Cheap Flights To Anchorage

Anchorage is the gateway to Alaska. It's the largest city in the state and its main transport hub. With a picturesque location nestled on the shores of the Cook Inlet, the city is backed by the scenic Chugach Mountains. As nearly half of Alaska's population lives here, the city is the country's main hub for shopping, nightlife and dining. The best thing about a holiday in the city is that it's a bustling modern place with wilderness on all sides; this puts you within easy reach of a number of thrilling outdoor activities including hiking, kayaking and exploring the wild. It's also close to many of the state's most popular attractions including the Denali National Park, Katmai National Park, Kodiak Island and Wrangell Mountains.

Many people don't realise that the group of protected areas including Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge and Glacier Bay National Park are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you love nature and heritage, Anchorage's still-smoking volcano and non-polar ice field are unmissable attractions. The city also hosts a number of events and festivals around the year including the Aurora Northern Lights, a celebration of the spectacular Aurora Borealis, and the Anchorage International Film Festival.

Things To Do

Alaska's largest city Anchorage is renowned for its natural beauty and wildlife, with attractions and places of interest including scenic hiking trails and sprawling natural parks.

• The people of Alaska

The Native Heritage Center explores the cultures of the Alaska's 11 indigenous peoples through artwork, artefacts and innovative live demonstrations from artists and local people. A must-see attraction for those that like to learn about culture and find out more about the challenges the indigenous people of Alaska face.

• Hiking and biking

If you're an outdoor enthusiast, you'll enjoy the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, which features a number of coastal hiking and biking trails that travel to the downtown area from the southwest along to Earthquake Park, where you can find out about how a 1964 earthquake destroyed whole stretches of shoreline.

• Natural beauty

For many visitors, a holiday in Anchorage is all about getting out and enjoying the wonderful natural beauty of Alaska. The Chugach State Park is the third largest in the US and boasts a scenic landscape of lakes, mountains and rivers. You'll want to bring your camera as you may spot wolves, lynx and beavers among others.

Calendar Of Events

Anchorage's weather may be cold, but its activities calendar is anything but, ranging from film festivals to traditional winter events that celebrate the wonder of Alaska's most famous feature: snow.

• Anchorage International Film Festival: This popular December festival is attended by both cinema lovers and film makers from both the US and across the world. Attendees are treated to preview viewings of unreleased films or those that won't be shown in Alaska theatres.

• RunFest: This annual August event unites running and wildlife with a route that takes participants through the city's downtown area, the wooden greenbelt area and along the picturesque coastline.

• Fur Rendezvous Festival: The 'Fur Rondy' is one of the state's longest-running annual events, having taken place for 75 years. The Rondy is the state's favourite way to celebrate the wonder of an Alaskan winter with snow sculptures, sled-dog racing and reindeer runs.