It
was not planned, but we arrived in Anchorage right in time for the summer
solstice, where I experienced literally the longest day of my life so far. There is a reason why they call it the Land
of the Midnight Sun as the sun rose at 4:21am and set at 11:41pm.
Even though the sun technically sets before midnight, it just dips below the horizon where twilight lingers for hours, resulting in 22 hours of what they call functional daylight.
Downtown Anchorage
We definitely made the most of our longest day of the year, even without a car most of that first day, thanks to a free hotel shuttle to and from downtown. We got a taste of scenic Tony Knowles Trail, with 2 entrances (Elderberry Park or 2nd Avenue) walking distance from Downtown,
before diving into some local specialties. What screams summer more than us screaming for handcrafted Alaskan Wild Blueberry ice cream at Wild Scoops, made from Wild AK blueberries.
Just around the corner is family owned and operated Red Umbrella’s Reindeer cart where he threw me a shaka before dishing up one of my husband’s must try’s, reindeer sausage. Topped with grilled onions and their house sauce, he thoroughly enjoyed every bite since I could not bring myself to take a bite out of Rudolph.
Potter Marsh
After picking up our car, we took advantage of the few hours before our dinner reservation with a drive to Potter Marsh for leisurely strolls on both boardwalks. Although no four-legged wildlife sightings since moose and bears are normally not that active in the afternoon, we did see some birds including a baby bald eagle pointed out to us by a naturalist who had a binocular set up.
Tip: Bring binoculars especially if you’re a birder.
Beluga Point
Further down the Seward Highway at milepost 110.5, about 6.5 miles south of the Anchorage city limits is Beluga Point.
In June, it was quiet with no beluga sightings but views of the Turnagain Arm were still worthwhile nevertheless.
Tip: During mid-July
to August, belugas are often seen here as they travel up and down the inlet. Unlike other whales, adult belugas are
white with juveniles a bluish gray.
Altura Bistro
I saw Altura Bistro post about their new scallion Mac nut crusted Alaskan White King Salmon with a ginger coconut broth and came in within the week for our first dinner in Alaska. That dish blew my Kodiak Scallops out of the water, making me wish I got my own order instead of just a bite since my husband is shellfish intolerant.
The cambozola and roasted garlic starter
and newly added peach and burrata salad was perfectly balanced in flavors that made me enjoy even its accompaniments like parsley purée and mint pesto that I otherwise hadn’t in the past.
Even though it was still sunny and warm upon leaving the restaurant at 9pm, someone needed a nap back at the hotel after all that amazing food, to be awake for the 11:41pm sunset. Thanks to a suggestion from front desk, we discovered Point Woronzof for our once-in-a-lifetime summer solstice sunset
and the midnight sun at exactly midnight.
Alaska Native Heritage Center
Just like we happened to arrive in Alaska hours before the summer solstice, we also happened to visit the Alaska Native Heritage Center on the day of their much-awaited grand reopening of their Hall of Cultures, the following day.
Although it was already awe-inspiring learning about the different Alaska native culture’s dwellings for each region of Alaska with the free village site tour (included in our ticket price)
it felt even more immersive with the unveiling of the new murals from different cultural regions in the newly reopened Hall of Cultures.
Leaving
with a gift for all guests that day in honor of that grand reopening day as a
reflection of their culture was just icing on the cake.
Quyana.
Tip: Although they do have food for sale on site, they also have spots you can eat your lunch if you choose to bring your own. I opted to bring a sandwich from Great Harvest, Alaska Chips from Alaska Chip Company, and 49th Brewing Company’s Frontier Soda to enjoy overlooking their lake.
Palmer
Palmer, about an hour Northeast of Anchorage and only 45 minutes from the Native Alaska Heritage Center, can be a destination in itself. With it an agriculture hub, it is a prime destination for farm to table cuisine.
Feather and Flour
Touted as farm, fjord, forest to table, their ever-changing weekly menu reflects many local and seasonal produce and meats.
