The city’s coast consists primarily of unstable mudflats. People are warned to not walk on this area due to extreme tidal changes and the very fine glacial silt. Tourists have been known to walk on the seemingly solid silt that is present when the tide is out and become stuck in the mud.

Anchorage’s crime rate, both for violent and property crimes, is higher than both Alaska and the U.S. as a whole. When compared to similarly sized U.S. cities, Anchorage has a higher rate of violent crime. Anchorage, and Alaska in general, also have very high rates of sexual assault in comparison with the rest of the country, especial with Native American demographics as victims.

Take precautions: pepper spray is legal (use at your own risk) in America, rape whistles will draw attention to your location, try to remain in a group and in populated areas.

Anchorage is a north-western coastal city that has a subarctic climate. Therefore, it will be extremely cold and windy most of the time. Its proximity to the sea also increases humidity. It does not rain often; most rain occurs in August and September.

The average summer temperature is 16 °C whilst the average winter temperature is -8 °C.

For the most reasonable weather visit in late spring and early summer.

Dress and plan accordingly.

Alaska Museum of Science and Nature

This museum explores Alaska’s unique geological, cultural, and ecological history via what it refers to ‘learning adventures’ in interactive exhibits. Showcasing both natural and pre-historic times, you can see the teeth, claws, eggs and skeletons of dinosaurs as well as artists’ reproductions so you can see what they really could have looked like (spoiler most dinos had feathers). There are also exhibits about modern birds that show the evolution from dinosaur to current wildlife. This connection with the past themed learning is further shown through the discussions of how ancient whales relate to modern whales and how their lives operate today. Creative understanding is encouraged so you can touch and draw artefacts to gain a fuller understanding of what the museum has to offer.

Anchorage Museum 

The Anchorage Museum is “a world-class museum located in the heart of Alaska’s largest city”. Serving as a cultural and educational centre for the community, the museum is consistently ranked among Alaska’s top ten attractions. Presenting 16–20 changing exhibitions in tandem with education programs and activities, you’ll be sure to learn something new here. Long-term exhibits include the Alaska history gallery, Alaska art galleries, the Imaginarium Discovery Centre science galleries and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Centre, featuring Alaska Native artefacts on permanent loan from the Smithsonian Institution.

Alaska contains more than half of America’s national parks. With 17 national park units and 16 national wildlife refuges, you are truly spoiled for choice when it comes to natural wonders and wildlife. Due to the layout of the state, Anchorage is a central point that allows relatively easy access to a range of parks. Without too much travel, you can easily go from the most populated area in the state to awe-inspiring glaciers, an abundance of nature and a huge list of possible activities to do.

To cover just a few places and possibilities:

Kenai Fjords National Park – get introduced to the magnificent creatures that call this glacier-filled park home. See whales and otters go about their lives in their natural habitat.

Denali National Park – home to North America’s tallest peak so head up for a breath-taking hike amongst the mountains. You can also visit the working sled dog kennel, home to the sled team that patrol the park during the winter season.

Lake Clark National Park – providing an excellent opportunity for hiking, lake kayaking and rafting. You can also take a small plane tour of this park.

Katmai National Park – attend the famed bear viewing opportunities, during their ferocious salmon eating period, as well as possibly doing a spot of your own fishing (ideally far away from the bears).

Wrangell-Saint Elias – witness glaciers that are larger than Rhode Island as this is the largest national park in the US. The park provides ice-climbing activities for all skill-levels but that’s just one of many innumerable things to do within the 13 million acres of land.

Alaska Native Heritage Centre

Visit the Alaska Native Heritage Centre (ANHC), a living cultural centre that promotes active observance of the traditions of the five major culture groups of Alaska. This museum features permanent collections, educational programs, traditional workshops (which should be considered a privilege as some native art forms are in danger of being lost due to lack of practice) and the opportunity to buy native art to support the community. The ANHC is surrounded by Alaska’s beautiful wilderness of trees and lakes whilst also being incredibly close to Anchorage so it is also easy to get to! This is an amazing opportunity to learn something new as there are Cultural Awareness Workshops for those who are seeking to learn more about Alaska Native people and culture in general. There are also sections of the area dedicated to authentic native dwellings for you to see. Visit the Gathering Place and get involved with learning songs and games- there are also traditional dance performances showcased for you to enjoy. There are also film screenings, where you can learn about the history of Alaska. There is so much to do and its one of the best ways to get to know the real Alaska!