One full day & evening in Anchorage

[Auntiejo]

Alaska Airlines just changed our post cruise flight home from Anchorage that was supposed to leave in the afternoon to now leave after midnight (technically the next day at 1:15 AM). Our original plan was to have late breakfast, check out of the hotel, and head to the airport. Now we've got a whole day and evening free in Anchorage and are looking for suggestions on how to spend it.

 

We are in Vancouver 3 nights pre cruise, then NB Inside Passage 7 day on Sapphire Princess, then 2 nights post cruise in Seward and doing the 8 1/2 hour Major Marine Kenai Fjords cruise from there one of the days. Taking the Alaska Railroad from Seward to Anchorage and spending the night there.

 

Looking for suggestions on what to do with this extra day. Don't want to do another glacier cruise since we're already doing the all day one from Seward. There's plenty of options on Trip Advisor, etc. but would love to hear from you all on personal experiences from day trips in/from Anchorage that you recommend. I fear that whatever we do won't compare with what we've already seen on the trip, but I'm probably overthinking that.

 

Thanks!

Edited April 16 by Auntiejo

[karatemom2]

Here are a few things we enjoyed;

 

Alaska Native Heritage Center - we found this a very worthwhile, interesting, and enjoyable place to spend a few hours. 
 

Tony Knowles Trail - great place to ride bikes or take a walk. It’s very beautiful and we saw moose!

 

Earthquake museum - really interesting and fun simulation for this Californian.   
 

Independence Mine Historical Site - super interesting place to visit, but about an hour outside of Anchorage. 

[Northern Aurora]

If you are willing to rent a vehicle for the day and the weather is nice definitely consider Hatcher Pass and the Independence Mine State Historical Site.  Also research Matanuska Glacier to determine if that might be of interest.

[AKStafford]

Rent a car and drive to the Matanuska Glacier for a guided glacier hike. Include going up into Hatcher Pass.

Or drive to Talkeetna and hope for a view of Denali. Maybe do a flight seeing trip around the mountain.

[disneyochem]

Salmon Berry Tours has a number of tours out of Anchorage if you don’t want to rent a car.  We have taken the Matanuska Glacier Trek and the Hatch Pass/Independence Mine tour from them.  I highly recommend this company.

 

https://www.salmonberrytours.com/alaska-tours/summer-tours/