In the past decade, Alaska's cities have made great strides toward becoming like the cities of the Lower 48.
In addition to supporting locally owned stores, Alaska has chain stores. Wal-Mart, Costco, Fred Meyer, Safeway, Gap and other chains bring nationally known products to the parts of Alaska along the highway and ferry system. In general, anything you can buy in the Lower 48 is also available in Alaska's larger towns.
Well-known fast-food and sit-down chains -- McDonald's, Applebee's, Chili's, Taco Bell and Baskin-Robbins, to name a few -- compete with locally owned restaurants, especially in Anchorage.
Gasoline, sold under several brands (including Tesoro, Chevron and Shell), is made in the state from Cook Inlet and North Slope petroleum.
Air cargo companies such as UPS, Airborne Express and FedEx deliver here; indeed, FedEx's Pacific hub is in Anchorage. Internet commerce is popular.
There are also distinctly Alaska shops. Qiviut, in Anchorage, sells scarves and other clothing woven from ultrasoft musk ox hair; harness shops cater to dog mushers; and craft and souvenir shops sell Native-harvested walrus ivory and bowhead whale baleen.
