A marsh at the southern end of Anchorage that serves as a wildlife refuge. The boardwalk that extends into the marsh is a good place to see birds and other animals, and a beautiful view of Turnagain Arm. It is highly accessible, although keep in mind it can get windy due to its exposure to the water.

Thunderbird Falls is an easy hike about 30 minutes north of Anchorage to a majestic waterfall overlook. If you want to go a bit farther, you can walk down a steep trail to the falls. While this trail has some elevation gain, it is accessible to most and a fun, relaxing hike.

Kincaid is a large outdoor area with many paved trails, fields, and beach access. A nice place for a hilly walk and to see some moose!

A short distance south of Anchorage, McHugh Creek is a recreation area with a variety of things to do, from picnicking to hiking.

Mt. Baldy is a short-but-steep trail about 25 minutes north of Anchorage to the peak of the mountain. The hike is challenging but its short distance makes it very doable, and the views at the top are very worth it.

Flattop is the classic tourist hike in Anchorage. It may even be the most climbed mountain in Alaska! This hike has beautiful views, and is rewarding. Keep in mind this is a moderately difficult hike, including some mild climbing at the very top -- it takes several hours, and make sure to bring snacks and water!

Our favorite hiking trail in the Anchorage area. This is an 11 mile out-and-back trail down a valley following along the south fork of the Eagle River, around 30 minutes north of Anchorage. This hike ends at two lakes -- Eagle and Symphony Lakes -- separated by a rocky ridge. This hike is extremely beautiful and fun to do. It takes about 6 hours total, and is through wilderness, so bring along plenty of food and water.

Two nice outdoor areas nearby each other, Point Woronzof and Earthquake Park are on the west side of Anchorage. Point Woronzof is a scenic beach with a clear view of local favorite Mount Susitna, aka the Sleeping Lady. Earthquake Park is close by with a good view of the city.

Seward is a small fishing town around 2.5 hours south of Anchorage down the scenic Seward Highway. The Alaska Sealife Center is located within Seward, and is an aquarium that also operates as a center for marine research and wildlife rehabilitation. Spending a day to check out both will be well worth it.

To get away from the outdoors for a bit, check out Anchorage's downtown! Spend a few hours checking out its cute restaurants, shops, and markets.

Located near downtown and with views of the Knik Arm, this park is used for biking, running, playing frisbee, accessing the Coastal Trail, birdwatching, and much more. Bonus activity: see if you can find the "Larry 4evr" log (pictured here), dedicated to our resting angel kitty.

A souvenir store and chocolatier that specializes in chocolates and jellies using local berries and fruits. For those with a sweet tooth!

Anchorage's most popular pizzeria, you cannot visit Anchorage without eating at Moose's Tooth. At one point voted third best pizza restaurant in the United States, you cannot go wrong with anything you order here. Just a few things to make sure to do -- try the diablo sauce, and come hungry.

A sister establishment to Moose's Tooth, Bear Tooth is a unique theater experience. Here you can order any food off their menu (which greatly overlaps with Moose's Tooth) and beer from their brewing company and have it served to you while sitting down to watch a movie. Or, if you're not feeling up for a movie, there is typical sit-down dining offered. Kaylin's suggestion: get a burrito.

A large local coffee chain, Kaladi's has quite a few locations around Anchorage. If you like coffee, you will like Kaladi's.

Our go-to Anchorage bar, Blue Fox has a great classic bar atmosphere with good food and karaoke on Fridays.

Another favorite Anchorage bar of ours, Crossroads is a dive bar with plenty of character and a few characters.

A local favorite ice cream shop selling unique Alaskan flavors.