1. Anchorage Is Actually Not Always Cold
Out-of-towners assume that Alaska is always cold, all of the time. This isn’t the case in Anchorage. This Southern Alaskan city experiences plenty of warm days throughout the year.
2. Folks In Achorage Don’t Live In Igloos
Anchorageans, just like almost everyone else in Alaska, live in houses similar to those found in the lower 48. Igloos were really only used by Inuit tribes as a form of mobile and emergency housing.
3. It’s Not A Snowmobile, It’s A Snowmachine
In Alaska, no one calls snow vehicles snowmobiles. After seeing the amount of snow that comes down during the winter months, it becomes quite apparent how these vehicles have earned their “snowmachine” name.
4. Aurora Borealis Is Pronounced “Aurora Bor-E-Al-Us.”
Out-of-towners can never pronounce it correctly on the first time. Fortunately, in Anchorage pronouncing it usually isn’t a problem as it’s pretty impossible to see a lot of the time unless you’re further away from the city or it is an exceptionally clear night.
5. Anchorageans Don’t Ride Sled Dogs Everywhere
Just because the Iditarod starts in Anchorage doesn’t mean sled dogs are a normal form of transportation, a four-wheel drive will do just fine.
6. But The Start Of The Iditarod Is One Of the Best Parties Around
The Iditarod isn’t just the typical “one, two, three, go!” start to a race. There are tons of celebrations and partying built around the event making it an awesome time to visit, despite the cold.
7. Folks In Anchorage Know, Always Bring A Hiking Buddy Along
Alaska is truly the definition of a wilderness. While trails seem completely doable, it’s an unpredictable environment and you never know when a hiking buddy will come in handy. Never head out to the Chugach Mountains without a spotter.
8. It’s Completely Normal (And Delicious) To Eat Reindeer
What’s viewed as “Santa’s pet” in the lower 48 is a completely normal and delicious means of food in Anchorage. Out-of-towners might struggle swallowing the first bite, but once they realize how delicious this meat is, they won’t be able to stop eating it.
9. Anchorage Winters Really Are As Intense As You’ve Heard
While the summers in Anchorage do warm up a little, the winters are no joke and preparation is key. With snow on the ground almost six months out of the year, an out-of-towner visiting during the colder months will probably struggle with getting used to this environment.
10. If You Get Your Car To Start On A Cold Day, You Leave It Running
In the lower 48, it’s pretty strange to leave the car running outside of the grocery store while shopping, but in Anchorage, it can be a necessity. On colder days, there’s nothing worse than trying to leave somewhere with a car that’s frozen over.
11. The Best Espresso Is Served Via Drive-Thru
People of Anchorage practically live on espresso, especially in the colder months. With strange sunlight hours and temperatures that can chill to the bone, it’s no surprise that the countless espresso shacks around town stay busy.
12. Yes, Alaska Is Connected To The Internet
Out-of-towners always seemed to be shocked when they realize that Alaska is connected to the rest of the world online just like any other state in the country. Of course, Internet is really expensive, usually having a data plan similar to a cell phone service. Going over monthly limits can cost you big time.
13. No, Anchorageans Can’t See Russia From Their House
Sure, it may be far away from the lower 48, but the stereotype that all Alaskans can see Russia from their house couldn’t be more inaccurate. Out-of-towners shouldn’t expect to see any red flags unless it’s in the stripes of Old Glory.
14. Watch Out For Moose Or You’re Going To Be Having A Very Bad Day
Not a typical problem for someone visiting from the lower 48, out-of-towners need to be warned about moose encounters. Anchorageans grow up understanding that while majestic, these creatures can be deadly, however non-Alaskans need to be warned about car collisions and the charging nature of these beasts.
15. Don’t Feed The Bears, Even By Accident
Though not typically a problem in Anchorage, it’s not unheard of for a grizzly to wander into town in search of food. Every Anchoragean knows the importance of locking up trash cans and keeping stinky foods out of the breeze ways.
16. Your Groceries May Cost A Lot More Here
Things that have to be shipped to Alaska can get pretty expensive, and there’s nothing worse than a quick trip to the store costing exponentially more than it should have. Out-of-towners be warned.
