20 Things to do in Alaska this Summer

Are you planning out your summer of adventure in Alaska? Here are two festivals you won’t want to miss!

Bear Paw Festival  “Shake Rattle and Rebuild” July 10 - 14 

This Eagle River festival has something for everyone including live music, a parade, a 5k, a carnival, all sorts of contests, a talent show and a pageant.  

 

Salmonfest “Three days of fish, love and music” August 2 -4

Large scale music festival on the Kenai Peninsula with over 60 bands across four stages. Enjoy Alaska’s top food, art and brews as well as a science symposium and daily children’s program. Proceeds benefit local conservation work.

 
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18 Ongoing Activities around Anchorage

Thanks to our friend Michael Archer for sharing this list of things to do:

  1. Alaska Public Lands Information Center: 4th and F Street

    • Free daily theater showings:

    • Alaska’s Coolest Animals

    • Alaska’s Wild Legacy

    • Heartbeats of Denali

    • Alaska Railroad History

    • The Day the Earth Shook

    • Bears and Volcanoes of Katmai

    • Gold Fever

    • Special Live Programs

  2. Anchorage City History Trolley Tours : 4th and F Street at the Visitor’s Center. Tour highlights: Anchorage, Alaska Railroad, Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park, Anchorage’s historic neighborhoods, Lake Hood – largest seaplane base in the world.

  3. PORTAGE GLACIER CRUISE w/coach depart from Anchorage Westmark Hotel. Beautiful drive along Turnagain Arm to Portage Lake for a 1 hour boat cruise, then a stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

  4. Flightseeing with Rust’s Flying Service (flying on floats from Lake Hood) Anchorage Flightseeing Safari or Prince Wm Sound Glacier

  5. Visitor’s Center at 4th and F Street: Free shuttles to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alaska Zoo & Ulu Factory

  6. Alaska Native Heritage Center – Free shuttle from 4th and F Street. Exhibits and demonstrations of Native Culture.

  7. Anchorage Museum: 625 C Street. Alaska history, native culture, WORLD CLASS MUSEUM.

  8. Alaska Jewish Museum: 1221 E 35th Ave.

  9. HIKE OR BIKE THE COASTAL TRAIL. 11 mile coastal trail from Elderberry Park (at end of 5 th Ave.) to Kincaid Park. Great views of Cook Inlet. Three to four miles out with great views of the Anchorage skyline.

  10. ULU Factory. Take the free shuttle from 4 th and F Street. Watch knives being made. While there, view salmon fishing on Ship Creek.

  11. Ghost Tours: 4th and L Street next to Snow City Café. By Rich Goodfellow: Very interesting whether you believe or not. Lots of history.

  12. Alaska Aviation Museum. Lake Hood. Near Airport. Great exhibits of Alaska Bush Pilots.

  13. Aurora Show at the “PAC” Sydney Laurence Theatre

  14. Kobuk Building - in Town Square. Built in 1915 and one of the oldest commercial buildings in town. It now hosts the Kubuk Café offering food, drinks and unique gifts.

  15. Captain Cook Monument: 3rd and L Street. Great Views.

  16. Oscar Anderson House Museum guided tour of one of the oldest homes in Anchorage. Next to Elderberry Park

  17. FlatTop Mountain Shuttle. Great hikes, from easy to hard. The van stays there to bring you back.

  18. TURNAGAIN ARM SHUTTLE: Stops: Beluga Point, Girdwood, AWCC, Portage Lake Day Lodge.

But wait, there’s more!

Still looking for more ideas? Check out our post from last year which details many other events not mentioned here.