Alaska

Spectacular scenery and ‘deer dawgs’: Nine highlights of Anchorage, Alaska

Published

2 years ago

February 11, 2024

Spectacular scenery and ‘deer dawgs’: Nine highlights of Anchorage, Alaska

Go where the cool kids hang out at Forty Ninth State Brewing. This institution sprawls across three floors in Downtown Anchorage and offers craft beers, meals, and settings to suit all moods. Need decent pub grub? Regain those lost hiking kilojoules by ordering a gluttonous king crabby grilled cheese, aka Alaska’s most indulgent toastie.

Forty Ninth State Brewery.

If searching for a vibe rather than a food coma, head to level three to take in the scenery – mountains, snaking trains and sea – and its lively bar scene. In summer, the rooftop is pumping: its U-shaped bar is a magnet for those wanting to make the most of DJ spins and oh-so-long summer nights. Simply epic. See 49statebrewing.com

The one brunch

It’s common to see a queue out the door, particularly on weekends, at Snow City Cafe. Much loved by locals, the trendy Downtown cafe’s brunch menu is the definition of hearty with big and flavourful dishes. Go for something with an Alaskan twist, such as its “Ship Creek” poached eggs with house-made local salmon cakes, English muffins and hollandaise sauce. Yum. See snowcitycafe.com

The social gathering

Work the room (or rooms) at the vertical laneway, Williwaw Social. The three-storey venue welcomes all kinds of social gatherings. From the ground up, you’ll find one of the city’s premier live entertainment spaces, selling novelty jelly shots. Floor two offers a yin-yang vibe: a classic arcade area and The Speakeasy for those thirsty for innovative cocktails. Worth the stair climb is the rooftop bar, which offers a laidback atmosphere that pulls a young crowd. See williwawsocial.com

The bus ride

Not all tourist bus journeys are made equal. This entertaining one-hour hosted trolley tour makes its way through town, even passing a home built underground (yep, it’s a thing), the world’s largest seaplane airport and other delights. If you are a person who prefers to get their bearings on day one, this trolley is worth the ride. See anchoragetrolley.com

The sausage

Reindeer sausages are an Alaskan street food.

There’s an appetite for turning mascots into meats. While Australia has “kanga bangas”, Alaska has “deer dawgs”. Yes, even the red-nosed Christmas icon, Rudolph, isn’t exempt from a sausage casing. Reindeer sausages are an Alaskan street food specialty, with a few hotdog vendors bringing the sizzle Downtown. See ihohak.com

The hotel

Want a room with a view? Check into the Hilton Anchorage. The Downtown hotel skyscraper is within an easy stroll to restaurants, cafes and shopping outlets. Besides its convenient location, its views are another reason to call it a night here. Book a room with a balcony to wake up to the Chugach Mountains and witness a post-midnight sunset over the Cook Inlet. Just wow. See hilton.com

One more thing …

Alaska Railroad … it only takes three minutes for this four-hour journey to become spectacular.

No trip to Alaska is complete without taking an old-fashioned train journey. Considered the backbone of Alaska, the Alaska Railroad has been tooting its horn through the state for over 120 years. Grab a ticket, take a seat, and enjoy the scenic ride from Anchorage, making stops along the way to the coastal village Seward, Denali National Park and Fairbanks. If the budget allows it, upgrade to Gold Star service. Admire Alaska’s countryside from all angles with its glass dome roof, outdoor upper-level viewing platforms and inclusive dining with two complimentary beverages. That’s one way to journey through the last frontier. See alaskarailroad.com

The writer was a guest of Visit Anchorage and Explore Fairbanks.

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Alaska

‘Alaska is a dangerous place’: How Whittier Harbor stays safe during the winter

Published

59 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

‘Alaska is a dangerous place’: How Whittier Harbor stays safe during the winter

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Winter season brings its risks in harbors across Alaska – including sinking boats, ice, and wind.

“Alaska is a dangerous place,” David Borg, Whittier Harbor Master said. “Here we have massive amount of wind and coming down here in the wintertime with icy docks and a lot of wind, it’s very easy for people to lose their footing.”

