Lauramay LaChance

Situated between soaring mountains and the Cook Inlet, Anchorage is completely surrounded by wilderness. As the largest city in Alaska, and where half of the state’s population calls home, no other urban area in the state comes close the expanse of wilderness and parklands that are accessible from Anchorage. But the city is not just an entry point to the great outdoors. This thriving metropolis boasts craft breweries, open-air markets, cultural centers and a growing culinary scene. Ready to find out more? Check out our list of the coolest places to explore, where to find delicious food with an Alaskan twist and even where you can see the northern lights in the middle of the summer. The best things to do in Anchorage, Alaska will surprise you. While this list is curated, as always, it isn’t ranked—we just couldn’t choose favorites. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.

Alaska is wild, captivating and vast. In a state that’s bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined, it’s impossible to run out of things to do in Alaska. Whether your goal is to get outside and hike some of its peaks and glaciers or you’re there to camp and get a glimpse of the magical Northern Lights, the U.S.’s Last Frontier is the place to do it all. While some might think of the 49th state as a place for the outdoorsy, the list of best things to do in Alaska tells a different story: you can just as easily go fishing or sit down at a restaurant and enjoy someone else’s fresh catch with a cold pint of locally brewed beer. The only question is: how adventurous are you? Tick off your favorites from the list, which we’ve curated, as always, but didn’t rank—we just couldn’t choose favorites. Done something on this list and loved it? Share it with the hashtag #TimeOutDoList and tag @TimeOutEverywhere. Find out more about how Time Out selects the very best things to do all over the world.