"Not Alaska - But You Can See It From... " a Anchorage Travel Page by RickinDutch

We lived in Anchorage for many years before decided to move to the Aleutians and experience life in rural Alaska. Now it is the jumping off point for any trip from home and the location of many of our business trips, get away weekends and big ticket item shopping trips.

Anchorage is by far the largest city in Alaska. More folks live here (320,000) than in the rest of Alaska combined. It is here that we rural residents must come for any serious medical treatment, shopping that can't be done online, and for an occassional break away weekend. We joke about Anchorage being the closest city to Alaska but still we go and spend our hard earned bucks in the big city whenever the opportunity arises. Costco, Walmart, Fred Meyers, etc., all have bush order desks that will ship our recently purchased treasures home.

Anchorage has come a long way over the years in beautifying herself. Lots of flower beds and hanging baskets in the summer and lots of lights in the winter. The Hotel Captain Cook, located right down town, is our favorite place to stay. Without a doubt, the nicest hotel in Anchorage .

The changes that Anchorage has undergone since I first moved here in 1979 are tremendous. I arrived as the TransAlaska Pipeline project was coming to an end. The project had been a boon to the city and the state but the long term impact was an influx of workers from all over that came for the big bucks and stayed for the quality of life Alaska provides. Oil remains the biggest business in Alaska and Anchorage is the headquarters for those industries. The other big economic force for Anchorage is the military with two major bases adjacent, Ft Richardson (Army) and Elmendorf (Air Force). Third is it's roles as the hub for transportation in Alaska for airlines, air cargo, container ships, the railroad and highway traffic.

All of this has led to rapid growth over the 30 years I've known Anchorage. It has gone from a rough and tumble frontier town to an urban center with all that entails. For visitor and resident alike it has meant an increase in ammenities such as hotels, restaurants, night clubs, coastal trails, shopping malls, etc.

The Anchorage Visitor's Bureau mans (womans?) the Log Cabin, downtown on 5th, year round with knowledgeable people and loads of brochures. This is a natural starting point to your tour of Anchorage. Walking and bus tours usually start here.