With only a couple of weeks’ notice, Chris and I were off on our first adventure as an engaged couple – Anchorage, Alaska in the winter.

You might think that this Florida boy and California-loving gal were completely crazy to go on such a last-minute wintery trek and you might be right.

But images of wintry wondrous mountains and the snowy wilderness were calling our name and we went anyway.

We actually didn’t plan too much in advance (mostly because we didn’t have the time to) but instead, opted for asking the locals what we should do and where we should go. So here is our one-week itinerary in Anchorage, Alaska in the winter including:

• The most epic road trip we’ve ever gone on
• How we came face to face with a moose
• The story of how Chris fell off a cliff in search of a frozen waterfall and other “successful” hikes in Alaska in the winter
• Our favorite cozy coffee shops and movie theaters for when the sun goes down at 3PM
• And a few honorable mentions that didn’t fit into our itinerary but Alaskans raved about

There are a couple winter activities missing from our Anchorage itinerary – Skiing and snowboarding.

After going to the top of a ski mountain on a gondola and looking out over the edge, we decided these were not the mountains we wanted to learn how to ski on.

But, yes, there are plenty other winter activities in Anchorage to keep you busy even for non-skiers like us!

In this detailed one-week itinerary for Anchorage and the surrounding areas, you’ll find everything you need to know for planning a wintery adventure in the majestic 49th state.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Anchorage Winter Travel Tips
2. Anchorage Winter Packing List
3. 1-Week Itinerary in Anchorage, Alaska
4. Introduction to Alaska at the Eagle River Nature Center
5. How to See Alaskan Animals Up Close
6. Drawbacks of Hiking in Alaska in the Winter
7. Exploring the city of Anchorage, Alaska
8. Views from the top of Mount Alyeska
9. Epic Road Trip to Seward, Alaska

FAIR WARNING: This is a MASSIVE guide. Use the table of contents above to navigate to the specific sections that interest you the most OR grab a cup of coffee and settle in to plan your entire winter trip to Anchorage, Alaska. 

Anchorage, Alaska Winter Travel Tips

To clarify, there is a difference between winter travel tips and all other travel tips for Alaska because winter in Alaska is in a category of its own.

These are just a few of the key tips we wish we had known before taking off for Anchorage in January:

Flying in and out of Alaska can be Rough

The turbulence for our flight going into Anchorage was one of the worst we’ve ever experienced. And it’s no wonder since Anchorage is surrounded by a couple of mountain ranges and along the coast with the turbulent Pacific winds.

We actually met an air traffic controller for the Anchorage airport who explained the way that the winds can drastically change in Anchorage causing extreme turbulence at times.

So if you have a difficult time with flying, then we recommend taking some Dramamine just before starting the descent (about 30 minutes before your scheduled landing) and reading a good book to keep yourself distracted.

Make Sure Your Car is Outfitted for Winter

Winter tires, all-wheel-drive, ice scraper, emergency blankets, and maybe even an electric heater for the motor are all extra items to include in your car rental in Alaska in the winter.

We also recommend renting a Subaru if it is available. These all-wheel-drive cars are just as common as pick-up trucks in Anchorage and much easier to maneuver if you aren’t used to driving a large truck.

If it’s below zero and your car is parked for too long, then it may not start without having an electric heater to plug in and warm it up. Fortunately, we didn’t experience temperatures this extreme in Anchorage while we were there, but it is not out of the question and something to talk to your rental company about.

Most of the highways in Anchorage in the winter are cleared quickly and drive-able.

And when we were planning a drive up into the mountains, we always checked the weather or tried to get back before dark. With a couple of exceptions, we were able to stick to this rule.

There was one day when it was raining ice and we were driving back through the mountains from the Eagle River Nature Center at dusk. While carefully stopped at the base of the road, we watched a MASSIVE 4-wheel drive truck slide and swerve its way toward us down the mountain road (Yikes!).

We simply exchanged a knowing head nod when he regained traction and continued our drive home. 

If you’re not used to driving in the snow and ice, like us, then don’t worry.

With the little bit of experience from living in Missouri for a few winters and a great car outfitted for winter (WINTER TIRES!), we were able to manage the roads in and around Anchorage just fine.

