alaska Native history—including contemporary ways of life—through art, dance, native games demonstrations, traditional native dwellings, films and more. Also downtown, the Anchorage Museum explores the history of Alaska and showcases local art on its four levels. In addition to a planetarium, the museum also presents performances, artist talks, live music and film.

Permanent exhibits include "Alaska," which highlights essential aspects of life in the state, as well as "Art of the North," which offers varied perceptions of the landscape and wilderness through different mediums. Through April 4, you can view “Nunalleq: The Old Village," which showcases the community-led effort to save more than 200,000 artifacts from a 16th-century settlement along the Bering Sea coast.

Enjoy a night of soothing sounds with the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra. Started in 1946, the organization was 13 years old before Alaska even became a state. The orchestra has grown from a small community of 17 musicians to its current robust group of 80. Though many have been trained at renowned conservatories and schools, most of them work as teachers, engineers, attorneys and accountants in Anchorage rather than as full-time musicians.

For a night of theater, dance, film, musicals, touring acts and more, head to the Alaska Center for Performing Arts (locally referred to as the PAC), whose three theaters cater to different performance needs. Check out the live storytelling with The Moth Mainstage (Feb. 11) and Broadway’s Next Presents the Phony Awards (Feb. 19), where an improv team turns audience suggestions into full-blown musical numbers.

Body boost   

In addition to the wellness benefits of so much outdoor activity at your doorstep, there are ways to recharge your body in Anchorage. Visitors can purchase a single 90-minute session for $95 to the Nordic Spa at the Alaska Club in Anchorage. The Nordic Spa is built around contrast therapy, with the at-your-pace rhythm of hot, cold, rest, repeat. Expect hot tubs, a salt stone sauna, steam rooms, cold plunges, waterfalls and a serene outdoor space to relax. (There is a fence for privacy and, let's face it, probably to keep out the 1,500 moose found in the city.)

Further out, the 50,000-square-foot Alyeska Nordic Spa is a year-round spa destination set within the Chugach Mountains on the grounds of Alyeska Resort. Focused on hydrotherapy, the spa features hot and cold pools, saunas, steam rooms and exfoliation cabins. The treatment menu includes such services as the Nordic Signature Massage, with both warming and cooling elements, plus a nod to sauna whisking traditions. Spend the day here indulging in the exfoliation cabin or relaxing by the fire pits and cozy nooks throughout the facility. Side-by-side couples massage treatments are available, so you can both experience Zen at the same time. 

Ready to go? Order a free visitors guide and start planning your trip to Anchorage now.