City of Anchorage

Home to more than 262,000 residents which is two-fifths of the entire population of Alaska, and serves as the financial, communications and transportation hub for the state, Anchorage, city of contrasts stands Halfway between New York and Tokyo, a town born in a boom that matured into a surprisingly cosmopolitan city without losing its wilderness roots.

Huge migrations of birds fill the air with cackles in spring and fall, while in the mountains, skiers take advantage of one of the longest seasons in the world. Days are crisp and colorful, ideal for fishing or clamming or hiking.

As the days of Anchorage grow endless, Anchorage bursts into a medley of color, the streams fill with returning salmon, the hillsides beckon and Beluga whale chase their dinner in Cook Inlet. This is Anchorage in the summer, bold and bright and brassy.


Anchorage's roots date back to about 4,000 BC when descendants of the first people to cross the land bridge that connected Siberia to Alaska reached the area, establishing fishing and hunting camps. In the mid-1700's, Russian trappers and hunters arrived, followed in 1778 by Capt. James Cook on his third and final voyage. The discovery of gold at Crow Creek, just 40 miles south of downtown Anchorage, sparked a rush that lasted into the 20th century. But it was coal, and later oil, that turned a sleepy settlement into a bustling town.


There's a special mystique to Alaska. The name conjures up adventure, raw natural beauty, glaciers, mountains and seas, facinating wildlife, unmatched the world around. Here you will find first-class hotels and quaint B&B's, four-star restaurants and small cafes, an outstanding Museum of History and Art and a multitude of other fun activities. It's a great place to get ready to fish, hunt, climb and camp.