This inclusive multi-use park/playground is centrally located in Anchorage near the public library…read more Parking is ample and accessible in at least 3 different areas surrounding the park. All of my kids have played here and enjoyed the offerings. Surprisingly, there isn't a single swing at this park FYI. But still tons to do, to keep the kids entertained. There is a man-made pond front and center. Lots of birds + bird poop. Lots of walking/biking trails here. Lots of space to lay out. Tons of space to hold events here. I attended some of the best music festivals/concerts with mountain backdrop here; but due to disagreements with the city and the unhoused population, the space isn't utilized for these purposes anymore. Highly recommend.

It's a pretty large park, located in the middle of Midtown…read more Great place to go when there is a festival/event of some sort going down. It's also a good place to take a lunch break if you work in the area. If neither of these conditions are satisfied, there are much better parks to explore in Anchorage ;)

Great place to have for the doggos to go especially in the winter time!…read more Medium sized "warehouse" where there are dog toys and obstacle course for the dogs to play, or just a nice large warm room for them to run around and play with one another. The initial dog fee isn't what I'd call cheap, especially if you're bringing one dog only (and in all honesty when I first heard of an indoor dog "park" I'm thinking why would I pay money for that but AK can get cold - poor pup's feet!) but for a group gathering, it's well worth it! This is my first time here but I think you likely get the whole room to yourself with the reservation - so note - if you are bringing your dog in hopes to meet other dogs, please be sure to contact owner Amy to see if that's an option. It looks like they also offer training classes, do definitely check it out! Amy is responsive via her online reservation request form and coordinates all by email. It's easy to go over an hour, just a warning!

This playground/lake park is busy from sunrise to sundown, when the weather is good…read more It consists of a large pavilion/shelter, big kids playground, toddler playground, open green field, beach/sand/lake, and a kids' zipline. A few sitting areas are sprinkled throughout. As someone who avoids small talk and parent interactions, I try to show up at the crack of dawn. There will still be folks here, but at least you aren't elbow to elbow. It's difficult to bring my kids to these swimming areas without the intention of swimming. I prefer for my kids to swim at Little Campbell Lake (near Kincaid Park), instead.

A nice spot just off Dimond. The park has two parking areas- one just off Dimond on the south end…read moreof the lake that can be a little crowded and a larger one at the northeast side of the lake. Here, there are picnic areas and a playground area for kids. The lake is supposedly stocked with fish, so you usually see folks ice fishing in the winter. The south entrance has a small dock that is also good for fishing in warmer weather.

Potter Marsh was my last activity in Alaska. Having arrived back in Anchorage, following an epic…read moreroad trip back from Seward, I was staying my last night near the airport before an early flight the next day. Wanting to stretch my legs, I had decided to make an after dinner stop at Potter Marsh. Having passed it earlier in the day, I had seen a large bull moose from the road, as he enjoyed grazing in the tall grasses. Later on, when I actually had time to stop, no moose sightings. However, the walk along the well maintained boardwalk offered epic views and a peaceful, quiet evening walk. Lots of locals out enjoying the first sunny day, all week. Nicely done placards with info and complimentary spotting scopes to see any visiting bird life. It's a quick but worthy stop in Anchorage if you are looking for a simple outdoor activity.

Beautiful park with great views of the mountains and the water! Nice viewing of different wildlife…read moreas well. Nice boardwalk with information signs. Easy and free parking!

One of my favorite neighborhood parks in Anchorage. It has a massive hill for rolling down in the…read moresummer, and sledding down all winter. Swings, a giant rock formation to climb, and even some stuff for the little kids. There is an outdoor pavilion, that seems to be booked all summer long with family parties and birthdays, and it's really close to a lovely trail. If you're looking for a spot to take your young one, dog, or anyone that needs to get out of the house, this is a great spot in midtown.

At first I thought this park wasn't even listed on Yelp. Which is insane, it's MASSIVE. Then I…read morerealized it was listed simply as "Russian Jack Springs", which makes it sound like a quaint Canadian hot springs in the mountains...(I've since submitted an edit, it should show up with "park" in the title now) It's not that. It is a shockingly great park. It's in an area of town where you wouldn't expect to find a park, and it's quite massive. It's got green houses you can tour, a hill for sledding, trails for hiking/running, and even a GOLF COURSE and CLUBHOUSE. Is it a bougie golf course and clubhouse? Of course not. But it's cheap and solid. Golf for the people! I got some BBQ from Smokehouse which is less than a mile away, ate in the park, then went for a short walk on the trails to burn off that brisket, and I was still back to work in time. Don't take Anchorage living for granted! I hope to come back in the winter to get on that sledding hill!

Is there an Alaskan Snow Snake? (see pic)…read more After the fresh snow, there are so many cool things to gander upon. And even though there is a fresh powder, the tracks are still visible and ready to be skied. I can only speak on the cross country ski trails here, but I've been super impressed with them. There is also a sledding hill, skate skiing area and a lodge style building that I've never seen open. I understand there are also community greenhouses on the property that you can check out. After three trips here and over two hours spent, I have yet to see the entire park. So much to explore, great for beginners, and well lit. For being so close to a major road, I'm amazed at how quiet and serene this place is. There's a private parking lot, off Lidia Selkregg Lane. I've never had a problem finding a spot. I think parking is free because I didn't see any fee stations.

If you like quirky parks with loud jets flying over, this is the perfect place! I stumbled upon it…read morewhile exploring around Anchorage, and it was such a fun spot to spend some time on a beautiful sunny day. There's a large parking lot, complete with a couple of outhouses and (at least on the day I visited) a hot dog vendor, too. The parking lot sits well above the beach area, where I walked around and did plenty of people-watching before heading out to the point and the very colorfully painted structure that (maybe?) I think has something to do either with airplane or sea navigation. Surrounding the point were zillions of painted rocks. It was local art gone wild and I loved it! At regular intervals, giant jets flew over upon takeoff from the airport (which is mere yards away). If you don't like loud jets, I would not recommend this beach. But if you do, well, you've come to the right place!

A dead moose carcass…read more Graffiti, mostly colorful. Didn't close enough to see if it was also tasteful. Slippery clay and mud - lots of moments where I thought I might slip and fall to the ground. Definitely something to watch for. Small granulated particles sliding down the sandy hill. Crazy to see erosion in action. Just a few of the many exciting things along this walking area. Beautiful breeze off the inlet. Lots of great views of downtown Anchorage. Lots of parking available and a wonderful place to get to see a brilliant sunset. Bring a chair and a cooler!

Park playground I found completely by accident which is concealed in one of Anchorage's perplexing…read morewinding neighborhoods off Dowling and Lake Otis that is meant to keep speeders slow (and First Responders completely lost). This park has no parking lot- you would have no reason to visit it unless you live in this middle class neighborhood. It is a traditional park with 4 picnic tables and grills, swings and a small playset. I find this a questionable choice for a playground since there is a steep drop-off to the swift Campbell creek on the southside of the park- turn your back on your toddler and their gone downstream. Bring a leash. For older kids, on the other side of the park, there is a shallow area that is idea for wading, but the water is swift, so supervision is definitely recommended.