Anchorage is located in south-central Alaska, nestled between the Chugach Mountains to the east and the shoreline of the Cook Inlet to the west. The town was originally settled in 1915 at the mouth of Ship Creek to support railroad construction. Anchorage has grown steadily to become the business, cultural and distribution center of Alaska. Nowadays nearly half of Alaska’s 600,000 residents live in Anchorage. The municipality of Anchorage stretches nearly 50 miles from Eklutna to Portage Glacier, covering almost 2,000 square miles – roughly the size of Delaware. Anchorage boasts a great selection of attractions, restaurants and shopping, so be sure to plan a visit to the city as part of your Alaska vacation.

Anchorage Lodging
Anchorage offers a nice selection of hotels to choose from. Most hotels are concentrated near the airport or the downtown area, separated by a distance of roughly six miles. Many people choose an airport hotel for their first or last night in Alaska for the convenience, while others prefer to stay at a downtown hotel. For an airport hotel we recommend the Holiday Inn Express. Near downtown there are a number of great choices like the Inlet Tower Hotel and the Comfort Inn which is conveniently located near the Alaska Railroad depot. The Ramada Downtown is a great value property while the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel is one of Anchorage's finest Hotels. If you are looking for a nice all suite property, we highly recommend the Anchorage Hawthorn Suites. We usually recommend staying two nights in Anchorage, preferably at the beginning or end of your trip. During the summer months, hotel rooms book up quickly, so make your reservations well in advance. Check out our Anchorage Hotels page for a complete list of options.

Anchorage Tours and Attractions
There is plenty to do in Anchorage. Some of the more popular attractions include the Museum of History and Fine Art, the Alaska Zoo and the Alaska Native Heritage Center. The town is also home to the largest float or sea plane base in the world, so bear viewing and fly-in fishing trips are good choices as well. If you have time, take a stroll on the coastal trail, designated as a National Recreation Trail for its dramatic views, or go on a day hike. Check out our Anchorage Tours page for more choices.

Anchorage Transportation
Anchorage is usually the starting or ending point of most visitors' Alaska vacations, and it serves as the airline hub for the state. Anchorage is served by several national airlines, with Alaska Airlines offering the greatest selection of flights both in state and connecting to the continental United States. The Alaska Railroad offers daily summer service to Seward, Talkeetna, Denali Park and Fairbanks. These communities are also served by bus line from Anchorage, and rental cars are available from several companies at or near the Anchorage airport. Check out our Anchorage Transportation page for more information.

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