Borg also talked about something called SAD – which stand for ‘Sunk At Dock’.

“Boat sinking at the dock. We do have an issue with snow load here,” Borg said. “Best thing people can do … is that if you have a boat in the harbor, you have to have somebody local that can keep an eye on it.”

At Whittier Harbor, safety holds importance all year round.

“If I can make it a little bit safer here in the harbor – so you and your family can go out and boat and do those things that Alaska has to offer safely – then I’d like to try to push that message as best I can,” Borg said

Borg urges anyone who visits Alaska harbors in the winter to know the conditions, gear up properly, and always put safety first.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com

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Alaska

Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop Seattle-to-London flight starting in 2026

Published

13 hours ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Alaska Airlines launches new nonstop Seattle-to-London flight starting in 2026

Alaska Airlines announced its newest nonstop flight out of Seattle: a straight shot to London.

Starting in May 2026, the nonstop flight will travel from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) to Heathrow Airport, the largest international airport in the United Kingdom. The airport resides in Hounslow, located an hour outside of London.

The daily service will operate on Alaska Airlines’ 787 Dreamliner.

London is Alaska Airlines’ fifth intercontinental destination, alongside Rome, Reykjavik, Tokyo, and Seoul. According to the airline, the new route strengthens business ties, with London being the largest corporate market from Seattle.

“By 2030, we plan to serve at least 12 intercontinental destinations from Seattle, with additional routes to be announced in the years to come,” Alaska Airlines stated. “We currently have four Boeing 787-9s in our fleet, with a fifth aircraft recently delivered.”

Guests traveling from the U.S. can now purchase airfares to London for as low as $699 round-trip at alaskaair.com.

Alaska Airlines hit hard by federal shutdown

According to aviation analysts, the federal shutdown cost Alaska Airlines millions of dollars. The airline’s fourth-quarter income is expected to fall by $32 million.

The company told investors it lost 15 cents per share. Flight cancellations at SEA and other airports lasted 43 days.

According to The Puget Sound Business Journal, Delta reports a $200 million hit. United, JetBlue, and Southwest could see losses, too.

Follow Frank Sumrall on X. Send news tips here.

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Alaska

Warnings continue for wind, snow, and extreme cold across Alaska

Published

1 day ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Warnings continue for wind, snow, and extreme cold across Alaska

ANCHORAGE, AK (Alaska’s News Source) – Extreme wind has been non-stop for more than 60 hours in Wasilla in Palmer, where peak wind gusts have reached over 80 mph three days in a row.

Peak winds have been over 80 mph for the last three days in Palmer.(Melissa Frey)

Wind gusts at the Palmer Airport climbed over 50 mph Friday evening and didn’t drop below until late Monday evening.

Peak winds have been over 50 mph for more than 60 hours.(Melissa Frey)

The High Wind Warning for the Matanuska Valley will continue through 6 a.m. on Tuesday. Calmer conditions are likely on Tuesday afternoon as the winds relax across the area.

High Wind Warnings continue in the Mat-Su.(Melissa Frey)

Send us your weather photos and videos here!

The rest of Southcentral remains clear and dry, with temperatures likely dropping to the lowest levels of the season starting Tuesday morning. This pattern will continue through the end of the week.

Download the free Alaska’s News Source Weather App for the latest forecast in your area.

In Southeast, Winter Storm Warnings are still in effect near Ketchikan for up to 8″ of additional snow through Tuesday. Winter Weather Advisories are also in effect near Hyder for an additional 9-12″ of snow on Tuesday.

The snow has ended across the northern areas of Southeast, but extreme cold is setting in. Wind Chill values will reach as low as -50° near Skagway, to -25° near Haines, and to -15° near Juneau.

The Copper River Basin will also experience extreme wind chill values to -50° through Tuesday afternoon.

In the Interior, temperatures dropped to -30° for the first time Monday morning, and we’ll see several nights at that cold level this week.

24/7 Alaska Weather: Get access to live radar, satellite, weather cameras, current conditions, and the latest weather forecast here. Also available through the Alaska’s News Source streaming app available on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV.

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