Alaska's regions

Southcentral Alaska

See Anchorage, then step out into the wild areas

Southcentral Alaska itself is divided into four regions, all of which can be reached by car:

• Anchorage: Alaska's largest city and its suburbs. This Delaware-size city includes mountainous Chugach State Park.
• Matanuska-Susitna Borough: Sprawling Mat-Su Borough north of Anchorage contains Palmer, Talkeetna and the fast-growing town of Wasilla, where the Iditarod sled-dog race really starts. This popular salmon-fishing area was named after the Matanuska and Susitna rivers and is sometimes known as "the Valley."
• Kenai Peninsula: World's largest salmon swim up the Kenai River, and other salmon and halibut lurk off the shores at Seward, Homer and the city of Kenai. Kenai Fjords National Park is adjacent to Seward. The Peninsula is south of Anchorage, between Cook Inlet and the Gulf of Alaska.
• Prince William Sound: Valdez, Cordova and Whittier sit along the shore of this gorgeous area of fjords, glaciers and islands. The road to Whittier goes through the nation's longest highway tunnel. Nearby is Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The Sound is southeast of Anchorage.

Parks and public lands
Southcentral is also home to two national parks, a national forest, three national wildlife refuges and two very large state parks:

• Kenai Fjords National Park, near Seward
• Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, near Valdez
• Katmai National Park and Refuge
• Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
• Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge
• Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge
• Chugach National Forest
• Chugach and Kachemak Bay state parks

Hotels and dining

A broad range of accommodations -- hotels, B&Bs, lodges and hostels -- is available throughout Southcentral Alaska. Some large chains have hotels in Anchorage and coastal towns. Major credit cards are accepted.

Restaurants run the gamut from fast-food chains to fine dining. The cuisine mirrors what's found in the Lower 48. Specialties include seafood such as halibut and salmon. Wildlife meat such as moose and whale can't be sold, although reindeer (or domesticated caribou) is sometimes available.

Getting around
Southcentral Alaska has a good highway system, in addition to service by planes, trains and ferries.

Cars, SUVs and RVs can be rented in Anchorage, Seward and several other towns. Roads between the area's cities are asphalt, and both gas and diesel fuel are readily available. Daily bus service is available between the larger cities.

The Alaska Railroad, headquartered in Anchorage, has two main runs: south to Seward (4.5 hours one way) and north to Denali National Park (8 hours) and Fairbanks (12 hours). There are also shorter excursions.

Jets link Anchorage to cities outside the state as well as to far-flung destinations in the state, such as Barrow, Nome, Fairbanks, Juneau and Kodiak. Propeller planes provide service to smaller cities. Float planes deliver many anglers, hunters and bear viewers to the wilderness.