Anchorage, America’s northernmost city and Alaska’s largest, is the gateway to Alaska. While it is tempting, and often done, to skip through Anchorage and on to the more exotic and less populated Alaska further north, the city of Anchorage is an exciting destination unto itself.

In winter, you are guaranteed a snowy destination and cold temperatures that average to be as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 20 degrees Fahrenheit all winter. In the summer, temperatures generally range between 50-66 degrees Fahrenheit. On the warmest day on record the temperature reached 86 degrees Fahrenheit in June of 1953.

For the traveler who enjoys combining adventures in the wild with a comfortable bed and a little bit of luxury, Anchorage is ideal. In or near Anchorage you can hike, fish, ski, bike, go whale watching, visit museums, kick back at a pub, enjoy a long luxurious meal, and shop for furs.

Anchorage is an excellent place to spot Alaskan wildlife. Black and grizzly bears are native to the area and often spotted within city limits. You might even see one on your walk to a restaurant for lunch! Moose are numerous and occasionally sighted within city limits as well. If you’d like to see a moose, you can ask for tips from your hotelier about where to respectfully look for them in the wild.

Whale watching is also a popular activity in this area. Many companies offer whale-watching tours for part or all of each day. You could see as many as ten species of whale including Beluga, Blue, and Humpback whales.

Those who wish to do some salmon fishing don’t even have to leave downtown Anchorage. Salmon are abundant in Ship Creek, which flows through downtown and then into Cook Inlet. It is also possible to fly out to a more remote fishing location for Anchorage.

Anchorage reports more violent crimes and property crimes on average than the United States as a whole, however, its rates in both of these categories are slightly higher but similar to that of cities of a similar size. The rate of sexual assault, however, is considerably higher, but Alaskan natives are more likely to be targeted. Travelers should employ the same safety precautions as employed in any other major American city. Anchorage is considered a city with an average crime rate.

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