1. Let’s Get It Over With: Winter Is Really Cold
No, the people in Anchorage don’t live in igloos. But they do sleep with a down comforter in the summer and in the winter, they’ll leave their car idling to run into the store for milk.
Buy yourself a Carhartt and a pair of Bunny Boots like everyone else and you’ll be just fine.
2. Icebergs Ahead! And Left, And Right, And Behind You
Anchorage has more than 50 glaciers within its city limits alone. The massive Portage Glacier isn’t just Anchorage’s number one attraction, it’s something everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
3. You Don’t Need To Know How To Pronounce The Aurora Borealis To Fall In Love
The Northern Lights, otherwise known as the Aurora Borealis, is another natural phenomenon most people only dream of seeing. But it’s just another day in paradise for the people in Anchorage.
The best time of year to view it is during fall and winter nights, and spring around midnight during those sub-zero temps.
4. The Parks In Anchorage Are Way Better Than Yours
Kenai Fjords is nearly 700,000 acres of scenery that includes one of the largest ice fields in the U.S. Chugach State Park is the third largest state park in the U.S. with nearly half a million acres of gorgeous land and nearly 30 trails built for everything from short hikes to week-long backpacking and mountain biking trips.
And the mountains like Prospect Heights tower up to 8,000 feet high. Are you impressed yet?
5. And The Hiking Is Unlike Anywhere Else
Even for veteran hikers, climbing the rocky Alaskan terrain is an entirely different hiking experience than in the lower 48. Flattop Mountain is the most popular hiking challenge in Anchorage with an unbelievable 360 view of the Alaskan skyline including Alaska Range, Chugach Range and Anchorage itself. It’s a strenuous climb, but the views (and seasonal berry picking) is totally worth it.
6. Who Let The Dogs Out? The Iditarod, That’s Who
Every March dog sledding teams gather from around the world in Anchorage for “The Last Great Race On Earth.” The race takes participants (called “mushers”) over 1,000 miles of frozen lakes and mountain ranges until they (somehow) reach the finish line in Nome. It’s a huge deal here and brings everyone out to celebrate.
7. And When It Comes To Hot Dogs, Anchorage Doesn’t Mess Around
It’s reindeer sausage all the way in Anchorage. It may sound strange at first, but you’ll never go back to the traditional pork version after one of these spicy dogs. For the best of the best, get your reindeer sausage from M.A.’s Gourmet Dog food cart on West 4th Street. There is no substitute.
8. People In Anchorage Go A Little Crazy In Spring
When spring finally arrives, everyone heads to Alyeska Resort for the annual Spring Carnival. The most popular event is for only the brave (and perhaps slightly unhinged) residents who compete in outrageous costumes by diving into two different freezing cold ponds on skis or snowboard. Whoever is crazy enough to make it across the 90’ hazard wins a season pass.
9. And Crabs Are Always King
Until you’re lucky enough to try a fresh Alaska King Crab, the folks in Anchorage will tell you that you don’t know what a real crab is. Most people in the lower 48 only get the mammoth sized shellfish after it’s been frozen, shipped, and priced at a huge markup. But for locals it’s just another perk to Anchorage life.
10. Anchorage Has More Espresso Shacks Than LA Has Starbucks
The people in Anchorage really love their espresso. They love them so much, they have espresso shacks and stands set up throughout the city on what seems like every other corner, making Anchorage the number one espresso stand area per capita than any other place in the country.
11. Be On The Lookout For Moose In The Road
You won’t have to take a tour to ensure that you run into one of Alaska’s most common creatures: The moose. Drivers always need to be on the lookout for the friendly antlered folk who apparently never learned not to cross the road without looking both ways. But you won’t even mind because that shot is Instagram gold.
12. And Never Forget To Lock Up Those Picnic Baskets
Alaska contains 98 percent of the U.S. grizzly bear population. Do I really need to say any more? OK, fine. While the safest place to view these massive creatures is still at the Alaska Zoo, bear lovers can choose to take tours either hiking through the wilderness or flying overhead to get an up close view of the beasts. Just bring a professional tour guide.
13. Anchorage Has Its Own Version Of Running With The Bulls
The Fur Rendezvous Winter Festival, known just as Fur Rondy, is a highly-anticipated 10 day event in Anchorage that celebrates the growth and progress of Anchorage and has become intertwined in the city’s history. Visitors come from all over the country to participate in the multitude of activities and events like the Running Of The Reindeer, which sends runners in a mad dash down the streets of the city with caribou chasing after them. Yeah, you read that right.
14. Anchorage Puts Everyone Else’s Snowmen To Shame
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. And when life gives you snow, make snowmen. And maybe it’s because they get so much more snow, but the people in Anchorage are way better at it. Every year the best of the best snow crafters gather down in Ship Creek to compete against each other at the Fur Rondy Snow Competition.
15. You Might Feel Like You’re On The Discovery Channel
Bald Eagles? Yep. Anchorage has them by the sky full. Bald eagles are such a common sight during the spring and summer, in fact, the locals don’t consider them to be nearly as big of a deal as the rest of us in the lower 48 do. Come in the spring and summer months for the best view, along with wood bison, musk oxen, elk and much more.
16. It’s Not Snowmobiling, It’s Snowmachining
Oh, you like snowmobiling in your eight inches of snow? The people in Anchorage think that’s cute. Whether they’re riding through the trails around the city or taking a short ride out to race between the massive chunks of ice, the people in Anchorage take snowmachining to the ultimate extreme.
17. Everyone Loves The Anchorage Market & Festival
Every Saturday and Sunday, head to the heart of downtown for Alaska’s largest outdoor market. The Anchorage Market & Festival provides locals with everything from fresh, Alaskan-grown produce, meat, and gourmet foods, to handmade jewelry and hand-stitched clothing from over 300 vendors.
18. You’ll Still Find Live Music All The Way Up Here
Rock n’ roll, country, Alaskan Native drumming—Anchorage is a mixtape of musical diversity. From the bars to the city events, you never have to look far for a good tune. The city holds an annual folk festival along with a monthly concert series for local up-and-coming musicians, free summer concerts in local parks, as well as open mic nights.
19. Moby Dick Is Waiting For You
You could just sit down on the Tony Knowles Trail in the summer time at Cook’s Inlet and wait to see a whale breach. Or you can go all out with a cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park where you might also glimpse sea otters, sea lions, porpoises, orcas, bears, eagles, seals, seabirds, and mountain goats. Guess which one I recommend?
20. Anchorage Plants A Mystery Garden Every Summer
Anchorage loves its summer (when it finally arrives) and the people make sure to make every last bit of it count. To ramp up the color after a long (sometimes very long) winter, the city plants thousands of flowers and hangs baskets throughout the city and streets. There’s even a garden at 15th and L streets with a new surprise theme each year.
21. Hoof It Like The Moose Do
As if there wasn’t enough physical activity to be had in Anchorage, the city is overflowing with running events. The Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon happens around the summer solstice when the sun doesn’t sleep for 22 hours out of the day (seriously). Then there’s the Moose’s Tooth Marathon, the Skinny Raven Half Marathon, and the super extreme 49k Ultra.
22. Anchorage Makes The Ice Age Sound Pretty Awesome
Every winter downtown Anchorage is turned into a 3D art gallery as the snow and ice are brought to life. The Crystal Gallery Of Ice competition brings ice sculptors from all around to carve their masterpieces in giant chunks of ice, and the results are nothing short of spectacular.
