After two long flights from Australia, we landed in Anchorage feeling equal parts exhausted and exhilarated. With only one day to explore Alaska’s largest city, we knew we had to make the most of every minute. As the sun only sets at around 10pm in Autumn we had plenty of daylight hours to explore.
Anchorage, set dramatically on the Cook Inlet and surrounded by towering peaks, is the perfect blend of urban energy and raw wilderness. Despite being the state’s biggest city, Anchorage isn’t the capital—that title belongs to Juneau, tucked away in Alaska’s southeastern panhandle. But Anchorage holds its own, offering an unbeatable mix of culture, outdoor adventure, and mouthwatering food.
After chatting with locals over coffee, we set out to tackle some must-do experiences.
1. Start the Morning on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail
After over 37 hours travelling it was good to get in the fresh air and rent a bike downtown and hit the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, a stunning 17 km paved path that hugs the shoreline before winding into lush forests.
The air was crisp on the Cook inlet, and the path goes right past the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport so you could watch massive UPS plane flying overhead. We kept our eyes peeled for moose, who are known to wander the path, but this time they eluded us. Even without wildlife sightings, the views of the inlet and distant mountains were worth every pedal stroke- it felt good to get moving. It did start raining at the end of the bike ride, but our FCS jackets kept us nice and dry.
2. Coffee and Pastries at Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop
After the morning ride, we headed straight for the fresh bakery goods at the Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop.
This cozy, sunlit bakery is a local favorite, and it’s easy to see why. We devoured flaky croissants, rich cupcakes, and velvety espresso while chatting with locals about their favourite Alaskan adventures.
3. Get Up Close with a Glacier
No trip to Alaska is complete without seeing a glacier, and the Matanuska Glacier was just a scenic two-hour drive from Anchorage. Walking on 10,000-year-old ice, and peering into jagged blue crevasses felt like stepping onto another planet. The Matanuska Glacier has several moulins on it- which are vertical shafts within a glacier, formed by surface meltwater eroding downward into the ice to reach the glacier's bed. The guide told us that over 40 people had died on this glacier- the last one being a teenager who got too close to the moulin and fell in - scary stuff! The Glacier measures about 43 km in length, it advances forward at a slow pace—around 1 foot per day—but melts faster than it accumulates, meaning it's gradually retreating. Whilst it was a freezing day, we all felt nice and warm wearing our comfortable FCS socks and warm Florence fleeces.
4. Dinner and Drinks at 49th State Brewing
In Anchorage, we rewarded ourselves with a locally brewed beer at 49th State Brewing. The rooftop patio offers panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains—a perfect spot to toast a day well spent.
Alaska officially became the 49th state of the United States on January 3, 1959. Before that, it was a U.S. territory purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million—about 2 cents an acre. Alaskans often refer to the rest of the United States as “the Lower 48”.
