Hotels near Merrill Field - MRI, Anchorage

Anchorage, in my opinion, is underrated. I thought it was great! It was a small town feel, but not too rustic - there were still great restaurants and bars around. The city is very walkable, everyone we met there was so nice, and obviously the scenery was impeccable. I went to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center which was great, and did the Coastal Trail (only 6 out of the 11 miles though) and that was an easy and beautiful hike. The only thing I'd do different next time is I'd stay longer. Also, Snow City Cafe is THE BEST!

Anchorage has a lot going for it and has great potential! It is a little run down but can be very pretty especially with the mountain and water views. Flowers grow great there and can really enhance the beauty all around. Bike and hiking paths are fantastic! Renting E-bikes are easy and a blast on those trails! Moose are all over which is cool! Anchorage is expensive but not terrible and we expected that. There are many good choices to eat. The heritage center and museum is great! There a ton of things to do if you have the cash. There are a lot of homeless and that is a shame. More work needs to be for them.

Arrival at International Airport, car hire, taxis and municipal bus was easy...$2 to get directly downtown....unbeatable A provincial feel and geographically spread out but easy to get around. Lots of choices of great places to eat It's a relatively small city and tends to be a jumping off point for other places and activities.We had an outstanding round trip flying to Brooks Falls and achieved some stunning photography of brown bears splashing and fishing for salmon. Truly amazing!

People from other parts of Alaska have a saying: 'You can see Alaska from Anchorage'. This sums up the city in that it is truly not representative of the State and has few reasons for tourists to stay there, other than as a jumping off point from the airport. Lake Hood is worth a visit and seaplane flights to other parts of the State are operated from here.

I stayed two nights in Anchorage, the first with cruise shipmates I was with on NorthWest Passage 30 day cruise which arrived in Nome - very interesting, but quite sad in parts, place - and then we flew to Anchorage. The cruise stay was in the Hilton, rather faded glory place, but great views from the Anchorage Tower Room I was in. Downtown Anchorage seems pretty tough. For the first time in my life, someone, a teenage boy, shot up with a syringe next to me on the pavement as I walked past. Another of our shipmates, in his fifties, and without provocation on his part, was challenged to an armwrestle by someone in a pub, so he left speedily. But outside the centre, Anchorage is quite a different place, and we had a good wander, and bumped into a retired teacher, who told us about an open mike bluegrass afternoon at Van's Dive Bar. So we went, and had a great time, free food, and met great people, with children playing fiddles joining in the fun! So take care after dark, and, if alone, return to your hotel or safe place, but Anchorage has lots of interesting history, great trains (and horns!) and more good people than troubled or challenging ones, to be sure!! Great museums, apparently, and good excursions, too.

So many experiences available within walking distance of our downtown hotel. Loved Anchorage Trolley Tours with our funny and exceptionally knowledgeable guide Ace - we learned so many interesting things. The Visitor's Center with the grass roof was so friendly and such a warm atmosphere. Absolutely fantastic world-class Anchorage Museum with Discovery Center and Planetarium for all ages, could have spent an entire day or more there. Kobuk for Chia Tea and their famous donuts and incredible gift shop, so enjoyable. Humpy's for dinner and live music, perfect ending to our day. And ALL within walking distance. Next time? Take longer and more in-depth trolley tours. Have two donuts at Hobuk's instead of one.