Day trips near Anchorage

[SteveGT3]

My wife and I will be spending 3 days in Anchorage in late May before taking the train to Seward for our cruise to Vancouver. I already have plans for the 1st day in Anchorage (trolley tour and exploring the City) and the 2nd day (flightseeing trip to Denali). For day #3, I am thinking of renting a car  and am looking for places to go and things to see. Any suggestions would be appreciated. If they include transportation and I do not need to rent a car, I would be open to hearing those suggestions also....Thanks!

[Glaciers]

You can’t go wrong driving south own Turnagain Arm. One of the most scenic drives in the state and there are many things to do in the area. Girdwood/Alyeska, Portage Glacier, Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. There are many times dall sheep along the cliffs by Windy Point. 

 

Another great option is driving up to Matanuska Glacier for a trek about 2 hours away.

 

[AKStafford]

So many options...

I think my top choice would be to rent a car and drive to the Matanuska Glacier for a guided glacier hike.

2nd choice would be to drive to Whittier for a Prince William Sound glacier cruise.

[Crew News]

I enjoyed the 26-Glacier Excursion out of Anchorage and will be repeating it again next year. 

[Northern Aurora]

If our OP decides to go to Matanuska Glacier, on a nice day I would consider adding a trip up to Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Historical Park.  

[Coral]

26 Glacier is out of Whittier. They do offer RT transportation out of Anchorage.

 

I love Seward. I would try to get a reservation for a hotel for the last night in Seward instead of Anchorage and spend an extra day there. So much to see and do.

 

I would take the train to Seward. 

Edited February 23, 2019 by Coral

[masterdrago]

You might want to check out when a Bore Tide might occur using tide tools and bore tide info. We are going to try the one on May 17 near Bird Point. The low tide is over -2 feet which bodes well.

https://www.tides.net/alaska/910/?year=2019&month=05

https://www.anchorage.net/blog/alaska-bore-tide-viewing/

[SteveGT3]

Thanks to all for many great ideas. I will check them all out to see which would interest us the most.  

[Cruise_More_Often]

19 hours ago, Coral said:

26 Glacier is out of Whittier. They do offer RT transportation out of Anchorage.

 

I love Seward. I would try to get a reservation for a hotel for the last night in Seward instead of Anchorage and spend an extra day there. So much to see and do.

 

I would take the train to Seward. 

 

I agree with Coral's suggestion to book your last night in Seward and take the early train from Anchorage to Seward, then do one of the Kenai Fjord cruises (we loved ours with Major Marine). Then you can relax overnight and maybe visit the Alaska Sealife Center in the morning before going to the ship.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, Cruise_More_Often said:

 

I agree with Coral's suggestion to book your last night in Seward and take the early train from Anchorage to Seward, then do one of the Kenai Fjord cruises (we loved ours with Major Marine). Then you can relax overnight and maybe visit the Alaska Sealife Center in the morning before going to the ship.

Plus Exit glacier. I would easily spend more time in Seward than Anchorage! And the train ride here is amazing.

[rkacruiser]

Having visited Seward and Exit Glacier, time spent there would be well spent.  The wildlife park en route to Seward from Anchorage is "OK"; once was enough for me.  The aquatic-life  museum in Seward is well worth one's time.