Alaska Cruise Ports On Your Own and On a Budget: Anchorage
While I refuse to pick a favorite part of this trip, our road trip outside of Anchorage may well have been my favorite part of this trip. Just don’t tell any of the other parts of this trip. I told each of them they were my favorite.
Sadly, I’m fairly sure this post will be one of my least-popular posts, as there’s really not much of an audience for an article on ‘what to do on a port day in Anchorage’. This is because most ships don’t dock at Anchorage–which is ironic, since the name of the city literally means ‘place to freaking anchor a ship’. I swear I looked it up in the OED and that’s what it said.
Ok, I’m lying about the looking it up part.
That being said, if your cruise ship does not dock in Anchorage, that’s ok. You can do this same trip from Whittier or even Seward. But if you are docked in Anchorage, I strongly, STRONGLY recommend taking my advice here and getting out of town for the day. Because Anchorage is a hole. Sorry, Anchorage. You must be aware of this. You are the Camden of Alaska (and sorry Camden. But really, come on. Look in a mirror. You’re not pretty.)
Anyway.
Here’s how to spend an amazing (long, long) port day outside of Anchorage:
As promised, here’s…
What We Going To Do
The initial plan looked a lot like what you saw above, except after the Byron Glacier hike and before ‘lunch’, we planned to continue driving toward Seward for like an hour, as my understanding is that that drive is amazingly gorgeous. But by the time we got back from our Byron Glacier hike, it was nearing 4pm. And that’s no longer ‘lunch’. So we chose to forego the additional drive and find calories. If you are the kind of person who can take a picnic lunch and stop on the side of the road to enjoy it without getting violently ill, I’d recommend doing that and continuing on this amazing road trip (sadly, I am not someone who can do that, so we were forced to turn around. Ah well!)
What We Did Do
Not able to watch the video above? Here’s a very short version of our outside of Anchorage road trip itinerary:
-took free shuttle from industrial port into town (required; there’s no other way to exit the port area.)
-walked three blocks from drop off point to Avis car rental; stood in long line. Picked up rental car.
-drove out of town. Stopped at a gas station to use the restroom. Do not recommend; Anchorage is sketchy. And I work mainly in the bad parts of major metro areas, so for me to say this is seriously something.
-continued driving out of town. Smiled.
-stopped at Bird Point. Admired mountains.
-visited the shop near Portage Lake. Bought tickets for the Portage Glacier Cruise.
-killed 45 minutes at Portage Lake Visitor Center, which is very scenic and also informative.
-enjoyed Portage Glacier Cruise. HIGHLY recommend.
-hiked Byron Glacier Trail. HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend!
-drove back toward Anchorage; side trip into the ski town of Girdwood.
-had food truck lunch and a beer at Girdwood Brewing Company.
-stopped at a well-marked woodworker’s shop on the way back into town.
-returned rental car and took shuttle back to the ship because again, Anchorage is not so great.
Excursion Math
Average cost of a cruise ship excursion in Anchorage: $169.92/pp
Most common cost of a cruise ship excursion in Anchorage: $225/pp
What We Spent
This brought back memories…My husband was in the U.S. Coast Guard at the time working at a Government Super Fund Site. My young son, my sister and I flew up for a visit and stayed in Anchorage for a few days around the 4th of July. The fireworks were around midnight when there was “a hint” of darkness…Yes, Anchorage was a bit drab but I did love the giant stuffed Kodiak bear in the foyer of JC Penny…Who knew … This was in the early 80’s. I loved your video !
What a fantastic memory!!! Thank you for sharing!! And we passed the J.C.Penny (it’s still there!) Wish I had known about that photo opp.
I think your comments about Anchorage are mean spirited and a little off base. I am from Anchorage and I know it’s deficiencies but I would never pan it like you did.
I’m sorry that you took offense. As a destination, Anchorage is more industrial and urban than I think most people might realize. Also I had a very bad experience at a gas station which I will not expand upon here. It was perhaps a bit unfortunate and out of the ordinary (I hope). I will absolutely return, however, to give the city a second chance. I’ve heard good things about it in the winter, actually.