Anchorage Travel and Things to Do Guide

A modern city surrounded by magnificent wilderness, Anchorage offers the perfect blend of urban and wild. Its unique location makes it a fantastic global crossroads. Only a three-hour flight from Seattle, five from Los Angeles, and within surprising reach of flights from Europe and Asia. Arriving by air, guests also enjoy breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains and night skies lit with the phenomenal northern lights. Arrival at Ted Stevens Anchorage International is a breeze for roughly five million passengers each year.
Once in Anchorage, visitors find that traversing the city is easy and affordable thanks to plentiful taxis, ride sharing, and a public bus system. In spite of its northern location, Anchorage is also a wonderful place to explore on foot. With pedestrian pathways, visitors enjoy strolling through streets lined with gorgeous greenery.
In downtown Anchorage, planners are greeted with a wealth of sleek, modern hotel and meeting facilities to accommodate groups of all sizes. The city's Civic and Convention District is home to three spectacular facilities. Within walking distance to over 3,000 hotel rooms, several attractions, and a multitude of shopping and dining options, the district is home to the stunning Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center. Featuring 200,000 square feet of meeting space, the center was designed to be the most significant convention facility in the far northern portion of the United States.
Just steps away, the William A. Egan Civic and Convention Center and Alaska Center for the Performing Arts also call the district home. The Egan Center features 45,000 square feet of meeting space including 22 function rooms, while the 176,000-square-foot Alaska Center for the Performing Arts offers state-of-the-art equipment for presentations and other events. Each of the facilities is within a brief walk of one another.
Beyond Anchorage's phenomenal traditional meeting facilities, planners can easily find a unique Alaska meeting location at event facilities spread across the city. Featuring a reflecting pool and a grand marble staircase, the atrium of the Anchorage Museum makes an elegant backdrop for groups of up to 500 people. Or, host an outdoor event amidst the aromatic blooms of the Alaska Botanical Garden. Meet under the wings of a historic aircraft at the Alaska Aviation Museum or amid Alaska Native culture at the Alaska Native Heritage Center. Strike gold with an outdoor event at the area's most productive turn of the century gold mine, Crow Creek Mine. Alternatively, for contemporary cuisine in one of Alaska's most highly acclaimed restaurants, smaller groups can gather in the banquet room at Anchorage's sleek Kinley's Restaurant.
The majority of Alaska's businesses and state officials are found in and around Anchorage. The resource sector is Anchorage's most prominent industry with multinational companies such as ConocoPhillips having high-profile offices here. Several colleges and universities also call the city home, including the University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University.
For more information, check out the other sections of our Anchorage event planning guide.