If you'd prefer to tour by bus, Gray Line of Alaska's Anchorage Highlights Tour (tel. 800/544-2206; www.graylineofalaska.com) takes 3 hours to visit downtown and the Ship Creek area, the Anchorage Museum, and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. It spends an hour at the center, not as long as I like to stay. The tour costs $49 for adults, half-price for children 12 and under, including admission to the center.
Roaming Helpers -- Downtown Ambassadors, employees of a business improvement district, patrol the area on bikes and on foot in bright yellow-and-black outfits. Stop one to ask a question or report a problem, or call tel. 907/279-5650 (www.anchoragedowntown.org).
