Above Cook Inlet and backed by the Chugach Mountains, Anchorage's distinctive setting is part of its allure. After breakfast at a downtown eatery, a walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail provides views of the inlet, Mt. Susitna, and the Alaska Range. Afterward, check out some shops and galleries, historic sites, museums, and parks downtown. By car, visit the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center.
Follow the one-day itinerary, then head down the Seward Highway for views of Potter Marsh and Turnagain Arm. Keep an eye out for Dall sheep along the cliffs and beluga whales in Turnagain Arm. Continue farther down the highway to Alyeska Resort at Girdwood and ride the tram 2,300 feet up the mountain for lunch with a spectacular alpine view. Next, continue south to Portage Glacier and the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center for educational displays and lectures on area glaciers. Back in Anchorage on Day 3, take in a baseball game at Mulcahy Stadium or get a bird's-eye view of the city with a hike into the Chugach Mountains.
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