Warming Up to Anchorage

Summer vacation in Anchorage, Alaska? It may not be your first choice, but for spectacular scenery, the area around this city can’t be beat.

View Larger Map
Located in southern Alaska, Anchorage is also that state’s largest city. Bordered by the majestic Chugach Mountains to the east and the wild beauty of the Turnagain Arm Fjord to the south, Anchorage has its fair share of photo opportunities, and then some. Like many northern cities, the growing season here is short – only 100 days. In the summer, daylight can seemingly last forever, while darkness prevails in the winter.
Its climate is subarctic, but modified by warming ocean currents. Summers tend to be cool but pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 13 to 26 degrees. The winters, however, are different story. Anchorage sees 180 centimeters of snow each year, and temperatures can plunge down to 15 below – and that’s just on average.
This harsh and strange climate has produced a unique set of attractions for tourists. Of course, the most famous is the Iditarod. This sled dog race starts every first Saturday in March and covers over 1,700 kilometers until its finish in Nome, Alaska. Photographers might want to pack their camera bags and head to nearby Kenai Fjords National Park. Located on the Kenai Peninsula, it is a 149-kilometer trek to some of the most breathtaking ocean views on the planet. The Chugach National Forest, which boasts mountains, wildlife, and still more amazing scenery, is also within a two- to three-hour drive.

Anchorage has many things to offer visitors looking for a unique experience and unparalleled natural beauty.