Ice Grippers are Great – Until They’re Not

For those of us who are new to these types of winters (*cough* Chris and I *cough cough*) ­– ice grippers are rubbery soles with small spikes on the bottom that can be stretched over basically any tennis shoe or boot to turn it into a winter weather appropriate shoe.

We had no idea these little inventions even existed before visiting Anchorage in January when they are everywhere and an absolute necessity.

These are FANTASTIC for walking through parking lots, on sidewalks, and easy, flat trails.

However, they are NOT a replacement for snow shoes with serious spikes on steep, icy hikes (Trust us… Get the full story here).

Side note: You do need to take them off before entering stores and restaurants since they will damage the floors.

My clumsy-self determined ice grippers were a requirement for crossing the icy parking lots. I was in no mood to have my first broken bone be from falling in a Fred Meyer parking lot (that’s not really the kind of adventurous, traveler story I’m hoping for).

Yes, the Days are Short – But the Sunrises are Beautiful

Waking up in the darkness everyday was a weird experience for us.

Unless we’re extremely jet-lagged, we are definitely NOT morning people – by any stretch of the word. In fact, it’s generous to call us mid-morning people. Sometimes, we’re afternoon people. In fact, now that I think about it, consider us NOON people.

But in Alaska, the sunrises were worth it to wake up at the crack of 10am.

Waking up and still being able to watch the sunrise every day with coffee in hand was fantastic! It gave us at least the illusion that we were waking up at the crack of dawn to explore without having to actually be exhausted.

The down side of the sun rising so late in the day is that it also sets really early – twilight in Anchorage starts around 4pm in January.

We found that if we hadn’t already planned what we were going to do that day, then by the time we decided and got ready to leave, we would only have a couple of hours of daylight. Learn from our mistakes and plan ahead what you want to do each day in Anchorage in the winter.

Laughing through a hike in the freezing rain – fluffy scarves and hats for the win!

Tips for Packing for Anchorage, Alaska in the Winter

Winter Layers

Layer and layer and layer – that was my Alaskan winter wardrobe strategy.

Some days were warmer than others where I only needed a fleece jacket and waterproof down coat with a thin sweater.

But other days, it was icy and windy – the kind of wind that cuts through to the bone.

On those days, it was all hands on deck for my layers:

• Thermal shirt and pants
• Thick sweater
• Fluffy blanket scarf
• Fleece jacket
• Down coat: This packable puffer from Amazon is my go-to.
• Knitted hat: The only hat I think looks good on me and, conveniently, it’s also incredibly warm!
• Wool mittens

Since this was a last-minute trip, there were a couple things I wish I had been able to bring and you should definitely pack for yourself:

• Snow pants: Waterproof pants to frolic in the snow would have been nice – That didn’t stop me from frolicking, though!
• Proper snow boots: Our normal leather boots took a beating in Alaska – They were never the same again.

1-Week Winter Itinerary in Anchorage, Alaska

With only a couple weeks’ notice before deciding to take this trip (and celebrating Christmas and getting engaged in those two weeks) we didn’t really have much time to plan out our winter getaway in Anchorage.

But! We did have fantastic recommendations from the friends we were housesitting for in Anchorage and asked basically anyone who would talk to us what we should do. (We’re convinced Alaskans are some of the friendliest people in the US.)

On that note, we don’t have any accommodation recommendations since we were actually housesitting in Anchorage. There are plenty of fantastic AirBnBs, bed and breakfasts and hotels in the area, though.

For our week in Alaska, we were based out of Anchorage and took day trips to the areas around the city.

This filled up our time but if we had been able to stay longer, we probably would have flown to Juneau as well. That’ll have to wait for our second trip to Alaska!

Our goal while visiting Anchorage was to soak up the nature, enjoy the mountain views and get a feel for how people actually live here – especially in the winter.

This is the basic outline of our one-week itinerary in Anchorage, Alaska:

Day 1: Introduction to Alaska at the Eagle River Nature Center

Day 2: Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Day 3: Winter hiking in Alaska: Thunderbird Falls Trail

Day 4: Explore the city of Anchorage

Day 5: Views from the top of Mount Alyeska at the Alyeska Resort

Day 6: Epic road trip to Seward, Alaska

Day 7: Leave Alaska and start planning the next time you can go back

Below are the details of the itinerary we followed plus more information on each spot we visited. We’ve also included some other options recommended to us so you can customize your own trip as well.

