Alaska Excursions

Alaska Excursions

A wide range of trips throughout Southcentral Alaska.

Iditarod 41

Photos and stories from the last great race.

Anchorage: 45°/62°/Partly sunny

Fairbanks: 46°/69°/Cloudy

Juneau: 48°/65°/Cloudy

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Downtown Anchorage attractions

Roasted ears of corn are on the menu at the Saturday Market, a weekly summer event in downtown Anchorage.

Anchorage Daily News

Roasted ears of corn are on the menu at the Saturday Market, a weekly summer event in downtown Anchorage.

More on Alaska travel highlights

Mat-Su, Kenai Peninsula, Prince William Sound, Copper River accommodations

Southcentral towns outside Anchorage often have a wide selection of lodging to accommodate visitors who come to town for a weekend's relaxation, to fish or to show off the state to relatives.

Inside Passage lodging: Juneau, Ketchikan and more

Visitors to Southeast Alaska have a lot of choices in lodging, from chain hotels in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan to fishing and hunting lodges tucked away on the shores of the Inside Passage.

Western Alaska lodging: Kodiak, Nome, Bethel and more

Western Alaska's grand expanse of terrain, water and wildlife attracts many visitors with an interest in the outdoors. Its larger cities -- Kodiak, Bethel, Unalaska/Dutch Harbor and Nome -- put up quite a few visitors and governmental and commercial guests for the night.

Northern Alaska lodging: Barrow and Kotzebue

Hotels in Barrow and Kotzebue, in Northern Alaska, cater to tour groups, which arrive by plane from Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Interior lodging and restaurants: Fairbanks, Denali and more

Interior Alaska has a broad range of accommodations, from rustic cabins to hotel suites with kitchens.

Anchorage-area hotels, B&Bs, hostels, lodges and resorts

Lodging in Alaska

Green buses shuttle visitors into Denali

Flightseeing at Denali

Denali campground guide

Bus service to Denali

Limited offer: Drive Denali for free

Tundra wildlife and natural history tours

Rafting the Nenana reveals Denali's wet side

Alaska Railroad to Denali

Reserve campsite, bus ticket early for Denali trip

Hiking and backcountry camping at Denali

Denali Institute ecosystem courses

Hotels, campgrounds, lodges welcome visitors

Driving Denali in autumn

Denali climate and sunshine

Driving to Denali

Ferry and cruise trips near Anchorage

Driving in Anchorage

Day trips south of Anchorage

Day trips north of Anchorage

A city of parks

Savvy shopping in Anchorage

Finding history

Attractions around Anchorage

Downtown Anchorage attractions

Kayaking a perfect sea -- Prince William Sound

Rafting and kayaking are good across North

River kayaking and rafting in Alaska

Kayaking the icy waters

Harvesting glacier ice

Ice worms on the glacier

Why is glacier ice blue?

Worthington Glacier

Kennicott Glacier

Matanuska Glacier

Exit Glacier

Glaciers in the distance

Other glaciers reachable by land

See the glaciers up close

Roadside glaciers

Glacier viewing in Alaska

Flightseeing at Denali

Flightseeing over Alaska's bush

Flightseeing in Alaska

Big catch, big cash

Ecotours in Alaska

Alaskans cruise Alaska

Health inspections of ships

Cruise lines serving Alaska

Alaska ports of call

Cruises in Alaska

Bird Creek is considered instant outdoors

Inside Passage camping

Arctic welcomes campers

Theaters, music and other things to do

4th Avenue Marketplace

333 W 4th Ave, 8:30 to 10 p.m. daily

Come visit Downtown’s Premier Alaskan-made shopping center! Our shops feature Alaskan-made gifts, art, and collectibles. Grab a bite to eat, or a latte, and explore our collection of 63 Fred Machetanz paintings or our Earthquake exhibit. The center also is home to the Alaska Experience Theater, which offers two attractions at one site! The Experience Theatre treats visitors to a 180-degree, wrap-around screen presentation of "Alaska the Greatland." The 40-minute movie highlights Alaska's wildlife, scenery and people. The Earthquake Exhibit focuses on the 1964 earthquake that destroyed much of Anchorage. The exhibit includes a movie presentation of the quake and interactive displays that describe the Richter Scale, the slide at Earthquake Park and the Tsunami Warning Center. Alaska Experience Theatre admission: $10.99 adults, $5.99 children. Earthquake Exhibit admission: $5.99 adults, $3.99 children. Admission to both exhibits: $13.99 adults and $7.99. 907-276-3730.

Anchorage Museum of History and Art

121 W. Seventh Ave., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The museum also features art of the north from travelers, adventurers and Native artists. Admission: $6.50 adults, $6 seniors, free for children 17 and younger, but a $2 donation is suggested. 343-4326

Imaginarium Science Discovery Center

737 W. Fifth Ave. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday

The hands-on Imaginarium Science Discovery Center includes a planetarium, hourly science demonstrations, electric space exhibits, arctic ecology exhibits, bubbles lab, physics of toys, reptile displays and marine touch tanks. Gift shop, with expanded hours May 15-Sept. 15. Admission: $5 adults, $4.50 children ages 2-12 and senior citizens. 907-276-3179.

CineVentures Alaska Discovery Theatre

621 W. Sixth Ave., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, May 24 to Sept. 15

"Alaska Spirit of the Wild" and "Wolves" are shown on a 32-by-43-foot screen in the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. "Alaska" was shot during 30 weeks and includes wildlife, landscapes, seasons and people. "Wolves" takes viewers into the world of the wild animal via plane, helicopter and foot. The film was shot in several locations, including Alaska, Montana, Idaho, Quebec and Yellowstone National Park. Both 45-minute films are in the IMAX format. Admission: $9.75 adults, $8.75 seniors and $7.75 students for a single show; tickets are $14, $12.50 and $11 for both shows. 907-263-ARTS or 800-478-7328.

Discovery Theatre

621 W. Sixth Ave. Four shows daily in the summer

The northern lights disappear during the daylight-friendly summer months, but they are still visible indoors. More than 300 slides of the aurora borealis are set to classical music during this 38-minute show. There also is time set aside for questions from the audience. Admission: $7.50 adults, $6.50 seniors, $4 military and $3.95 children. 907-263-ARTS or 800-478-7328

Oscar Anderson House

420 M St., noon to 5 p.m. weekdays, June 1 to mid-September

The house is one of the first built in the city. It was built in 1915 by Swedish immigrant Oscar Anderson, an early Anchorage businessman. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Sites and is Anchorage's only house museum. Many of the original artifacts belonging to the family are still in the home. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 5-12. 907-274-2336

4th Avenue Theatre

630 W. Fourth Ave., 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily

Anchorage's only art deco building, which opened in 1947 and survived the 1964 earthquake, is home to a museum photo display of old Anchorage on the lower level and huge murals. The theater also offers the "Alaskana Show," featuring actors portraying old-time Alaskans telling tales of state history. The show includes a dinner buffet. The Fourth Avenue Trolley tour departs from the front of the theater with city tours and trips around the city; the price is $9.95. Free admission to the theater; the dinner show is $16.95. 907-257-5609