Alaska.com: Alaska's Travel Website

Alaska Railroad Depot

The Anchorage depot, built in 1942, is home to the historic Alaska Railroad and an antique train engine that was used to build the Panama Canal, plus historical photos and a gift shop.

WHERE: 411 W. First Ave.

WHEN: Ticket window hours 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily May 15-Sept. 12; winter hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

COST: Free. Train tickets vary.

PHONE: 265-2494

WEB: alaskarailroad.com

Alaska Public Lands Information Center

Take a walk, watch a movie or get a map at the center, home to a wealth of information about Alaska. Highlights include natural history exhibits, regular screenings of films about Alaska and a live program at 2 p.m. daily featuring speakers or animals from the Alaska Zoo. A guided Captain Cook walk at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. daily takes visitors to Resolution Park.

WHERE: 605 W. Fourth Ave.

WHEN: Summer, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily; winter, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

COST: Free

PHONE: 644-3661; 866-869-6887

WEB: alaskacenters.gov

Anchorage Light Speed Planet Walk

Visit the sun and the nine planets of the solar system -- including the recently exiled Pluto -- on this walk through downtown Anchorage and along the Coastal Trail. Take one step per second and you'll travel the equivalent of the speed of light. There are informative signs about the members of the solar system. The sun is at Fifth Avenue and G Street; Mercury is at Fifth Avenue and H Street; Venus is in front of the Hotel Captain Cook on Fifth Avenue; Earth is at Fifth Avenue and L Street; Mars is in Elderberry Park; Jupiter is at the Westchester Lagoon dam; Saturn is at Lyn Ary Park; Uranus is at the top of the Point Woronzof hill; Neptune is along the Coastal Trail; and Pluto is near the Kincaid Park chalet.

WHERE: Starting downtown at Fifth Avenue and G Street

WHEN: Daily

COST: Free

"Aurora -- Alaska's Great Northern Lights"

While summer visitors may enjoy Alaska's long days, they miss the spectacular northern lights. The aurora is visible indoors at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts via a 40-minute digital show set to music. The show includes rare images of the aurora borealis photographed in Alaska since 1981.

WHERE: Sydney Laurence Theatre in the PAC, 621 W. Sixth Ave.

WHEN: Hourly shows from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, May 24 to Sept. 1; winter shows on request at the Alaska Visitors Center, 733 W. Fourth Ave. Call 929-2822 to schedule winter showings.

COST: $8.75 adults, $7.75 seniors and military, $6.75 children

PHONE: 263-2993

WEB: thealaskacollection.com

Cyrano's

The charming theater-cafe-bookstore has been in business for more than 20 years, with theater for 18 years. Cyrano's Off-Center Playhouse has eclectic offerings, featuring a different play each month, including Alaska originals and classic and contemporary works. The theater is in one of Anchorage's oldest structures, built in 1915. The cafe features beer and wine, appetizer plates and desserts. Cyrano's also hosts poetry readings and special events.

WHERE: 413 D St.

WHEN: Hours vary, but play performances are 7 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.

COST: Prices range from $15 to $22.50 depending on the show and admission type. Call 263-2787 or go to centertix.net to purchase in advance. Box office opens two hours before performances.

PHONE: 274-2599

WEB: cyranos.org

Delaney Park Strip

The long, block-wide downtown park is the home for a variety of festivals during the summer months. Additionally, it has tennis courts, volleyball courts, softball diamonds, a train engine built in 1943 that kids can play on and the beautiful Centennial Rose Garden. During its long history, the park has served as a firebreak and an airstrip.

WHERE: Between Ninth and 10th avenues and A and P streets

WHEN: Daily

COST: Free

4th Avenue Market Place

The Alaska Experience Theatre, now in its 29th year, presents "Alaska the Great Land" and an earthquake simulator at the popular downtown mall. After the movies, browse through the rest of the mall, which includes art galleries and other shops. Free attractions include a Fred Machetanz art exhibit, a historical walking tour of Anchorage, a Tlingit totem pole and earthquake photos from 1964. Native performances are presented Monday to Saturday.

WHERE: Fourth Avenue and C Street

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

COST: Free

PHONE: 278-3263

WEB: 4thavenuemarket.com, alaskaexperiencetheatre.com

Log Cabin & Downtown Visitors Center

The Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau's downtown location is a hub of activity and information. The log cabin and downtown brochure center has a huge variety of visitor brochures, free guides and information. Talk with the friendly volunteers, who have firsthand knowledge of Anchorage. A colorful flowering park surrounds the charming cabin and nearby brochure center.

WHERE: Fourth Avenue and F Street

WHEN: October through April 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily; May and September 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; June through August 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

COST: Free

WEB: anchorage.net

SegTours of Anchorage

Hop aboard a two-wheeled Segway for a guided tour of downtown Anchorage that includes Town Square, Ship Creek, Resolution Park and the historic town site. Tours are between 90 minutes and two hours. Reservations required.

WHERE: 325 E St.

WHEN: 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day

COST: $65

PHONE: 441-1124

WEB: segtours.net

E-MAIL: segtours@gci.net

Ship Creek

The popular urban fishery is great for salmon anglers who have only a few hours or for sightseers who want to watch the big fish head upstream.

WHERE: Near the railroad tracks north of First Avenue

WHEN: Open daily; fishing times vary

COST: Free to watch

Town Square Park

Town Square should be part of every visitor's itinerary with its beautiful flowers and full schedule of summer events and festivals. The small park is next to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts. The park has an excellent view of the Whaling Wall, painted by artist Wyland.

WHERE: Between Fifth and Sixth avenues and E and F streets

WHEN: Open daily

COST: Free

WildRide Sled Dog Show

Learn about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from the Seavey family, which includes three generations of Iditarod mushers. The show guides visitors through the history of sled dogs and stories from the trail. The stars of the show are 20 Alaska huskies and the host is Dallas Seavey, the youngest musher to have run the Iditarod.

WHERE: 185 E. Ship Creek Ave.

WHEN: 3 and 7 p.m. daily, dinners at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Memorial Day to Labor Day

COST: $24 adults, $12 children; dinner and show in evening $59 adults and $29 for children

PHONE: 888-221-6874

WEB: ididaride.com