The classic “Just casually staring off into the distance” Instagram pose.

Day 1: Go on a Hike at the Eagle River Nature Center
A Great Intro to Alaska + Epic Mountain Views

After flying in to Anchorage the day before and waking up ready to explore, we opted to drive about 45 minutes East towards Chugach State Park to visit the Eagle River Nature Center and go on one of the trails.

When we arrived at the nature center, they were having a special Saturday event – complete with pancakes, hot chocolate, and a family folk band performance planned for that evening.

We basically picked the perfect day, but we later found out this is not a rare occurrence at the Eagle River Nature Center. They often have events on the weekends with delicious warm food (and bonfires!).

Check out their website for a list of special events.

There are a few different trails to choose from and most are easily accessible from the nature center.

We opted for the Albert Loop Trail which goes by the Eagle River and has beautiful views of the mountains. I couldn’t help but look up and around the entire time since the mountains were always looming overhead in the wintery fog.

There is absolutely nothing like the Alaskan mountains and this trail was a fantastic way to start our trip.

It was long enough that we were ready to go back to the warmth of the nature center but not so short that we were left wanting to experience more of the views. It also helps that it started freezing rain about two-thirds of the way through the trail – when we still had about an hour to walk…

But! We finished the beautiful trail and made it back to enjoy the band and some homemade salmon chowder.

If you really want to get into the snowy escape of Alaska, you could rent a cabin or yurt (open year-round!) from the nature center. Check it out here.

For more of the spectacular views and to see what happens when Chris tries to “ice skate” on a partially frozen river, check out this video of the adventure.

My highlight of the trip!

Day 2: Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
And come face-to-face with a moose!

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center was recommended to us by multiple people… Baristas, grocery store clerks, movie theater employees.

Yes, we did ask all of these people their recommendations!

This usually followed them asking us where we were from (Los Angeles!) and then with a confused look, “Why are you here in January??”.

Along the way to the conservation center, you’ll drive down a part of the Seward Highway – an All-American Road part of the National Scenic Byway system.

There are a few scenic stop off points and, if you have the time, stop and enjoy the views of the Kenai mountains and the Gulf of Alaska.

On the day we went to Seward, we followed this road all the way to the end and well… I’m getting ahead of myself here, we’ll get there.

The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Alaska’s wildlife (obvi, I know). Most of the animals at the center came there because they were either orphaned or injured in the wild and would otherwise not have survived on their own.

The opening hours and days vary according to the time of year so make sure to check the website before heading out there.

The center is set up so that you drive around in a circle and can park at different points to walk out along pathways to see more animals.

Along with the animals, however, there are also beautiful views of the mountains, Placer river, and Portage creek. There are boardwalks you can walk out on and enjoy the vistas for pictures like these:

Chris and I spent several hours wandering around the center. It was such a fantastic experience to see all of these animals surrounded by the Alaskan landscape.

The realization really sunk in that these animals that we’ve seen in movies and paintings are actually real and wander around Alaska. This may seem like an obvious conclusion but for people who have grown up in the city and not anywhere near “the wilderness” this was a revelation.

For some reason, I really enjoyed seeing the moose – like giddy with excitement kind of really enjoyed. They were way bigger than I thought they were going to be. I was thinking small horse-size but no… They are definitely massive and fantastic!

Coming face to face with such a beautiful, majestic animal surrounded by the mountains and snow in Alaska was truly an experience I won’t forget.

I would have loved to see a moose in the wild but we were not so lucky. However, I do hear that they are actually pretty common in Anchorage in the winter.

If you want to try to spot some, then try going to one of these trails just before sunset or just after sunrise.

Also, here’s a handy guide to several animals that you could spot in Alaska in the winter. But for some guaranteed sightings, take a day to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Day 3: Go on a day hike
Thunderbird Falls (Don’t make the same mistake we did!)

