Best Places to Shop in Anchorage
In his speech to persuade Congress to purchase Alaska in 1860, William Henry Seward spoke of its riches: gold, timber, jade, furs, fish. Many of today's most popular art objects and souvenirs are made of the very materials Seward talked about nearly 150 years ago. The unique crafts produced in Alaska come from the earth and capture the spirit of this wild, untamed country. Here are the places to find what you'll want to bring home:
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North of Anchorage Shopping
This unique market is located in Wasilla, about 60 miles north of Anchorage. You’ll find creations of over 80 Alaskan artists and chefs that make for perfect souvenirs or gifts for friends back home.
Anchorage Shopping
Named after the insect that, some joke, could be Alaska’s state bird, the bookstore also makes a great stop for travelers who’ve just landed in Alaska. You can pick up guidebooks, regional maps, hiking trail maps, or even a nice journal to log your travels or wildlife sightings.
Alaska Wild Berry Products has two convenient locations. One, inside the 5th Avenue Mall in the heart of downtown Anchorage. The other is just a brief 10-minute drive from downtown. The shop itself features great Alaskan gifts like Alaskan jelly, salmon, meats, and chocolate.
Bringing the right gear for a vacation in Alaska can seem daunting. This independent store, in the Spenard area of Anchorage, offers both an affordable way to buy anything from rain pants to a mountain bike once you get here — as well as an efficient way to sell that same gear when it’s time to go home. Essentially a consignment store, Hoarding Marmot lets folks buy and sell gently used gear — the ultimate in good recycling.
Discover something truly unique to bring home at this one-of-a-kind gallery that carries only work by Alaskan artists. Shop for high-quality glass, metal, and wood art; jewelry; mittens; handbags; scarves; handmade soap; journals and notebooks; photography; watercolor prints; cards; stickers and more.
The only specialty cheese shop in Anchorage is also a can’t‑miss café. It’s the only place in Anchorage to purchase specialty cheeses sourced from across Europe and the U.S. But it’s also a hip, casual spot with a great lunch menu that mixes artisan cheeses with high-quality fast food. Some people come just for the cookies!
This Anchorage institution has a great slogan: “If you don’t know furs, know your furrier.” The furs themselves come from Alaska and other parts of the world — such as Scandinavia and Russia — and come from mink, beaver, lynx, and fox, to name a few. Go upstairs to see how they make everything from coats to slippers, mostly by hand.
The Ulu Factory makes high-quality ulus that are practical in the kitchen, as well as custom-made birch wood salad grabbers. Watch skilled craftsmen carry on this tradition at the Factory near Ship Creek.
Whether it’s shirts, pajamas, slippers or stuffed animals (bear fans, meanwhile, while find a few PJs and trinkets as well). You can also choose among gifts such as quirky magnets, notepads and water bottles that make great portable gifts.
This downtown shop doesn’t just offer ready-made gifts and souvenirs — though it does have plenty of those, including jewelry, medallions and watches emblazoned with Alaskan images such as bears, wolves and even Iditarod champions. One of the most popular items here are gold-nugget necklaces, rendered from piece of gold brought in by modern-day prospectors. The store’s other claim to fame is being the starting point for the Iditarod and Fur… ...more
This downtown shop and café is a little glimpse into old Anchorage — a city that wasn’t completely about logging, fishing and tough guys. Built in 1915, the Kimball building, on Town Square Park at the corner of 5th and E, is a stop on the historic walking tour and still has antique fixtures and flooring. It’s eclectic, “quaint-meets-cool” gift and tea shop is an extension of a famed dry goods and sewing notions store that has been in business… ...more
Longtime Alaskan Heather Robuck makes modern gold prospecting easy: Their collections of handmade gold-in-quartz jewelry — a rare combination — are crafted into rings, necklaces, and bracelets. Also, check out their extensive collection of natural, unaltered gold nuggets.
Set in downtown Anchorage, Wild Starr is not only a place to discover gorgeous creations from Alaskan artists — it’s also a community gathering space that hosts fun events focused on creating your own works of art.
Talk about one-stop shopping: At 14,000 square feet, this Anchorage store is Alaska’s biggest gift shop. Run by the Green family — a local family that has been active in Anchorage retail for about as long as Anchorage has existed — Polar Bear makes legitimate claims for having the biggest selection and lowest prices of all the gift shops in the state.
Variety of dining choices, movie theaters with recliners, a bowling alley, and an ice rink, it provides enjoyment for the whole family.
The oldest retail store on 6th Avenue is a tourist favorite offering “Everything for your Alaskan Adventure!” Fishing gear or winter rentals, plus the Outlet Upstairs for inexpensive items and a great outdoor store staff by Alaskans sincerely interested in you having your best trip! Stop by and see why 6th Avenue Outfitters Co-op remains a downtown icon people love.
One of the most original gifts you can find in Alaska is a piece of clothing made from the undercoat of the musk ox, called “Qivuit.” What’s so special about this fabric? It’s finer than cashmere, eight times warmer than wool (and not scratchy like wool), and extremely light. Pick up some items made from this rare, lustrous fiber when you’re downtown at the co-op; you’ll have a rare treasure that can be found nowhere else in the world.
The store works with local artists and sells authentic Alaskan art, but you can take a smaller taste of Alaska with you. As a nice alternative to the usual airport candy, pick up a made-in-Alaska chocolate bar for your on-the-go snack.
Reasonably priced gifts for friends, family and office mates, or a just a delicious snack for the plane ride home. Almost three quarters of the shop consists of foods and accessories that were made, caught or picked in Alaska — from smoked salmon, reindeer sausage and jerky to jams, syrups or Ketchikan-made Ravens Brew Coffee.
Drop by this Anchorage store and discover a wide selection of unique jewelry made from gold and minerals mined right here in Alaska or hand-selected from around the world. Find natural gold nugget jewelry, a dazzling selection of diamonds, jasper, agates, jade, thunder eggs, petrified wood, and fossils — set beautifully in rings, chains, pendants, charms, earrings, and more.
When your Alaska travel plans include outdoor activities (and they should!), gear up with affordable, high-quality equipment rentals from local experts. Alaska Outdoor Gear Outfitter & Rentals will pull together what you need for everything from a summer campout to a winter snowshoe or aurora viewing expedition. So get out there!
This unique market is located in Wasilla, about 60 miles north of Anchorage. You’ll find creations of over 80 Alaskan artists and chefs that make for perfect souvenirs or gifts for friends back home.