Say you're lucky enough to land in Alaska's largest city and have a car. Your best plan? Get the heck out of town.
Luckily, Anchorage has a few escape routes. Here's what you need to know if you plan to have a day trip or two. The only requirement is that you figure out in which direction you want to start.
Head north
Hop on the Glenn Highway and make your way toward Talkeetna, a mountain-climbing mecca tucked in the heart of the upper Susitna Valley.
8 a.m.
First stop, caffeine. Make a short pit-stop into Jitters Coffee (11401 Old Glenn Hwy). This little coffee shop is the heart of Eagle River, a bedroom community about 15 miles outside of Anchorage. Grab a cup to go – or sit down, enjoy the locals (don't be surprised if you run into an elected official or two), snag a slice of cheesy quiche and settle in. The café has a changing array of local art on display, or if that's not enough slip in to the gallery next door, Picture This, to check out a little more.
10 a.m.
Feeling like an early lunch? Take another side trip to EagleQuest Lodge (11929 Remote Ln.). It's about 15 minutes off the highway, but it's worth the drive through the winding roads of Willow, home to numerous dog mushers (be sure to slow down at trail crossings – they train year-round). The lodge setting is folksy, with black bears and Dall sheep mounts lining the walls. But stay for the hand-packed burgers, complete with homemade buns, or monstrous biscuits and gravy if you're still in a breakfast mood. For a to-go snack before you head out, make sure to grab another type of bun – cinnamon. If you've got the chutzpah, take that bun and make a dash for Deshka Landing, a popular river landing that serves as the starting point for fishermen, snowmachiners and dog mushers in the Matanuska-Susitna area.
11 a.m.
During the spring, the wood trees around Kahiltna Birchworks (38139 South Talkeetna Spur Rd.) look like something out of science fiction movie. Tubes and buckets line the trees in intricate patterns, collecting sap from the many birch trees in the region. At Kahiltna they take that sap–which has 10 times less sugar than maple–to boil down into earthy, sweet Alaska birch syrup. While the trees won't be tapped during your visit, the small facility still shows off its syrup rendering abilities, plus you can taste all the different birch syrup products (including sauces, jellies, jams and caramels) at the shop, which is open from May through September.
11:30 a.m.
Take a break at Mile 13: the Talkeetna Spur Road pull-off. You might be almost to Talkeetna, but take a minute and stop to see the stunning views of the Alaska Range and North America's highest peak. This pullout offers amazing views of Denali (if you're lucky enough to see it on a clear day), along with signs pointing out other peaks in the range including Foraker, Moose's Tooth and Bear Tooth. If you have a little more time, pull off the road and stop into the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. Have a drink or a cup of coffee and enjoy the view from an even higher (and possibly more stunning) vantage point.
12 p.m.
Try to walk off the last bits of that burger by making your way through town. Stop at the numerous galleries and trinket shops along the way, including Nagley's Store (be sure to say hi to Stubbs, the unofficial Mayor of Talkeetna, if he's around). Make your way into the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum to get a taste of Talkeetna history. Maybe wander in to the flight seeing areas and consider a flight. Or grab a drink at the Fairview Inn, a Talkeetna institution where you're bound to encounter a crusty local or two.
1 p.m.
Hang out on the sandy beach of the Talkeetna River, throw rocks, sunbathe or take a short hike around the numerous trails in the area. Maybe even wade in, but definitely don't try to swim in the icy cold river. Be sure, no matter what you do, to take in the stunning views of Denali.
3 p.m.
The Talkeetna Roadhouse (13550 East Main St.) is a must-stop for a late lunch or dinner before making your way out of town. Either enjoy a lunch meal, or if you want a true roadhouse experience, go for the sourdough pancakes, made with a sourdough starter that's been going since 1902. The hotcakes are best doused in birch syrup for a true Talkeetna experience.
Head south
Look to the Seward Highway, one of Alaska's most scenic, to take you to Hope. A little off the beaten path, this tiny community on the other side of Turnagain Arm is quiet, quaint and full of outdoor opportunities and a plethora of old-time Southcentral Alaska gold rush history.
9 a.m.
Skip breakfast in town and head to The Bake Shop in Girdwood (194 Olympic Mountain Lp.). Be sure to chow down on a monster European-style cinnamon bun, served with a slab of butter to keep you going through the day. Maybe take some time to explore the base of the mountain, or take the tram up to the top of the mountain for stunning views of Turnagain Arm.
11 a.m.
Check out bears, moose, bison, bald eagles, wolves and a whole slew of Alaska wildlife in a picturesque setting at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (Mile 79 Seward Hwy.). The conservation center serves as both an educational and wildlife outreach program, often taking in injured wildlife to be rehabilitated before being sent back to the wild, or keeping those that cannot survive on their own. If you have a little more time, check out the all-access tour, which includes a chance to see behind the scenes at the bear enclosure and get up close and personal with Snickers the porcupine.
1 p.m.
Take a short detour off the highway and check out the Begich, Boggs Visitor Center to learn more about Portage Glacier. Head into the visitor center ($5 for adults; children 15 and under free) and check out interactive displays on both the glacier and the Chugach National Forest in which the glacier resides. Check out the icebergs that often float ashore or take a cruise out on the lake to actually see the glacier, which has receded beyond view of the visitor center in recent years. Those looking to hike around can take advantage of numerous trails in the area.
3 p.m.
Head to the Hope cutoff. Hope is about 20 minutes off the main road, but it feels like another world. When you get into town be sure to check out the numerous art shops, including the Hope Library Gift Shop, which is more gallery than actual library, with a slew of locally made artisan goods. Have lunch or a drink at the iconic Seaview Café and bar (or stay late for one of the rollicking local bands to come through). Head to the end of the road to the Porcupine Campground to hike around trails like Gull Rock or Hope Point.
This story appeared in the 2015 Alaska Dispatch News Visitors' Guide to Alaska. Contact special sections editor Jamie Gonzales at jgonzales@alaskadispatch.com.