Anchorage
Where To Stay

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Since the 1970s, Anchorage has had an-oil driven economy, although its fastest growing industry nowadays is tourism. The number of visitors has doubled over the past 10 years, and more than 1.2 million people now travel to, or through, Anchorage each year. Wherever you choose to stay in this young city, you will find friendly people, room to roam through numerous parks and trails, and breathtaking views of wild mountain ranges.

Downtown

Any of Anchorage's downtown hotels will put you within walking distance of the district's main attractions. Among the classier hotel choices is the Captain Cook Hotel (The), built in 1964 by former Alaska governor Walter Hickel. One of only 100 Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, it is home to the Crow's Nest (Hotel Captain Cook) restaurant, a mecca for sophisticated diners. Another first-class option is the Hilton Anchorage, which caters to businesspeople by way of its many office amenities; the hotel also offers luxurious suites and has an excellent onsite restaurant, Top of the World. Or try the Anchorage Marriott, which opened in 2000 and has a business center, a lovely cocktail lounge and rooms with unusually large picture windows.

Midtown

Among the many options in the midtown area is the Hampton Inn, where breakfast, a full fitness center and a Jacuzzi are all included in the room rates. Another fine choice is the Residence Inn Marriott, one of four Marriott-affiliated hotels in Anchorage. This establishment was built in 1999 and has rooms with separate living and sleeping areas, an onsite indoor pool, a spa, a fitness center and a full business center. Aladdin's Authentic Cuisine from the Mediterranean restaurant, with its casual atmosphere and wine bar, is located within blocks of the hotel.

Airport Area/Spenard

If you choose to be near the airport, the deluxe
Millennium Alaskan Hotel Anchorage is a good choice, offering many first-class amenities and resting on the shores of Lake Spenard. This is a great place to relax and settle down from the wear and tear of traveling. On the premises, you will find both the Flying Machine restaurant and the Fancy Moose Lounge as well as fitness equipment, a pool and a spa. The Courtyard by Marriott and the Holiday Inn Express each focus on providing business travelers with excellent service and convenience. The Holiday Inn Express has an entire floor devoted to use as a business center. Both have fitness centers available and offer shuttle service to the airport. For a completely different feel, stay at the Alaska Wilderness Plantation B&B; just five minutes from the airport, it has only eight suites, all of which are equipped with fireplaces and Jacuzzis.

South

South Anchorage's residential areas offer many bed and breakfasts, along with a number of opportunities to see wildlife and enjoy the paved trails that wind their way through the woods. The
North Country Castle is another bed and breakfast that offers an authentic Alaskan experience from within a comfortable setting. It has a marbled foyer and teak-paneled rooms; breakfasts are served in a gazebo, and a resident moose population grazes through the yard.

Muldoon—East

Situated on the east side of downtown, Muldoon Road acts as a bypass for people traveling north-south through Anchorage. This district is full of small businesses, shopping outlets and residential areas. The Ramada Anchorage opened in 1998 and offers spacious rooms with data ports and voice-mail, plus a free shuttle to downtown or to the airport and a complementary breakfast buffet. The onsite How How Chinese Restaurant Chinese restaurant offers American-style prime rib and king crab.

There are several bed and breakfasts in this area, too; due to the scenic walking trails, lakes and quiet residential areas, these places offer travelers a perfect chance to get a feel for this spread-out city. The affordable Camai Bed & Breakfast has welcomed visitors since 1981, offering homey accommodations with antique furnishings and Alaskan-style breakfasts. Another option is the
Cheney Lake Bed & Breakfast, which opened in 1996 and offers a hot tub for guests along with a large patio overlooking the lake. On the cooler mornings, you can enjoy a full breakfast by the fireplace. The inn is located right next to a paved walking trail that extends through the city for many miles.

Outlying Areas—within a 45-minute drive of Anchorage

The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to go if you want beauty and luxury in close proximity to para-gliding, snow-machining, dog-sledding or skiing facilities. Located south of Anchorage, the hotel houses three restaurants and a lounge, plus a fitness center, an indoor pool, a spa, gift shops and more.
Seven Glaciers (Alyeska Resort), the hotel's romantic, semi-formal restaurant, sits at the top of a tram ride that leaves from this hotel and offers panoramic views of seven separate glaciers hanging from across the valley. Meanwhile, down below sits the tiny city of Girdwood. In the summer, this delightful locale brims over with hanging flower baskets that are filled with cascading blooms of bright colors edged by violet lobelia. Check out the Bake Shop or the
Double Musky Inn to get a taste of the local cuisine.

North of Anchorage and near the city of Wasilla is the lovely Lake Lucille Inn, built (as you might have guessed) on the shores of Lake Lucille. An outdoor walkway looks out at the lake, and a full fitness facility is located onsite. Nearby, you can take dog sled tours; rent jet skis, canoes, paddle boats and snow machines; and find trails for hiking and biking. Fine dining is provided by the on-site restaurant, Shoreline Restaurant (Lake Lucille Inn).