Most Notable Work Trip: Alaska, USA
- LoAroundTheGlobo
- Nov 18
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 21
September 2025
When the opportunity to travel to Anchorage for work arose, I jumped on it. Essentially, I planned on attending a variety of work events over a few days before extending my trip a few extra days to explore and partake in some adventures.
Once it all came together, I arrived late on a Wednesday, and settled in at a quaint little inn downtown. On Thursday, I worked (albeit on Eastern Time, wrapping up by mid-afternoon local time), before popping out to explore Anchorage's downtown area, which is surrounded by beautiful mountain vistas and glistening arms of the Cook Inlet.
I perused literally every tourist shop, admired every art gallery, and meandered along the main streets for a few hours before settling down for happy hour at a popular brewery called "49th State Brewing" right near my inn. I sipped there and visited with a couple of other tourists before heading off to meet a couple of my colleagues for dinner at a nice steakhouse. After dinner, our (local) colleague took us by car on a "moose spotting adventure" through a nearby state park. Dark, rainy, and desolate, we only caught a glimpse of a bull moose's romp making its way down a ravine before we called it a night; safe to say the trip was off to a fun and ridiculous start though.
On Friday, I met a group of colleagues for a business breakfast before heading over to the Alaska Zoo with a coworker/friend of mine. At this beautifully rustic zoo focused on conservation and rescue efforts, we admired a variety of bears, some sleepy snow leopards, and playful seals, petted alpacas and goats, and even got charged by a moody muskox named Little Rock. We were also lucky enough to witness the transition of a new grizzly bear rescue into the enclosure with two long-standing residents, about which the onlooking zookeepers were cautiously optimistic as they, too, looked upon the newly-formed trio.
Friday night, we attended a gala commemorating the chapter's anniversary at the Anchorage Museum, with its many renovations, expansive galleries, and beautifully-curated exhibits; over the course of a lovely evening of fundraising, games, and speeches, we sipped, cheered, and laughed, enjoying nice food and company in a gorgeous setting.
Come Saturday, I met up with my colleague and her husband, and they graciously took me around to a couple of farmers markets, before her and I set out on a stunning drive to a vista overlooking the Chugach Mountains and Turnagain Arm; in the car, I took in all the fun and unique sights around me which included a floater plane taking off from a private runway and golden fall foliage that faded into the deep indigo of the mountains surrounding us.
Saturday evening was another lovely one. My colleague and I headed downtown for a nice dinner and to attend the Trend Alaska Fashion Show, a fundraiser at the Anchorage Performing Arts Center that boasted a variety of local designers, live performers, a magician, a couple of dance troupes, a cohort of firemen, and lots of eager donors and fans, all dressed up in their 1920s-themed best. We even ran into a handful of familiar faces that evening (at dinner and the show), proving just how small the Anchorage community can be.
On Sunday morning, after receiving a message from a tour guide named Davis confirming I was the only one set for the outing that day, I inadvertently enjoyed a private bus tour with Davis that made for quite a magical day, even amidst a steady rain. We headed first along along the water, paralleling Turnagain Arm, where the muddy plains are submerged in feet of water whenever the tide comes in 3-4 times each day; each year, silly tourists, brazen outdoorsmen, or even unlucky fishermen die by drowning after being trapped in the glacial salt-packed quicksand.
We drove passed Beluga Point and Bird Point before coming to our first official stop of the tour: the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, an absolutely stunning piece of property that homes a variety of rescued animals. I marveled at the three brown bears that lounged on their bench and played with their pumpkins sillily and the fox siblings that playfully wrestled and the bald eagle that perched high above the fields. We stayed here a while as I admired and learned more about all the native animals, the conservation efforts and breeding practices, the animals' typical diets, and the center's zoology care, including a bull moose scheduled for neuter soon who'd been sequestered from the other moose.
From there, our journey continued past Portage Lake, through the miles-long, one-way (!!!!) tunnel to Whittier, a now dilapidated town that boasts a thriving outdoorsy community and access to the Prince William Sound that was once a secret port during WWII, known for its concealed location and terrible weather and is now colloquially referred to as "everything's shittier in Whittier."
After leaving Whittier, we excitedly spotted a mother moose along the side of the road, before shortly thereafter parking in a neighborhood in Girdwood for a quick hike out to a lush waterfall; this trail and waterfall area must have included every shade of green imaginable, with the ferns, mosses, and pines creating a green/yellow backdrop for every photo. Given that the private tour moved through the stops a bit quicker than one with a larger group, we had extra time to explore so the guide swung me by the chocolate factory in downtown Anchorage before dropping me off where I was staying.
I was so grateful for my guide's knowledge of and passion for the Alaskan landscapes, history, native peoples, and the plethora of cultures, all of which made my tour and experience so fun and meaningful. Some homemade soup and a hot shower were the perfect ways to end a pretty perfect day of exploring.
On Monday, I worked (again on Eastern Time), wrapping up by early afternoon, in serendipitous timing (while the sun was beaming for the first time since I'd arrived on Wednesday) to e-bike along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, a path that departs from downtown Anchorage and parallels the water along the Anchorage peninsula; on my 24-mile journey, I rode through Earthquake Park (which details the 1964 tragedy that reshaped the land and community), the airport (where several passenger and cargo planes alike seemingly barely cleared my head during takeoff), and out to Kincaid Park, a sports complex overlooking Anchorage.
On the return, I encountered a large, seemingly agitated moose, who caused me to detour so as not to disturb her. I made it back to the bike shop where a sweet worker, originally from Croatia, who I'd chatted with a while before beginning my journey, was waiting for me, eager to hear how the ride was and what I saw.
From the shop, I met my colleague at her office downtown and we headed nearby to an event for women in construction, where I lost my Bunco virginity. After the event, my colleague toured me around Lake Hood Seaplane Base, the largest floatplane airport in the world, with its two runways and spattering of colorful, retro seaplanes, before we called it a night.
Tuesday was my final day in Anchorage, and after a full morning of meetings, I headed downtown for my final activity of the trip: a historic trolley tour. We started downtown at a shop where they make and sell ulus (a traditional native knife known for its versatility), after which we drove through the industrial seaport, out to Earthquake Park, and around Lake Hood, enjoying some of the touristy spots I'd previously seen during my bike ride and outings with my colleague, presenting the perfect opportunity to test my knowledge and see how much trivia I retained.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip that mixed work obligations and engagements (albeit very fun ones) with exciting adventures, and, even though it ended on a sour work note (due to some unfortunate politics and other local dynamics beyond our control), I was very grateful for my time spent in Anchorage - working, exploring, learning, visiting, dining, and adventuring.
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To Do or Not To Do?
Alaska is perfect for anyone outdoorsy. It is a stunningly beautiful place, with endless adventures (of all difficulties, risks, etc.), boundless culture, and a resounding sense of natural quiet. It is not for the faint of heart, but instead is perfect for the steadfast, curious, and adventurous traveler.
Having done both a summer cruise and late September trip, I certainly think the warmer months (with maximal sunlight) are recommended for any initial visits, although I am sure (and hope to eventually experience myself) some of the wintery magic.
All that said, it can be a difficult place to get around, especially if you plan to venture outside of Anchorage (which you totally should), so you may consider day tours, a rental vehicle, or other accommodations to ensure you maximize you time and energy!
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