| When my family and I woke early on our first morning in Anchorage, we made our way for coffee and vanilla steamers downtown at the Midnight Sun Café before wandering down to the waterfront. I was convinced we'd see beluga whales as we walked along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. We didn't, but it didn't stop us from ogling the gorgeous view, ticking bird sightings off our list and discussing whether or not we were ready to move to Anchorage. The 11pm sunset had us planning evening hikes while the perfect combination of great culture, delicious food and access to some of the most gorgeous environments in the world made us question all of our life choices. But what really struck me was the casual way people drifted from bike rides to work calls, from adventuring all summer to hunkering down and making art all winter. People are constantly aligning their life rhythms with the pace of the natural world, and that was an inspiration. I highly recommend a summer trip to Anchorage; you'll be realigning your rhythms too. | | | Raised in Silverthorne, Colorado, I live in Nashville with my partner, two kids, a dog named Wyatt and a cat named Friday. I love far-flung adventures, my favorite place is always the last place I went and awe is my favorite feeling. | | |  | Kids playing in Eklutna Lake | | | | The bus is cheap and easy to get from the airport to downtown, a rideshare is faster but considerably more expensive. | | | Layers and a raincoat. It can be chilly year-round in Alaska, so we always had a warm outer layer, a waterproof layer and comfortable walking shoes. | | | | | What I wish I knew before | | | Bring binoculars. You never know when you're going to want to whale watch. | Anchorage brings the fun and the sun. With so many hours to play, there is no telling what adventures you can get up to.
| | | | Left: At the Alaska Native Heritage Center; right: Stocking kids explore a longhouse | | Morning
We took a walk along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, searching the water for belugas. Next time I'll bring binoculars, but this paved path is the ideal vantage point to see how easy it is to access big nature from Anchorage.
| Brunch
We had crabby benedicts at Snow City because, of course, Alaskan king crab. This spot was clearly popular with locals and tourists and the perfect place to ask friendly staff about their favorite hikes.
| | | Get in some culture
On our first day, we visited two cultural attractions, which may have been a bit much. At the Alaska Native Heritage Center, we learned about the history of the people who were able to thrive so far north. The full-sized replicas of different shelters (including some structures dug out of the earth and reinforced with wood where Alaska Native people traditionally lived) were particularly enlightening.Then we went to the Anchorage Museum where we were entranced by the incredible art exhibits by contemporary Alaska artists.
| What we ate
For dinner, we were treated to a fantastic meal at Glacier BrewHouse, where we enjoyed, you guessed it, more crab.
| | | Plan your trip to Anchorage | | | Photography credits: Angela Owens, Stelsone/Getty Images, Sarah Stocking | This email was sent to you by: | Lonely Planet Publications Ltd. | 1101 Red Ventures Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29707 | | | |
