Alaska's cities
Anchorage
Alaska's largest city bustles with adventure
Alaska.com
From its early days as a railroad camp in a spruce and birch forest, Anchorage has grown into Alaska's largest city and the gateway for many visitors.
Anchorage is a modern city in a beautiful setting -- laid out between the Chugach Mountains and Cook Inlet, and within sight of Mount McKinley, the continent's tallest peak.
The city has its share of asphalt and tall buildings, but nature still runs wild. Spawning salmon migrate up Anchorage's streams, and anyone walking through the woods may come face to face with a moose.
Anchorage was created as a railroad construction camp on Ship Creek in 1914. It grew quickly during World War II and in the pipeline construction boom of the 1970s. The 1964 Prince William Sound earthquake, with a magnitude of 9.2, severely damaged parts of Anchorage. The city healed quickly and is the financial, cultural and medical capital of Alaska.
Accommodations
Anchorage accommodations run the gamut from hostels to high-dollar hotels, with a wide variety of budget- and medium-priced hotels and B&Bs in the middle. In addition to the often smaller, locally owned motels, many nationally known chains have locations in Anchorage. More lodging exists in Eagle River and Girdwood, a resort town.
Population
274,003 (2003 state estimate) people live in the Municipality of Anchorage. This figure includes the nearby towns of Chugiak, Eagle River and Girdwood, plus Eklutna village.
Location
Anchorage sits in Southcentral Alaska between Cook Inlet -- the junction of Knik and Turnagain Arms -- and the wilderness of the Chugach Mountains. The municipality covers 1,955 square miles, the size of Delaware.
Main events
• Fur Rendezvous in mid- to late February
• The start of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in early March
• Summer events such as solstice races and festivals in mid-June
• Great Alaska Shootout college basketball tournament in the last week of November
Attractions
Wildlife is at Anchorage's doorstep. Literally. It's not uncommon to find a moose in the front yard. And nature -- from the mountains to the coast -- is just one of Anchorage's attractions. Check out the shops, museums and cultural centers, and don't miss the salmon fishing downtown.
Transportation
Cars and RVs can be rented in Anchorage and driven to such locations as Seward (127 miles), Denali National Park (237 miles) and Fairbanks (357 miles).
Bus service is available to many locations statewide. The Alaska Railroad carries passengers south to Seward and north to Denali and Fairbanks. Anchorage has jet service to the world, plus single-engine float planes that carry anglers, hunters and sightseers to remote areas.
Climate
Anchorage's climate is milder than many visitors expect. Spring arrives in April and May. Summers are pleasant, with highs reaching the 70s. August and September see rain, then snow comes in October. The longest day is 19.5 hours, and the shortest is 5.5 hours.
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Anchorage Restaurant Guide
