In 1778, Capt. James Cook sailed up an inlet that would later bear his name in search of the Northwest Passage. Though he didn't find what he was seeking, he did find the site of Alaska's greatest city. Nestled at the foot of the Chugach Mountains along Cook Inlet, and with six other mountain ranges visible from the city, Anchorage is a unique urban environment set in the heart of the rugged frontier.
Anchorage has 260,000 residents and is easily the state's largest city. Nearly half the state's population lives here, an area that locals jokingly refer to as being "ten minutes away from Alaska." It is a unique combination of modern, urban convenience---fine dining, shopping, arts and culture---with a natural environment that has all but vanished from most populated regions of the world.
To many people living "outside" (Alaskan for anyone not living in Alaska), Anchorage is perhaps best known for the "Good Friday Quake" of 1964. The earthquake measured a stunning 9.2 on the Richter Scale, making it the strongest North American quake in recorded history. Because Anchorage lay only 80 miles from the epicenter, damage to the city was immense, and most of the city's architecture dates back to the devastating event.
Many cruise-ship passengers end their Alaskan adventure with an overnight stay here, while others are in Anchorage just a few hours before catching a bus or train for embarkation points in Seward or Whittier. In many cases, travelers find Anchorage so appealing that a return trip is planned so that its Native culture, annual festivals, local music scene and thriving downtown area may be enjoyed at a more leisurely pace.
The downtown area boasts an impressive selection of shops and attractions, all within walking
distance of downtown hotels or the Egan Center. Art galleries, one-of-a-kind gift stores and specialty shops featuring authentic made-in-Alaska products are all abundant here. You may wish to visit Saturday Market at Third Avenue and E Street, where locally grown, giant vegetables, handmade soaps and lotions, jewelry and a variety of foods may be found.
Downtown Anchorage is on a grid; so, finding your way around won't be a problem. East / west streets are alphabetical, while north / south streets are numbered. Start your tour by stopping by the Log Cabin Information Center downtown, where maps for a self-guided walking tour are available. Highlights include the Old City Hall, the Anchorage Hotel, the 4th Avenue Theatre, the Alaska Statehood Monument and several historic homes.
Visit the Anchorage Museum of History and Art to see the best display of Alaskan history in the state, or you may choose to enjoy a stroll through the Town Square Municipal Park in the heart of downtown. Like most of Anchorage, this park is filled with beautiful flowers that come to life in the summer months.
On a clear day, you may wish to explore the region by air and take a "flight-seeing" excursion to nearby Mount McKinley (Denali), the tallest peak in North America. Nearby Prince William Sound boasts the largest concentration of glaciers in Alaska, while remote fishing areas and bear viewing are both just a short flight from Lake Hood or Merrill Field.
