I’ll make this easy: Just get Rhythm Heaven Groove. You’ll be happy. I think.
Every handful of years, Nintendo makes a return to its weird franchises. WarioWare, a bizarre set of arcade minigames, has appeared in Switch formtwice already. But Rhythm Heaven, a series that hasn’t ever been on Nintendo Switch at all, is now back. Its below-average-for-Nintendo $40 price makes it an even better value.
If you like games where you tap along to the beat of a song, that’s exactly what Rhythm Heaven Groove is all about. The joy comes from the novelty, the quirky, adorable animations and the infectious Japanese pop soundtrack. It’s perfect for quick play sessions, practically begs you to crank up the volume and is best played without wireless headphones. Keep the ping low.
Now, to be clear, I’ve always loved music rhythm games such as PaRappa the Rapper, Frequency, Elite Beat Agents and Patapon. And I love weird minigames. Rhythm Heaven is directly speaking to me.
But it’s also speaking right to the Nintendo Switch’s portable/dockable benefits. I like a game like this that I can play on the go and with friends, which you can do in a handful of multiplayer minigames or just by passing it around the room to try different challenges.
Rhythm Heaven as a series has emerged with new entries every handful of years, all based on song-length minigames. The latest one, Rhythm Heaven Megamix on Nintendo 3DS, was a compilation of previous Rhythm Heavens. But Rhythm Heaven never surfaced on the Switch, not even in any of the Nintendo’s Switch Online classic console compilations. This is your chance to get back in.
A reaction-time multiplayer ninja minigame.
Nintendo
Not a lot has changed in structure, which in some ways is a bit of bummer. Song-length minigames with scripted rhythms all have different syncopated challenges and involve simple combos of button presses along with animation that often tries to sabotage your attention. There are dozens of song-length games, plus extra challenge modes, more multiplayer minigames and a few more strange surprise modes. It’s a good grab bag, and unlike the older Megamix, these are all new.
A few examples: One has you popping umbrellas with adorable little blob creatures. Another features an assembly line of fingers popping balls. In another, a couple communicates in rhythm with an alien. Yet another has crabs tossing objects into a hole. The songs are all infectious, worming their way into my head. They’ve become the soundtrack to my early summer.
My kids grew up loving Rhythm Heaven on the Wii and are thrilled the series is back. I am, too, and I have to admit I’ve been trying not to rush through it, even with a review embargo.
BeatSpell is a bonus mode where spells are cast with rhythms.
Nintendo
I do wish new ideas had been plumbed here, expanding the definition of the whole experience. One extra mode, called BeatSpell, does some of that. It’s a series of battles in RPG-style form using rhythm-trigger spell moves, but in an age of indie games that have pushed into rhythm zones (such as Crypt of the Necrodancer), I was expecting more innovation. Nintendo’s making safe moves with this one.
And yet I’m grateful. Heck, I’d love to see Elite Beat Agents come back someday, too. I’m taking this on vacation with me, finding it addictive, meditative and just my comfort speed. It’s playable on both the Switch and the Switch 2, something that’s becoming increasingly rare for first-party Nintendo games. And it’s just family-friendly enough — and ridiculous enough — to bring us together for a while, too.
Anchorage is Alaska’s gateway city, with more enplanements than the rest of the state combined. Chances are, if you’re cruising Prince William Sound or Kenai Fjords, taking a bush plane to see bears at Katmai, riding the rails to Denali, or heading deep into the interior, you’re coming through Anchorage.
Last summer, we spent a full week in Anchortown between adventuring in McCarthy and cruising from Juneau. Looking to save a little money and curious how far we could push the idea, we decided to explore Anchorage completely car-free.
What we found was a city that quietly excels at “Only-in-Alaska” experiences without ever needing a rental car.
Stay Central
Anchorage is America’s third-largest city by area; bigger than Rhode Island and nearly the size of Delaware, yet home to just 290,000 residents. Instead of endless sprawl, it’s a surprisingly walkable downtown wrapped in parks, greenbelts, and mountain views.
If you’re planning a car-free visit, downtown is non-negotiable and the Hotel Captain Cook is the place to anchor yourself.
It’s Anchorage’s only Preferred Hotel, with five distinct in-house restaurants, rooms that overlook Cook Inlet or the Chugach Mountains, complimentary airport shuttles, and a location just a 15-minute walk from the Alaska Railroad Depot. It makes arriving, exploring, and leaving town effortless.
Dine Local
Downtown Anchorage has many restaurants within walking distance, but these stood out during our stay:
49th State Brewing A beloved Alaskan brewpub serving northern favorites like yak burgers. It’s popular for a reason! Call ahead and add your name to the waitlist.
Wild Scoops Alaska’s ice-cream scene is serious business, and Wild Scoops leads the charge with small-batch flavors made from local ingredients. Their Fort 49 patio location is dangerously convenient.
Simon & Seafort’s Saloon & Grill You don’t come to Alaska and skip the seafood, and nowhere beats the Cook Inlet views at Simon’s.
Ride the Rails
The Alaska Railroad is more than transportation; it’s an adventure. Better yet, the Anchorage Depot is only a 10–15 minute walk from the Hotel Captain Cook, making it one of the easiest car-free connections in the entire state.
From there, you can ride north to Denali and Fairbanks or hug the coast down to Whittier and Seward. The scenery is breathtaking, especially from the GoldStar Service cars with their glass-dome ceilings.