On the surface, this seemed like an easy hike – 1.8 mile in and out hike to a viewing platform for a frozen waterfall. Sure, let’s do it! We had ice grippers on our shoes and winter layers on so what could go wrong?

Well, what I didn’t anticipate was that there was a hill going down to the viewing platform and it had just been icy raining/sleeting for the last couple of days…

You see where this is going, right?

You can watch the whole story here on our YouTube channel. Go ahead, give it a watch.

I’ll wait…

 That was pretty intense, right?

Man… After that, we felt like we had just survived the most intense Alaska could throw at us – all on a less than 2-mile day hike.

It was like our little Alaskan snow globe bubble had been burst and we realized how tough Alaskan winters really can be and would have been in the past.

For all of the beautiful sights and snow, be careful on the hikes you choose and be prepared. Our little ice grippers were not the proper gear for this hike with the recent sleet. In hind sight, renting ice cleats would have been a good idea.

Since we were in Alaska in January of 2018 before the earthquake that hit the Anchorage area in November of that year, here’s a link to an article from a local day-hiking expert updated with some of the best winter hikes you can do near Anchorage.

Thunderbird Falls is on this list but again, be aware of the weather and how the trail can change from being “easy” to “dangerous”.

My face says, “I’m happy to be hiking” but my mind is thinking, “This means I can have more pizza, right?”.

Day 4 in Anchorage, Alaska: Explore the City
And get some of the best pizza (and beer!) in the country

For days when you don’t feel like driving too far out of the city, there are some great activities within Anchorage to keep you busy.

Although Anchorage is very much a city, there are still some fantastic trails and parks to visit – it’s still Alaska, after all. The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is a great place to start and it connects downtown to the gorgeous Kincaid Park. The trail is 11 miles long but you can easily join up at any point depending on where your final destination is.

We walked a small portion of this trail along the water with amazing views of downtown Anchorage and the surrounding mountains. It’s a breathtaking sight to see the snow-covered city of Anchorage nestled into the majestic ring of mountains.

If you take this trail to Kincaid Park, there are miles and miles of hiking trails, cross-country skiing paths and more. Any park that’s website says it’s a great place to “browse moose”, I’m there!

After the sun sets (usually around 3pm in the wintertime), head on over for a hot cup of coffee at Black Cup. This fantastic coffee shop was one of the first to bring specialty coffee to Alaska. They source and roast their own beans and serve them in their beautiful and industrial cozy café. Sink into a leather armchair and sip on a fantastic cappuccino or pour over. Warm up and recover from a morning of hiking in the city.

Now the day is still young but it’s dark outside… What should we do? Head on over to one of the best pizza places in the United States to eat wonderful pizza, drink delicious beer, AND watch a movie of course!

Bear Tooth Grill and Theatrepub is the place to be. Chris and I went here THREE times in the one week we were in Anchorage – that’s how much we loved it. You can eat in the restaurant side of things at the Beartooth Grill or order your pizza at the counter and head into the theater to watch a movie WHILE eating dinner. They even have a bar in the back of the theater to order delicious Alaskan beers before the show.

There is also a Moose’s Tooth restaurant owned by the same company. However, we talked to several Alaskans and they all told us that the Bear Tooth location was better. They don’t take reservations and can get pretty busy so be prepared to wait a little bit – the pizza is worth it. Trust us.

Special Note: If you’re not wanting to go out to dinner and instead stopping by Fred Meyer to pick up some groceries, check out the beers on draft in the grocery store(?!). We opted for Alaskan Amber in a growler to-go.

Get the mountain top views without the actual skiing part!

Day 5: Mount Alyeska
Cheers to dinner on the top of a mountain

Want to climb a mountain without actually climbing a mountain? Then, the Alyeska Tram is perfect for you (and for us)! The Alyeska Ski Resort in Girdwood – only about an hour drive outside of Anchorage – was recommended to us several times by local Alaskans for its skiing, food, and beautiful views.

Chris and I are not really skiers. I’ve only skied once and that was way back in high school on a family vacation. I was just happy to make it down the bunny slopes without falling by the end of the trip.

Alaskan mountains are absolutely stunning. They are truly unlike any other mountains we’ve seen. However, they didn’t quite strike us as the best mountains to learn how to ski on. But we did want to experience the mountains from a perspective other than the ground and the aerial tram at Alyeska Resort seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to get a different view.

