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About Alaska

Scenic Alaska 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.

Climate/ Daylight

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.

Recreation

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.

Food & Drink

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.

Culture

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.