If you’re planning an Alaskan cruise or cruisetour, you’ll want to make sure you take time to visit Anchorage. And just how can you get to Anchorage from your cruise ship? First, you’ll need to take a northbound or southbound cruise from Vancouver to either Seward or Whittier (you’ll fly in or out of Anchorage for these ports), or vice-versa. Then, add on a land tour or just tack on a couple days before or after your cruise to spend in Anchorage. From the port towns of Seward or Whittier, you can take either a deluxe motor coach or train to Anchorage, which is about two and a half hours away.
There’s plenty to do in the largest city in Alaska, and over the next few blogs, we’ll be covering “The Best of Anchorage.” We’ll give you the scoop on the top five places to shop, eat and see. Let’s start with shopping.
The Top 5 Places to Shop in Anchorage
There are lots of great places to shop in Anchorage, but we’ve found some places that are unique to Alaska—and things you can only get in Alaska. These five shops hit our radar as places you may want to stop by.
1. The Anchorage Market & Festival is the perfect place to find hand-crafted Alaskan gifts like ivory and whale bone jewelry, masks and fresh goods and produce. With over 300 vendors on three acres in downtown Anchorage, you can stroll the marketplace for hours sampling food and buying unique gifts in an open air environment.
2. The Oomingmak Musk Ox Producers Co-op is owned by over 250 native Alaskan women who knit all the items by hand. These unique clothing pieces are made of Qiviut (kiv-ee-ute) which is the ultra-soft under-wool from the Arctic musk ox. The under-wool from the Arctic musk ox is soft and luxurious–compared to itchy wool. The natural color is preserved and no dyes are added. Their most popular items are their scarves, hats, tunics, and the nachaq, aka “smokering”, which is a hooded scarf that can be worn either way. Look for their label “Arctic Hand-knitted 100% Qiviut, Made in Alaska U.S.A.”
3. Amber’s Olive Company sells fine olive oils infused with lemon, butter, Persian lime, chipotle and other flavors. Also popular are their balsamic vinegars infused with jalapeno, pomegranate, Sicilian lemon and many other flavors. They also sell salts and sugars infused with flavors. These high-end goods are available for tasting in the store so you can be confident that you’re purchasing the right one—and buying plenty of it.
4. David Green Master Furrier is a must-see fur factory and showroom for the best selection of furs in the country. A family-operated business that started in 1922, the furrier has been this family’s tradition since 1690. It’s known to be a favorite stop for celebrities.
5. Alaskan Zipper Pulls by Tassita Tonenas are original pieces of art that are reasonably priced. The pulls are made out of bone, unusual art glass or moose/caribou antler. They can also be used as fan pulls or key rings…or get creative. They also take special orders so you can create your own unique piece.
Book your 2014 Alaskan cruise now
It’s time to book your 2014 cruise to Alaska. Call a CruiseExperts.com agent today to get more information on Alaskan cruises and cruisetours that visit Anchorage. Call 1-888-804-CRUIse(2784) or visit our website at www.CruiseExperts.com.
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Photo Credits
Thank you Zach Roberts for the picture of the Anchorage Market & Festival.
Thank you Tassita Tonena for the picture of your bone zipper pulls.