Should you ever find yourself in Anchorage, Alaska with a sense of adventure, comfortable shoes, and a few hours to explore, you MUST make your way downtown to one of the many bike rental shops and head out to follow the one-way, 11-mile long Tony Knowles Coastal Trail until the end, or as long as you can.
It’s a well-marked, wide, nicely paved and maintained trail that winds out of the downtown area.
You’ll see an interpretative exhibit about the great earthquake of 1964 and find a few benches where you can take a break and enjoy the view:
The scenery is sublime; mudflats on one side of you and forest on the other.
You’ll pass under the takeoff and landing path of the Anchorage Airport, so don’t be startled when a jumbo jet roars what seems to be just feet from your head:
Don’t be surprised if you see a moose or three, and don’t approach them! I was using a telephoto lens for this picture and was a little spooked when the younger one looked as if he noticed me.
I turned around just past the moose sighting, at about mile 7. Remember, what goes up, must also go down:
And since you’ve worked up an appetite, be sure to stop at Tia’s Gourmet Sausage stand at the corner of 4th and E street and treat yourself to a spicy reindeer hot dog. This is one of the best meals I ever ate! Right there on the street