With a choice from 3 options for all 3 courses, we selected different ones from each course to share, enabling us to try a variety of their delicious offerings. We started with Mongolian inspired beef tenderloin skewers and local tomato caprese,
followed by a summer herb salad
and a luscious squash and potato soup, perfect to dip that herb focaccia in.
Finally, an equally amazing flavorful teriyaki sockeye
and melt in your mouth beef tenderloin to round out
one of my favorite meals on this trip.
Reindeer Farm
If you need an excuse to make the drive to Palmer worth your while if the food had not convinced you already, stop at family-owned Williams Reindeer beforehand
to see and feed some animals before you get fed.
Moose,
yaks,
highland cow,
alpaca,
in addition to reindeers
Kinley’s Restaurant
Halibut is so common in Alaska this time of year that you will see it on most restaurants’ menu next to the readily available salmon, so of course we could not leave Anchorage without taking advantage of it.
If you love halibut as much as I do, you would want to take it a step further
and order the rarely seen outside of Alaska, halibut cheeks.
Four tender halibut cheeks lightly dusted and pan seared served over a generous bed of pancetta pea risotto for just $36.
For the same price we also ordered the almond crusted halibut filet with a cherry and apple cider beurre blanc.
Generous portions at a favorite spot of locals that don’t leave you hungry.
Anchorage Market and Summer Solstice Celebration
Anchorage had definitely been unseasonably warmer than expected during our stay, making me wish I packed shorts like Hawai`i.
With the warmest hours around 4 or 5pm, this makes late morning and early afternoon still comfortable for outdoor markets. We started the morning with the summer weekend Anchorage Market in a carnival like atmosphere
to pick up some local products
like Northern Aurora Seafood Smoked Salmon to bring home.
Just a few blocks away, island ties are definitely strong as even in Alaska I
cross paths with Hawai’i. With the
summer solstice on a Thursday this year, to ensure residents and visitors alike
have a chance to fully enjoy this community event, the day-long celebration was
held two days later. In the words of the
Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride, “there’s no place I’d rather be” than with Polynesian
Alaska’s halau at the Downtown Anchorage Summer Solstice Celebration.
Seemed only fitting that our stay in and around Anchorage was bookmarked by celebrating the most memorable and longest summer solstice ever.
Places to Eat
Wild Scoops
Multiple
locations with some locations opened in season
Downtown
location is E Street between 4th and 5th
Anchorage,
AK 99501
907-744-7295
Wild Scoops: Handcrafted Alaskan Ice Cream
Red
Umbrella Reindeer
Corner
of 4th and E Street
Anchorage,
AK 99501
907-947-9186
Red Umbrella Reindeer | Hot Dog
Stand | Downtown, Anchorage, AK, USA
Altura
Bistro
4240
Old Seward Hwy Ste 20
Anchorage,
AK 99503
907-561-2373
Altura Bistro: New American Restaurant in
Anchorage, AK (altura-bistro.club)
Feather
and Flour
927
S Cobb Street
Palmer,
AK 99645
907-982-9911
Restaurant | Feather & Flour |
Palmer, Alaska (featherandflour.com)
Kinley’s
Restaurant
3230
Seward Hwy
Anchorage,
AK 99503
907-644-8953
Kinley's Restaurant
(kinleysrestaurant.com)
Things To Do
Potter
Marsh
2999
E 154th Ave
Anchorage,
AK 99516
Beluga
Point
Seward
Hwy Mile Point 110
Anchorage,
AK 99516
Alaska
Native Heritage Center
8800
Heritage Center Dr
Anchorage,
AK 99504
907-330-8000
ANHC | Alaska Native Heritage Center -
Anchorage, AK
Reindeer
Farm
5561
Bodenburg Loop
Palmer,
AK 99645
907-745-4000
Reindeer Farm | Reindeer Tours &
Activities in Palmer, Alaska
Point
Woronzof
Point
Woronzof Road
Anchorage,
AK 99502
Point Woronzof Park |
ALASKA.ORG
Anchorage
Market
2024
season from May 11 – Sept 8
Saturdays
10am-6pm, Sundays 11am-5pm
225
E Street, Anchorage, AK 99501
Anchorage Market &
Festival - Alaska (anchoragemarkets.com)