Anchorage Alaska

Anchorage is located in the South-central region of Alaska between the Chugach National Forest and the shores of Cook Inlet, beneath the Chugach Mountains. With 277,700 residents, Anchorage is the largest and most well known city in the state of Alaska. Visitors can find here year round accessible hotels, restaurants, large shopping malls, seafood restaurants, specialty shops and art galleries presenting the unique work of Alaskan best artists, entertainment institutions and friendly people. The Municipality of Anchorage, a combined borough and city about the size of Delaware, encompassing 1,955 square miles, stretches from Girdwood to Eklutna. Connected to the major aerial routes from many cities around the globe, the city of Anchorage has become a visitor base camp for all vacation destinations in Alaska ‘s unparalleled backcountry. By car, Anchorage is only 20 minutes away from breathtaking views of Alaska’s wilderness.

Anchorage is a major metropolis with a unique rustic and modern urban environment surrounded by pristine wilderness where moose, bears, and salmon abound. The city is home to more than 1600 urban moose. For residents it is common to see moose and occasionally bears right in their own backyards. In downtown Anchorage, Ship Creek is an excellent place for sport fishermen to catch king and silver salmon.

Anchorage has a sub-arctic climate but it is mild compared with the rest of sub-arctic Alaska due in part to its proximity to the coastal waters. From June to August daytime temperatures are between 50°-70° F. In summer it’s warm and breezy and daylight lasts almost 19 hours each day. In downtown Anchorage, colorful summer flower beds and beautiful blooming flowers from baskets hanging on each lamppost give the visitor an unforgettable image of the city of flowers. Winter days in Anchorage are short but the city is full of lights. Daytime average temperatures in January are between 13°F-21°F. By mid-February days are getting longer and temperatures are on the rise. Most of the time weather is unpredictable in Alaska and weather forecasts very often are not accurate. The best time to visit Anchorage is mid-July through mid-August or in winter, late February to early March.

Anchorage offers an abundance of natural beauty, unforgettable tourist attractions and wildlife viewing. If you’re in Anchorage , acquire the last edition of The Milepost – the bible of North Country travel and make sure to take advantage of the variety of exciting attractions this city has to offer:

• See Anchorage, at sunset, from Flattop Mountain in Chugach State Park
• See Mount McKinley from the air
• Buy a fishing license and go fishing
• Rent a bicycle and enjoy an eleven-mile ride on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail along Cook Inlet
• Visit art galleries in downtown
• Go to the Saturday Market on 3rd & E street
• Visit the Imaginarium Science Discovery Center
• See the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and Alaska Native Heritage Center
• Be in the city for the Fur Rendezvous and Iditarod sled dog races
• Ski at Kincaid Park
• Visit the Alaska’s Aviation Heritage Museum
• Visit Potter’s Marsh Bird Sanctuary
• Visit the Alaska Zoo
• Visit the Alaska Wild Berry Park and Theatre
• View the world’s largest chocolate fall at the Alaska Wild Berry Products
• Walk the Berry Trail to Reindeer Park
• Eat at the Bridge Restaurant or at the Club Paris Restaurant ask for a 4-inch-thick filet mignon
• Eat continental food and taste wines at the Corsair Restaurant selected from its 10,000 bottle wine cellar
• Do not forget Crow’s Nest in the Hotel Captain Cook.

No matter what the season, for many visitors Anchorage remains the symbol of unique and unforgettable trip. Anchorage – the city of lights – is very special and is the four time recipient of the All-America City Award. Enjoy the best of Anchorage !