Downtown Anchorage – A Walker’s Day Trip

What a great day to walk along downtown streets and see what was going on. We decided to head to the Alaska Market & Festival on Third Avenue. WOW!  What a fun time. Where else can you go and listen to local musicians while browsing kiosks set up by local photographers, Native Alaskans, local farmers, regional crafters, and a whole lot more. The samples were great, too. We tried locally made honey, bread, birch bark candy, and even some ice cream. There is a new chocolatier in town! Good thing they were offering just samples. When we reached the third row of vendors, we were met by the wonderful smells of local foods. So many options. You could buy food representing a variety of cultures and types,  from Alaska-grown corn on the cob to pho fusion, Russian latkes to halibut tacos and bison burgers. And to think – the Market is now in its 21st season.

Many locals take in the Market with their friendly dogs, a sure draw for the youngsters. Check out the Kids’ Market for fun activities, too!

After the market, we headed to Fourth Avenue. Town Square was a hopping spot. We stopped to watch the Native Alaska dancers for awhile on our way to the Alaska Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (ACVB). Our guests really appreciate having brochures in the house, so we visit there at least four times a season to stock up on literature and see what’s new in Anchorage. The staff and volunteers at ACVB are always so helpful and knowledgable about what is going. They can answer any question you may have. If you want to browse on your own, they have walls and walls of brochures and magazines representing Anchorage as well as other locations across the state. What a great resource! On this trip we needed more Anchorage Restaurant Guides, Anchorage Visitors Guides, and Alaska Activity Maps. Guests love them.

The sky stays bright so late into the evening that we could have continued for hours, but home was calling.  We knew that we might see a mama moose and her young twins if we headed up the hillside.  With that goal in mind, we left the downtown area satisfied with the day. It’s back to the B&B for hot tea and a good night’s sleep!