Anchorage is Alaska’s largest city and home to more than 40% of the state’s population. Located in Southcentral Alaska between the Chugach Mountains and the Cook Inlet, Anchorage serves as the economic, transportation, and cultural hub of the state. Though many people consider it a jumping-off point for their Alaskan adventures, Anchorage itself offers so much to explore.

With a lively downtown, extensive trail system, wildlife viewing opportunities, and proximity to major parks and attractions, Anchorage is a great place to experience the balance of urban amenities and Alaskan wilderness. Whether you’re coming to hike Flattop Mountain, view beluga whales along Turnagain Arm, or check out the local museums and eateries, Anchorage is worth a stop — or even your whole vacation.

Did you know?

• At 1,704.7 square miles, Anchorage ranks as the third-largest city by area in the United States—larger than the entire state of Rhode Island.

• In mid-summer, Anchorage can see up to 22 hours of daylight, with the sun barely dipping below the horizon on the summer solstice.

• An estimated 1,500 moose live within city limits, making them Anchorage’s most unusual (and the most famous) residents.

• Because of its position nearly equidistant to New York, Tokyo, and Murmansk, Anchorage is a key refueling hub for international cargo flights—and houses one of the world’s busiest cargo airports.

• The city emerged as a railroad company town, founded in 1914 when the Alaska Railroad construction camp sprang up at Ship Creek.

• Beneath downtown, a layer of clay known as Bootlegger Cove clay liquefied catastrophically during the 1964 Good Friday earthquake, causing widespread damage.