There are two main hiking trails at Flattop, one easy and the other more strenuous. In summer months

What came as a surprise to me on a recent visit is that in spite of the 49th state s vast size (it s over twice the size of Texas), much of what Alaska has to offer tourists can be experienced in a relatively short amount of time. Based in Anchorage, value luxury adventure seekers will have plenty of options no matter what their idea of adventure is.
Early in your trip, I suggest starting your morning with a drive up to Flattop local hotel in charlotte street Mountain and Chugach State Park . Located just east of urban Anchorage, local hotel in charlotte street Flattop (pictured above)  is the most climbed mountain local hotel in charlotte street in Alaska and features Anchorage's most iconic local hotel in charlotte street views. One of the best view points is handicap accessible and within easy reach of the parking lot at Glen Alps. On very clear days you may be able to see Denali, North America s tallest mountain.
There are two main hiking trails at Flattop, one easy and the other more strenuous. In summer months you will likely encounter families picking berries and maybe even a moose! For those traveling without a rental car, Flattop local hotel in charlotte street Mountain Shuttle offers roundtrip service from downtown Anchorage for $22 per person.
Bike-riding enthusiasts of all levels will not want to miss taking a spin on the Tony Knowles Coastal local hotel in charlotte street Trail . The 11-mile trail wends its way from the center of town, through Earthquake Park and several other parks, forests, residential neighborhoods, and past the airport. Ending at Kincaid Park, mountain bikers may want to continue from there on one of several mountain bike trails, while the more leisurely cyclist can easily turn around at any time. Another easy but more urban bike trail is the 2.6 mile Ship Creek Trail, which passes by bridges over waters where you can stop to see if salmon are running, depending on the season and a local fish hatchery.
If you haven't figured it out yet, Anchorage is indeed home to many parks, and one of the things if returning to Anchorage, I would look into more ahead of time. When you happen to be strolling around downtown,  be sure to stop by Resolution Park . Named after one of Captain Cook's ships, Resolution Park features a a statue of the 18th century explorer at its center and will give you Anchorage s best sea level views over Cook Inlet. After wondering what mountains we were looking at earlier in the day at Flattop, my husband and I were very pleased to find a handy sign here that identified each mountain seen in the far distance.
local hotel in charlotte street Depending on the amount of time you are in town, you will  want to plan at least one day trip. Check back on Friday here at STE for photos of my hands-down favorite, local hotel in charlotte street where you will either drive or take the Alaskan Railway to Seward, located south of Anchorage, and then board a glacier cruise to experience Kenai Fjords National Park .
By far the best and safest way to experience some of Alaska s more adventurous excursions is on a guided tour with a reputable outfitter. Mica Guides offers glacier trekking, ice climbing and zip-lining at Matanuska Glacier. That the drive north to Matanuska is incredibly scenic once you get a little north of town, is an added bonus.
For those interested in getting a close look at some of Alaska s diverse local hotel in charlotte street wildlife,  consider an animal-focused tour either on your own, or with a guide. 907 Guides has several options, including a tour that visits Ititarod Headquarters . In addition to learning about this annual dog-sled race which is such an important part of local Alaskan culture, visitors have a chance to be pulled on a wheeled cart by Ititarod local hotel in charlotte street dogs in training even if there isn t snow on the ground.
Our tour with 907 Guides also included a visit to Reindeer Farm and Musk Ox Farm (above), local hotel in charlotte street both near Palmer in the Matanuska Valley. Depending on your preference, both of these stops could  be visited easily on your own. Musk Oxen, Artic mammals dating from the Ice Age, are adorable creatures that resemble miniature wooly mammoths. In spite of the name, the species is actually more closely related to sheep and goats than oxen. Through a non-profit foundation promoting sustainable agricultural practices, the Musk Ox has been domesticated for wool production.
The Hilton Garden Inn Anchorage is a great accommodation option for several reasons that will appeal to many seekers of an Alaskan adventure, value luxury style. Located between the airport and downtown, from the time our plane landed to hotel front door via the hotel shuttle, our journey was less than 30 minutes: a pleasant surprise local hotel in charlotte street after a long travel day. Given our late arrival time and long, busy days enjoying 9pm night sunsets, we were also impressed by the food from the hotel s full service restaurant that was available until after 10pm. The relaxed atmosphere and accommodating service the brand is known for were all present as well. Even those with a rental car will appreciate additional complimentary shuttle service to downtown. You might also want to check out other Anchorage hotels popular with STE readers , such as the Embassy Suites .
With fine dining, local hotel in charlotte street popular microbreweries, and foodie finds, Anchorage has plenty of restaurants to choose from. Located on at the corner of W. 4th Avenue and L Street, Snow City Cafe is a breakfast, lunch and brunch local hotel in charlotte street spot favored by locals and tourists. local hotel in charlotte street Serving up menu items such as Kodiak Eggs Benedict complete local hotel in charlotte street with Alaskan king crab cakes, cold meat loaf sandwiches, veggie and chevre paninis and daily soup specials, this sunny restaurant local hotel in charlotte street is definitely worth visiting hungry. However with a lengthy beverage menu that includes espresso concoctions, beer, wine and even their own champagne cocktail, don t miss out! Another downtown hotspot where you will find thirsty and hungry people of both the tourist and local variety is Glacier local hotel in charlotte street Brewhouse located at 737 W. 5th Avenue.
Every seafaring town needs a local seafood dive with great eats and prices, and Mamma O s , found south of downtown at 2636 Spenard Road, fills the role divinely. Don t let Mamma O s claim to have the best butt in town put you off either – they re referring to their Halibut! Deep fried or grilled halibut, salmon and cod, all probably swimming until a couple of hours ago, served with rice and salad are the house specialties. Attesting to both value and food quality, several local families were dining around us when we were there, enjoying seafood and hamburgers and noodle bowls too.
If a bit of a splurge is in order, Marx Brothers Café is a top choice for sophisticated local hotel in charlotte street food preparation, presentation and top notch and friendly service. Local seafood is heavily featured on the menu, which is designed daily by the chef , but non-fans will find plenty on the menu to choose from as well, such as Kobe beef or pan-seared pheasant. This intimate, 14-table spot, located right downtown on W. 3rd Avenue, is also highly regarded for its wine list and pairings.
Those musk oxen are absolutely adorable!! I have never seen one before. Alaska sounds and looks like such a beautiful place to visit. Dear friends of mine just moved up there, so hopefully I will get to explore it myself one day soon.
They were adorable, Krista. Especially when they were running, and you could tell they had a lot of personality. The story behind the wool is pretty interesting too. And yes, Anchorage and Alaska are beautiful and you absolutely should try to get there one day!
Hi Alicia, Thank you! Some things were expensive, while other things weren t too bad. Our rental car and the hotel prices in Anchorage seemed comparable in price to bigger cities in the lower 48, but gas was expensive. Also I ve heard lodging in some of the more remote local hotel in charlotte street areas can be pretty pricey. The cost of living is above average from my understanding.
What Is Value Luxury? Everyone's luxury travel is different. Including yours. Just as no two people are alike, neither are your best vacations. What you value and what you define as "affordable luxury travel" is individual.
The bottom line: It is your vacation. But as the value luxury travel experts, we have some ideas to help you decide local hotel in charlotte street the perfect budget-luxury local hotel in charlotte street destinations, accommodation, attractions, food and drink your next trip.