Top Things to do in Girdwood
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What to do and see in Girdwood, Alaska (AK): The Best Things to do for Honeymoon
Discover the best top things to do in Girdwood, United States including Alpine Air Alaska, Chugach Adventures, Ascending Path, Girdwood Brewing Company, Portage Glacier, Alyeska Aerial Tram, Winner Creek Trail Hand Tram, Tightlines Alaska.
Restaurants in Girdwood
1. Alpine Air Alaska
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 889 reviews
Alpine Air Alaska is a helicopter tour company in Girdwood, Alaska. We offer scenic flightseeing, glacier landings, and glacier dog sledding in the Summer!
2. Chugach Adventures
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 154 reviews
Welcome to Chugach Adventures. We offer trips for all adventure levels, all ages & all abilities. Rafting, Iceberg Kayaking, Glacier Salmon Bakes, Helicopter Alpine Hikes, Camping Trips, Hiking Trips, & Wildlife Tours. Join us for a Bears, Trains, & Icebergs Tour for one of the best full day adventure tours from Anchorage, Girdwood, Portage, or Whittier. Visit Spencer Glacier- one of the most easily accessible terminus glacier lakes in Southcentral Alaska.
3. Ascending Path
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 307 reviews
Visit and experience a unique Alaskan wilderness on our authentic glacier adventures. Within an hour of Anchorage we can have you on a glacier, and enjoying real Alaska on a spectacular guided hike. An amazing train ride gets us to the Spencer Whistle Stop which offers excellent Iceberg viewing and Glacier hiking. Your family can even paddle a Tandem Sea Kayak past icebergs and ride a Heli to climb on the Spencer Glacier itself.
4. Girdwood Brewing Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 64 reviews
Enjoy local brews and epic views of the Chugach mountains at Girdwood Brewing Company. We have a beautiful timber framed taproom adorned with local art and ski relics. For those who prefer the outdoors, there’s an awesome beer garden with fire pits and plenty of seating. We offer up four core beers and a series of rotating taps. Root beer, cold brew coffee, and kombucha are available for those looking for an alcohol free beverage. Tasters and 12 ounce pours are available to drink in the taproom. If you are looking for beer to go, we fill growlers, sell 5 gallon kegs, and have 4-packs of 16 ounce cans with labels designed by Alaskan artists (for sale in the taproom only). Food trucks are on-site every day, and we have cool merchandise for you to take home. Girdwood Brewing Company is truly rooted in our community. We donate to a number of nonprofits and outdoor adventure organizations. Our brewery also provides year round employment to over a dozen locals.
Reviewed By POLYMER - Phoenix, United States
Nice place to refresh the mind in a very good local brewery, a food truck serving excellent crepes made the perfect combination for a quick lunch while exploring the area. Friendly staff and cozy atmosphere Highly recommended !
5. Portage Glacier
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,025 reviews
A popular tourist attraction.
Reviewed By PookyCake - Victoria, Canada
Named by Thomas Mendenhall in 1898, Portage Glacier sits on the edge of Portage Lake and is technically part of the Chugach National Forest. Often considered a “crown jewel” by tourists because of its relatively close proximity to Anchorage, Portage Glacier is perhaps the most visited glacier in Alaska. Accessible by boat or a brisk hike, the glacier provides us with a number of things: 1) Beautiful views and a peek into geologic history; and, 2) Clear and irrefutable evidence of global warming. I was able to view Portage Glacier via a cruise on the stylish MV Ptarmigan (hey, I like the name!). Knowing that we would get up to 300 yards away from this natural beauty was both exhilarating and exciting. After all, up until this point, I’d never had the pleasure of viewing a glacier . . . let alone up close. In this respect, the MV Ptarmigan did not disappoint. After cruising Portage Lake, we got up close and personal with the glacier. Seeing this alpine wonder at such a close distance was nothing short of breathtaking – the sunlight shone just enough for us to see the various shades of brilliant blue that make up the glacier. It was almost as if the Earth was alive and talking to us . . . just a completely surreal and unforgettable experience. On the other hand, seeing Portage Glacier was also a sobering experience. During our tour aboard the MV Ptarmigan, the knowledgeable guides noted that the glacier has been in steady retreat for well over a 50-year period. Complementing their information is a helpful resource book readily available on the tour vessel that shows – through pictures – how Portage Glacier has changed over the years. Indeed, at just under 10 kilometers in length, the glacier sounds most impressive; however, when you realize that it was once recorded at 23 kilometers in length (filling the entire Portage Valley), you are hit with an undeniable truth. What can we do to save this, and other of Earth’s natural wonders? If you’re visiting the Anchorage area, a stop at Portage Glacier is a definite “must do.” It’s beautiful, it’s educational and it highlights a contemporary conundrum. Be sure to visit this “crown jewel” before it disappears.
6. Alyeska Aerial Tram
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,352 reviews
The Alyeska Aerial Tram is a three-to-seven minute scenic ride from The Hotel Alyeska to 2,300 ft in elevation and the top of Mt. Alyeska. From the Tram, you can see for miles in all directions – including views of the Turnagain Arm, up to seven “hanging” glaciers, and endless peaks deep into the Chugach Mountain range. Don’t forget to look down! In the summer months, moose and bear sightings are common on our aerial tram rides, too. At the Mountain Station, there is an observation deck providing even more breath-taking panoramic views of majestic mountains, hanging glaciers, sparkling streams, towering spruce, and an array of wildlife. Conde Nast Traveler rated Alyeska ~ "Best view of any U.S. ski resort." The observation deck is a perfect place to enjoy a relaxed lunch or a beautiful evening sunset. Telescopes are also available along the deck.
Reviewed By 412stuc - Vineland, United States
Took the tram ride up today, using the ride & dine option. Super neat place with great views of the 7 glaciers. Plenty of hiking trails if you want and with the ride & dine ticket, you get a $20 certificate for the restaurant where you can have a good lunch in a dining room with a great view. Well worth the drive.
7. Winner Creek Trail Hand Tram
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
Reviewed By HBSnowFlower - Huntington Beach, United States
This gentle dirt and boardwalk trail through the forest is easy for the whole family. Starting from behind the Alyeska resort hotel, the trail winds through lush rain forest, dotted with blueberries and the red, inedible devil’s club, and portions of the Iditarod trail. Be sure to stop and listen to the birdsong along the way. Cross a walking bridge over the creek and continue to the gorge where hikers line up to pull themselves in a vertical metal phone-booth size basket suspended above Glacier Creek. As they often stop the tram midway to take selfies, the line can get rather long. (Be safe – there was a recent accident where somebody was standing on top of the safety net instead of behind the railing next to the tram and fell out!) The trail continues a few more miles for a loop trail — or you can take the Alyeska resort shuttle back if you continue a mile further to the Crow Creek Mine trailhead. Check the shuttle schedule if you are interested in this option, or get back in line for the hand tram to return the way you came, making a 3-mile round-trip.
8. Tightlines Alaska
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 25 reviews
