Anchorage
In the last decade, Anchorage has become an increasingly important focus of travelers to Alaska. The central location, relatively mild climate, and excellent transportation system make it a natural place to begin or end a trip.
When to Go
Warm temperatures and long evenings of midnight sun draw visitors to Alaska from June through August. But fair weather means an onslaught of tourists and peak-season prices, not to mention periodic plagues of mosquitoes. July and August are also the rainiest months in South Central Alaska (including Anchorage) and the Interior.
To avoid the summer crowds and prices, go during fall or spring. From late August to early September you'll see brilliant foliage, bright blue skies, and the mountains and glaciers dusted with fresh snow. Daytime temperatures are pleasant, though evenings can be chilly. May and June are the driest months for cruises.
Contrary to popular belief, Alaska does not shut down for winter. Yes it's freezing, and the nights grow long (expect about 5½-6 hours of daylight in Anchorage in mid-December) but people still make do! And the activities to get involved in to keep you warm are numerous -- skiing, sledding, ice-skating, dog mushing, and ice fishing. The long nights are also ideal for viewing the Northern Lights -- best seen not in Anchorage, but up north in Fairbanks. They appear late at night, when it's darkest, during fall and winter.
What to See
Prince William Sound: This pristine, 15,000-square-mile region a few hundred miles east of Anchorage is best explored by a charter tour from Anchorage. The area is home to about 150 glaciers, as well as trickling waterfalls and hidden coves. You'll also see plenty of brown bears, wolves, and marine life. Operators typically offer flightseeing, wildlife viewing, or glacier tours.
Portage Glacier: One of Alaska's most frequently visited tourist destinations, this is southeast of Anchorage via the Seward Highway and Turnagain Arm. A 6-mile side road off the Seward Highway leads to the Begich-Boggs Visitor Center, on the shore of Portage Lake. Unfortunately, the glacier is receding rapidly, so the view across the lake is not as good as it used to be.
Kenai Fjords: This 670,000-acre coastal park is accessible by driving to the photogenic port town of Seward, 125 miles south of Anchorage, at the south end of Seward Highway. Seward is the launching point for excursions into the park, where you can get an up-close view of blue tidewater glaciers and some remarkable ocean wildlife. If you take a day trip around the park, on a tour boat from Seward, you may glimpse sea otters, sea lions, bald eagles, thousands of seabirds, and perhaps a humpback or orca whale. One of the park's chief attractions is Exit Glacier, which can be reached by the one road that passes into Kenai Fjords.
Eklutna Native Village: This tiny cluster of homes, a small indigenous community 26 miles north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway, is the oldest continually inhabited Athabascan Indian site in the area. At the village cemetery, take note of the hand-built Siberian-style prayer chapel, traditional Russian Orthodox crosses, and 80 colorful Native spirit houses.
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race: The race to Nome, held each year in March, first started March 3, 1973. It has been called the "Last Great Race on Earth" and it has won worldwide acclaim and interest. From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover over 1150 miles in 10 to 17 days.
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