Start your tour at the historic Alaska Railroad Depot on 1st Avenue, where trains have departed for Denali and Seward since 1923. The depot is a landmark of Anchorage's founding as a railroad construction camp and offers stunning views of the Ship Creek valley below.

Walk down to Ship Creek, where king and silver salmon run each summer right in the middle of downtown Anchorage. This urban fishing spot is one of Alaska's most unique attractions, and you can watch anglers pulling in massive fish just steps from office buildings.

Stroll or cycle along a portion of this stunning 11-mile paved trail that runs from downtown to Kincaid Park. The trail hugs the shoreline of Cook Inlet, offering panoramic views of Denali on clear days and frequent moose sightings in the adjacent woods.

Visit this memorial park along the Coastal Trail that commemorates the devastating 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, a 9.2-magnitude event that remains the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America. Interpretive signs explain the destruction and the landscape still shows evidence of the massive land displacement.

Drive to the Glen Alps Trailhead in Chugach State Park for the most popular hike in Alaska. Even if you only walk partway up Flattop Mountain, the views of Anchorage, Cook Inlet, and the Alaska Range are breathtaking. The trailhead area alone offers outstanding panoramic vistas.

Drive south on the Seward Highway and stop at one of several pullouts along Turnagain Arm, where Captain Cook's crew had to turn around due to extreme tides. Watch for beluga whales, Dall sheep on the cliffs, and the dramatic bore tides that send walls of water rushing up the narrow inlet.

Continue to Portage Glacier, one of the most accessible glaciers in Alaska. The Begich, Boggs Visitor Center offers exhibits on glacial geology and the surrounding Chugach National Forest. While the glacier has retreated from view of the center, boat tours bring you face to face with the towering blue ice.

Step back in time at this historic gold mining operation near Girdwood, established in 1896 during the Alaska gold rush. The original buildings still stand, and visitors can try their hand at gold panning in the creek. The surrounding mountain scenery is spectacular in every season.

Hike to the toe of Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park, one of the few glaciers in Alaska you can walk right up to. Trail markers along the path show where the glacier reached in previous decades, providing a powerful visual record of climate change. The Harding Icefield Trail offers more ambitious hikers stunning views.

End your Kenai Peninsula exploration along the Seward waterfront, a charming small town framed by mountains and ocean. Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, stroll the boardwalk, and browse the murals depicting Seward's history as a vital port and the starting point of the historic Iditarod Trail.