Things to do in Girdwood, Alaska
1. Food
The Girdwood valley has several exceptional eating options. The Double Musky is a renowned cajun influenced steak house with excellent seafood and amazing steaks. Maxine’s Glacier Bistro has a locally influenced menu that changes every few weeks. Jack Spratt specializes in their diversity while the Silvertip Grill and Chair 5 Restaurant offer standard bar food with large alcohol selections. The Coast is the Girdwood pizza place and also offers a selection of 6” and 1’ sandwiches.
Local Tip: Most of the restaurants in town don’t open until dinner. Jack Spratt serves brunch on the weekends and the Silvertip and Chair 5 are open for lunch and dinner daily. Coast Pizza offers the only delivery in town.
The Alyeska Resort has several eating options, the two most prominent being Seven Glaciers (located at the top of Alyeska Tramway) and the Sakura Sushi Bar. Make sure to make reservations if you plan on eating at Alyeska Resort, as they tend to be busy, especially in the summer and during weekends.
 2. Alyeska Resort’s Tramway
The Alyeska Resort features a 2,200 foot aerial tram that should be a part of any first trip to Girdwood. The tram base is located at The Alyeska Hotel and leaves every 15 minutes. The 5-10 minute ride brings you near the summit of Mt. Alyeska, where you’ll enjoy views of several glaciers in the Girdwood valley as well as the famed Turnagain Arm. Make sure you pick a time when the sky is relatively clear, as views can be drastically hampered by the Girdwood clouds we so often have in the valley.
5. Hiking/Biking
Girdwood is a biker’s paradise with a paved bike trail that follows the highway from one end of Girdwood all the way to the other. Bicycle rentals are available at The Alyeska Resort as well as other privately owned Girdwood companies. There are also hiking trails of varying difficulty all over the Girdwood Valley. Regardless of you fitness level there’s a trail for everyone to enjoy. Some of the most popular are the Winner Creek Trail (featuring 100 foot+ hand tram) and the Crow Pass Trail. A hike up the Winner Creek Trail is a great way to visit Crow Creek Gold Mine as well, one of Girdwood’s finer kept secrets.
6. Skiing / Winter
The Alyeska Resort is home to some of the most challenging and exciting in-bounds ski terrain in North America. With an average snowfall of well over 600”, Mt. Alyeska is never short on snow or fun for those that enjoy it. Non-existent week day crowds, an array of steep, deep terrain and breathtaking scenery make Alyeska Resort a one-of-a-kind ski destination. For guided cat and heli skiing, check out Chugach Powder Guides, a long time locally owned and operated adventure company.
7. Outdoor Adventures
Girdwood has been named one of the best places in North America for outdoor enthusiasts, and with the seemingly never ending list of options it is easy to see why. Rafting, paragliding, flight seeing, fishing, kayaking, horse back riding, ATV touring, dog sledding, glacier cruising, rock and ice climbing and jet boating are all within an hour of Girdwood and offer outdoor activity for everyone. Visit here for more information on these activities and much more. |