17. The Reindeer Run Is Ridiculous, Fun, And Mostly Safe
Source: Fur Rondy via Facebook
With so many reindeer, it shouldn’t come as much of a shock that Anchorageans love to participate in the “running of the reindeer” event, similar to the bull running in Spain. For a real taste of Anchorage, the Fur Rondy is a great place to start.
18. Alaska Is Not The North Pole
Sure, its far north, covered in snow a lot of the time, and there are plenty of reindeer, but Alaska, especially Anchorage, is not the North Pole. Out-of-towners expecting to find a Christmas Wonderland year round will be severely disappointed.
19. Anchorage Is Just Like Any Other Big City
Anchorage has a hospital, it has bars, it has school, it has paved roads, it’s pretty much just like any other big town in America from that standpoint. Out-of-towners often come to Alaska expecting to find a bunch of mountain men and are shocked when Anchorage reminds them of the place they grew up.
20. Some Days Here Are Freaking Long
It’s impossible to understand how long summer days in Anchorage are until they’ve been experienced first-hand. With 22 hours of sunlight at their longest, it can get pretty disorienting at times if a visitor isn’t mentally prepared.
21. And Other Days Are Very Short
It can also be extremely disorienting during the winter months in Anchorage, when at times there’s only seven hours of daylight before the sun sets once again. It’s important to keep remind non-locals to keep regular schedule and to stay moving.
22. People Do Actually Ice Fish Here, And It’s Awesome
Ice fishing in Alaska is an actual means of obtaining food. With some of the best seafood in the world, the best and freshest way to get it is to hunt it down for yourself.
23. The Rest Of The U.S. Is The “Lower 48”
The term “lower 48” gets thrown around a lot in Anchorage. Most out-of-towners will understand it pretty quickly, but this obviously refers to the rest of America minus Hawaii. It’s hard to understand how far away the rest of the country really is until a visit is made.
24. Everyone In Anchorage Carries Bug Spray With Them In The Summer
The warmer months in Anchorage might as well be known as mosquito season, as some years the mosquito infestation is almost unbearable. Bug spray will never be more important than during a trip to Alaska, helping to keep these larger-than-normal pests from swarming, leaving countless red bumps behind.
25. The Mud Flats Are Not A Beach
It may be ocean side, and it may have a tide, but the mudflats are just about as far from a beach as you can get. The Cook Inlet watershed leaves huge pits of mud on the coastline, and not only can these flats mud fields steal your boots, they’re also capable of trapping unprepared adventurers, which spells disaster when the high tide returns.
26. Volcanic Eruptions Make For Awesome Sunsets
With Anchorage not in the imminent threat zone for Alaska’s volcanic activity, eruptions are mostly known around town for the amazing sunsets they yield and the showers of ash they produce. It’s not always fun and games, but at least lava flow isn’t close to destroying the city.
27. Carhartt Keeps This City Ticking
Function over fashion is key when it comes to getting dressed in Anchorage. When temperatures dip below zero for days at a time, it’s important that everything being worn serves its purpose of keeping the wearer warm. Name brands here are different than in the “lower 48,” as companies like Carhartt have quite the faithful following.
28. Folks In Anchorage Have Right To Bear Arms And They Do
In Anchorage, owning a gun is like owning a television, almost everyone has one and lots of people have two or three. With so much wild game, hunting is huge in Alaska. It’s not uncommon for several guns to be sitting out around the house on any given day.
29. It May Be A City But Everyone Needs A Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle Here
In the “lower 48,” owning a four-wheel drive vehicle is somewhat of a luxury, in Anchorage it’s a necessity. No one knows what each day in the winter will bring, and the only way to ensure you can still get where you need to go is by having the vehicle to get you there. With snowmachining banned in the city, a beefy truck or SUV is your best bet.
30. There’s This Thing Called The PFD, And It’s Awesome
Yes, Anchorageans get paid by the government for living in Alaska. Alaskans usually get an annual check for at least $1,000 from the government, most of the money will go to the extra expenses of living in “The Last Frontier”, including heating costs and those pricy grocery runs.
31. There’s A Reason Anchorageans Choose To Live In Such A Cold, Distant Place
While most people in America only consider visiting Alaska, Anchorageans call it home and wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s an untamed land, full of endless beauty and surprises. Life in Alaska might be a little less conventional than life in the “lower 48,” but after surviving it for at least a year, it’ll be hard to live anywhere else.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Anchorage? Tell us in the comments below! 
