AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - April 2019 - 43

PILOT BRIEFING
DESTINATIONS

|

Fly away
ideas
Tour Anchorage on a budget
B Y A LY S S A J. C O B B

THE LARGEST CITY in Alaska, Anchorage
offers something for everyone-and every
pilot. And you don't have to break the bank
to have fun.

Helicopter and floatplane tours
Take to the air to explore Anchorage,
Denali, or Lake Clark National Park,
which is accessible only by airplane and
sometimes by boat. The scenery around
Anchorage itself is stunning, with the
Chugach Mountains filling the skyline
to the east and Cook Inlet to the west. If
you're going to splurge, do it with an aerial tour. Local tours start at $110.
Chugach State Park
and Chugach National Forest
These free, popular attractions are close to
Anchorage and on the road system. They
offer hiking, access to glaciers, and more.
Flattop Mountain and overlook are in the
Chugach, and Flattop is considered the
most-hiked mountain in the state.

Glacier grandeur
The Knik Glacier near Palmer, about a
one-hour drive northeast of Anchorage-
and Portage Glacier, about one hour to the
southeast-are two of the closest glaciers. To
tour the Knik Glacier, you'll need to take a
tour, which will cost you. It's free to hike on
the Portage Glacier, but cruises start at $39.
Wet your whistle with a free sip of pure
glacier water. Alaska 1 South takes you
from Anchorage to Portage Glacier. Along
the way, you'll spot a small pipe sticking
out of one of the cliffs on the side of the
road. It's a popular place to stop and fill
your water bottle with glacier water.
The Alaska Wildlife
Conservation Center
This nonprofit sanctuary cares for animals
that have been injured or orphaned, or are
ill. Enjoy a self-guided tour to see bison,
brown and black bears, bald eagles, fox, lynx,
moose, musk ox, owls, reindeer, and wolves.
The modest entry fee not only lets you get
up close with Alaska's wild animals, but it
also supports their care and preservation.
Coastal Trail
To explore and stretch your legs in
Anchorage, walk or bike the Coastal Trail

that runs along the city's edges and provides views of Cook Inlet. In the summer,
visit the salmon viewing platform at Ship
Creek, where you can watch or fish for
salmon.
Alaska Aviation Museum
and Great Alaska Gathering
The Alaska Aviation Museum is located at
Lake Hood and is open any time of year.
Browse vintage aircraft and rare birds like
the 1943 Noorduyn Norseman, a classic
northern bush airplane. General admission
prices are modest. If you are in Anchorage
in early May, stop by the Great Alaska
Aviation Gathering. It's free to attend and
features seminars, exhibits, and aircraft
displays.
Gweenie's Old Alaska Restaurant
Located near Ted Stevens Anchorage
International Airport, the restaurant
comes highly recommended by numerous
locals, including Mark Bly, known as The
Flying Chef. The portions are enormous.
If you are there for breakfast, try the reindeer sausage.
EMAIL alyssa.cobb@aopa.org

www.aopa.org/destinations

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AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - April 2019

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