After climbing over 2,000 ft, the aerial tram took us to a beautiful observation deck with an indoor refuge from the cold and a couple of restaurants. We purchased the Dine & Ride Ticket which came with a $20 credit to the Bore Tide Deli & Bar at the tram terminal.

The Deli offers delicious sandwiches and soup. We asked the people working what their favorites were and they recommended the Rueben sandwich. At the bar there are some great local Alaskan beers that vary according to the season.

As we stood on the observation deck watching the skiers and snowboarders disappear over the edge of the mountain, we knew we had made the right decision to save learning how to ski for another visit.

Try timing your visit with the sunset for some absolutely unforgettable views above the mountain tops. We enjoyed the sunset outside and then sat inside in the warmth with twilight shadows of the mountains around us as we ate dinner.

Several locals had mentioned a drink called “The Fizz” at the Seven Glaciers restaurant on the other side of the tram terminal. So we went across the way to check it out and see what this off-menu drink was all about. Typically, you would have to get a reservation to be seated at this more upscale restaurant but we were able to get a spot at the bar without a reservation.

We ordered the Fizz and it tasted like a cross between eggnog and a snow cone. The bartender wouldn’t tell us what was inside of the drink but maybe you’ll have more luck figuring it out than us.

We also ordered some oysters because I was determined to try some Alaskan oysters. I had only heard good things and they certainly lived up to the hype. If you like oysters, then I highly recommend ordering them at Seven Glaciers. They even served the oysters placed on little piles of snow! How cute is that?!

The aerial tram at Alyeska Resort was exactly what we needed to add to our winter trip to Anchorage – epic mountain views, powdery fresh snow, and delicious food for the win.

The most epic road trip we’ve ever done? Quite possibly.

Day 6: Road Trip to Seward, Alaska

The scenic coastal Seward Highway is breathtaking. Coming from Anchorage, we drove this highway to go several places in this itinerary but today we took a road trip to the end. Seward is about a two and a half-hour drive from Anchorage and makes a great day trip in the winter from Anchorage.

Enjoy the views of the mountains and snow-covered pine trees along the drive. There are several stop-off points along the way for photos and with descriptions of what mountain ranges are in sight. We couldn’t help but stop multiple times to enjoy our last few sights, sounds and smells of Alaska (all good smells, of course – like the winter candle scents of your dreams.)

To see the views along the highway and the most epic swing set we’ve ever been on, watch the video here.

Once we arrived at our destination, we spent a few hours walking around and enjoying the view over Resurrection Bay.

To warm up a bit before our drive back, we stopped at an adorable coffee shop and art gallery, Resurrect Art. One of my life’s missions is to find a cute coffee shop in every town we visit and well…

Seward – ✔️

The barista was a teenager who had grown up in Seward. When we asked him what that was like, he told us that sometimes the mountains can seem like barriers. You’re surrounded by these majestic sights but… You’re completely surrounded. He mentioned that Seward was like being in a bowl and the mountains are the rim.

Once we stepped back outside and took a look around, I saw the mountains in a whole new light.

This little town is at the end of a road on the edge of the continent with literally the whole world out before it, but the mountains are blocking the view.

It’s these shifts in perspective and discovering different points of view that are exactly why we travel. In Alaska, we discovered what it’s like to live in America’s “Last Frontier” and it’s not always easy. But Alaskans are also some of the kindest people we have met. It’s almost as if they are brought together by the tough elements of living in Alaska and it only makes them kinder and more welcoming.

Solve for life lesson learned in Alaska:

Cold and difficult circumstances can bring out the warmth in people. We want to strive to only give off warmth and kindness no matter the circumstances we’ve been in or are going through.

Are you packing up your bags and heading out on a winter adventure in Anchorage, Alaska?

Here are a few videos we’ve made to help you plan your trip:

• How to Pack for a Long Trip in a Carry-On
• How to Use Google Flights
• Alaska: The Full Story of What We Did on Our Trip to Anchorage in the Winter

What questions can we answer for you about your upcoming trip to Alaska in the winter?

Drop us a comment below!

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