Anchorage

Anchorage

  • By Thomas M
  • Destinations
  • 20.06.2016

If you're planning an Alaskan cruise or cruisetour, you'll want to make sure you take time to visit Anchorage. And just how can you get to Anchorage from your cruise ship? First, you'll need to take a northbound or southbound cruise from Vancouver to either Seward or Whittier (you'll fly in or out of Anchorage for these ports), or vice-versa. Then, add on a land tour orjust tack on a couple days before or after your cruise to spend in Anchorage. From the port towns of Seward or Whittier, you can take either a deluxe motor coach or train to Anchorage, which is about two and a half hours away. There's plenty to do in the largest city in Alaska and we'll be covering "The Best of Anchorage." We'll give you the scoop on the top 3 things to do and see.

1. The Anchorage Market & Festival is the perfect place to find hand-crafted Alaskan gifts like ivory and whale bone jewelry, masks and fresh goods and produce. With over 300 vendors on three acres in downtown Anchorage, you can stroll the marketplace for hours sampling food and buying unique gifts in an open air environment.

2. The Oomingmak |Vlusk Ox Producers Co-op is owned by over 250 native Alaskan women who knit all the items by hand. These unique clothing pieces are made of Qiviut (kiv-ee-ute) which is the ultra-soft under-wool from the Arctic musk ox. The under-wool from the Arctic musk ox is soft and luxurious-- compared to itchy wool. The natural color is preserved and no dyes are added. Their most popular items are their scarves, hats, tunics, and the nachaq, aka "smokering", which is a hooded scarf that can be worn either way. Look for their label "Arctic Hand—knitted 100% Qiviut, lVlade in Alaska U.S.A." 3. Amber's Olive Company sells fine olive oils infused with lemon, butter, Persian lime, chipotle and other flavors. Also popular are their balsamic vinegars infused with jalapeno, pomegranate, Sicilian lemon and many other flavors. They also sell salts and sugars infused with flavors. These high-end goods are available for tasting in the store so you can be confident that you're purchasing the right one-and buying plenty of it.