Interpretive guides narrate the journey, pointing out towering peaks, sprawling glaciers, and the stories of fortunes made and lost along Alaska’s iron highway. Some services even include whistle stops that allow you to step off the train and explore remote wilderness that cars simply can’t reach.
Blue Water Kayak on Spencer Glacier
Spencer Glacier is accessible only by train, and Chugach Adventures has an exclusive partnership with the Alaska Railroad for morning drop-offs.
We boarded the Coastal Classic Train in Anchorage, met our guides in Girdwood, and then bounced down a gravel road in a bus that looked like it came straight out of Into the Wild. At the lake, they outfitted us with kayaks, paddles, and life vests before sending us across mirror-still water, weaving through glowing blue icebergs toward the glacier itself.
After lunch, we boarded the Glacier Discovery Train, passing through Grandview and tunnel country before a whistle stop at Grandview Glacier—another short hike, another jaw-dropping view. By evening, we were back in Anchorage. Zero car keys required.
Flightsee to Knik Glacier
Trains aren’t the only way out of town.
Rust’s Flying Service has been operating from Lake Hood, adjacent to Ted Stevens Airport, for more than 50 years. They offer narrated seaplane flightseeing tours and provide shuttle service from downtown hotels.
Our flight to Knik Glacier included aerial views of Anchorage, the Chugach Mountains, and a smooth landing on a glacial lake. We spotted Dall sheep from the air and drifted beside ancient ice that had never once felt the heat of a road.
Go on a Guided Adventure
Guided tours remove the guesswork and open doors you didn’t even know existed. Many operators pick up from the Egan Center downtown, making them perfect for car-free travelers.
Lifetime Adventures runs mesmerizing multi-sport trips to Eklutna Lake, where the water glows an unreal shade of glacial blue.
Go Hike Alaska offers specialty hikes throughout the Chugach Mountains. We joined them on their Backcountry Eats & Foraging Treats trip, learning to identify edible fungi and berries before cooking a backcountry feast of mushroom risotto and fresh salmon. Educational, edible, unforgettable.
Ride the Tony Knowles Trail
The Tony Knowles Coastal Trail stretches 11 paved miles from downtown Anchorage to Kincaid Park, hugging the coastline with views of Denali on clear days and frequent moose sightings if luck is on your side.
We rented e-bikes from Pablo’s Bicycle Rentals near Elderberry Park and cruised past Westchester Lagoon, Earthquake Park, and up to Point Woronzof, where jets lift off right overhead. The gentle hills were effortless with pedal assist, though next time we might rent mountain bikes just to explore Kincaid’s forested trail maze.
Visit the Museums
Anchorage punches well above its weight when it comes to cultural institutions.
The Anchorage Museum blends art, science, and history to tell the story of life in the North. A short shuttle ride away, the Alaska Native Heritage Center offers immersive programs, traditional games, and powerful storytelling from Alaska Native communities.
The Heritage Center runs a free downtown shuttle every summer, making it easy to include without ever opening a car door.
Take the Trolley
Anchorage Trolley Tours is the perfect one-hour orientation to the city, covering highlights like:
Earthquake Park
Lake Hood Seaplane Base
The Alaska Railroad
Captain Cook Monument
Every ticket includes a coupon book with savings at 40+ nearby businesses, making it a smart first stop for maximizing a car-free stay.
Freedom From Car Keys
Anchorage surprised us, not because it was easy to visit without a car, but because it was better that way.
Moving through the city on foot, by bike, train, plane, and trolley slowed us down in all the right ways. We noticed more. Talked to more people. Let Alaska’s rhythms set the pace instead of a GPS.
And here’s our biggest takeaway: don’t treat Anchorage like a layover city.
Build in a few extra days at the beginning or end of your Alaska trip and use Anchorage as your adventure basecamp. From glacier kayaking and flightseeing to coastal bike rides and world-class museums, this city quietly delivers some of the most memorable experiences in the state, without ever opening a car door.
So leave the rental car line behind. Pack your walking shoes, trust the rails, and let the Last Frontier show you just how far you can go without ever turning a key.
Safeguard your digital information by using a VPN. We love NordVPN as it is superfast for streaming Netflix
Stay safe on the go and stay connected with an eSim card through AloSIM
OurPacking Favs:
We LOVE Matador Equipment for their innovative products and sustainability focus. Their SEG45 is a game changer when you need large capacity while packing light.
Travel in style with a suitcase, carry-on, backpack, or handbag from Knack Bags
Packing cubes make organized packing a breeze! We love these from Eagle Creek
Attractions/Activities:
Save on tickets to attractions, sightseeing tours, and more with Tiqets
Get Your Guide and Viator for guided tours/excursions, day trips, and activities
Want to learn a city from the ground up? Take a small group walking tour with Walks – 5-star rated with a Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence
Want to book an epic adventure experience with top-notch companies like Intrepid Travel, G-Adventures, or Backroads? Check out Travelstride
Find information on local trails with the All Trails App.
Need something else to plan your perfect trip? Visit our Resources Page for more trusted partners
Like it? Pin it for later on Pinterest!
Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman aka Coleman Concierge. In a nutshell, we are a Huntsville-based Gen X couple sharing our stories of amazing adventures through activity-driven transformational and experiential travel.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
