The scenic beauty of Alaska is second to none. Incredible mountain views
and frequent wildlife sightings are just a few of the perks of living
in Anchorage. There are numerous opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts
in or within a short drive of the nation’s northernmost major city.
Alaska is home to 23 National Parks and Preserves as well as several other
protected, public lands which make-up 30 percent of the nation’s
wilderness areas.
While Anchorage is nestled at the gates of the arctic, the climate in south
central Alaska is quite mild compared to the rest of the state due its
proximity to the Pacific coast. Summer weather in and around Anchorage
is amazing with high temperatures in the mid-60s to low 70s and generally
last from May to August. Winters typically begin with the first snow in
October and last snow often in April. Although there are periods with
low temperatures in the single negative digits, typical high temperatures
range in the teens to twenties. Daylight patterns are also more extreme
in Alaska due to its high latitude.
Around Anchorage, the longest day of the year, the summer solstice in
June, is almost 19 hours of daylight with essentially 24 hours of light
as the sun only dips below the horizon for a few hours and the shortest
day of the year is just around 5 hours of daylight in December. The extended
winter night hours make it the perfect place to view the Aurora Borealis,
a bucket list item for most travelers, and the endless summer light lend
to late-night outdoor activities.
Alaska is expansive and the diversity of the state can be difficult to comprehend. The state constitutes a virtual subcontinent complete with arctic tundra, boreal forests, temperate rainforests, rich coastal ecosystems, and inland deserts. The variety of outdoor wonderlands lend to abundant outdoor activities right outside your back-door.
Fishing, sea-kayaking, white water rafting, berry picking, and foraging
for mushrooms are popular summer activities. Hunting, hiking, fat-tire
biking, and camping can also be done year-round across the state. The
National Park Service maintains and operates 23 parks and preserves within
Alaska. Denali, Glacier Bay, Katmai, and Kenai Fjords are some of the
most iconic and easily accessible parks from major airports/ road systems.
Skiing of all types including, cross-country, downhill, and backcountry,
are favorite winter hobbies in the state. Anchorage has over two hundred
miles of trails (many of which are lit in the winter) to bike or cross-country
ski. Just 45 minutes south of Anchorage is Alyeska Resort which has to
the longest, continuous double black diamond ski run in North America.
Anchorage is home to the Anchorage Wolverines NAHL hockey team as well as several university and amateur hockey teams.
Being a coastal state, Alaska’s food scene is overwhelmingly seafood
focused. King crab, salmon, halibut, rockfish, and shellfish encompass
an enormous part of the state’s economy as well as the local food
scene. However, Anchorage also boasts an array of ethnic food restaurants
with cuisine from Asia-Pacific to the Bayou. Whether you are looking to
experience the food of Alaska or a taste of home, Anchorage has a restaurant
to meet the occasion. Anchorage is also home a growing number of local
pubs and breweries that offer a cozy setting to enjoy a drink while relaxing
after a long day at work or warming-up after a day outside exploring Alaska.
Anchorage has ample cultural activities, including a symphony, theater
productions, multiple museums, and art galleries. Many of the museums
and art galleries offer “pop-up” entertainment on the first
Friday of the month. Every February, the winter festival Fur Rondy takes
over downtown town as a kick-off to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in
early March. Due to the extreme light changes, the winter and summer solstices
are also much bigger celebrations in Alaska. On the longest day of the
year, Alaskans gather for outdoor festival activities to take full advantage
of the midnight sun.
Alaska is also the largest of supplier of peonies globally during the months
of July through August.
The burst of blooms all summer long unofficially commences with the Peony
Festival in Homer, Alaska. The Alaska State Fair takes place about an
hour north of Anchorage every August - September. The fair is home to
a diverse array of vendors, carnival rides, concerts, record-setting giant
vegetables, and several educational exhibits.