Population: 254,000. Anchorage is Alaska's largest city with 42 percent of the state's population.

Elevation: 118 feet

Tides: The Upper Cook Inlet near Anchorage has the second greatest tide range in North America at 38.9 feet.

Aviation: Alaska has about one registered pilot for every 58 residents, six times as many pilots per capita and 14 times as many airplanes per capita as the rest of the United States.

Time Zone: Anchorage observes Alaska Standard Time (AST)., which is 4 hours earlier than New York City. When it is noon in NYC, it is 8:00 AM in Anchorage and 9:00AM in California.

Northern Lights: The best time to see the northern lights, or “aurora borealis” is during a cold, clear winter night. Many of the area hotels have a “northern lights wake up call” and if you indicate that you want to be awakened, they will call your room if the lights are dancing in the night sky.

Darkness and Light: The least amount of functional daylight during the winter is seven hours and 35 minutes, and that occurs on Winter Solstice, usually around December 21. Anchorage gains daylight rapidly until Summer Solstice, which occurs around June 21 and which has nearly 24 hours of functional daylight.

Weather:

Anchorage is far south of the Arctic Circle , but Alaskan weather can change at a moment's notice. Storms gather momentum in the Gulf of Alaska, and the polar regions can experience snowstorms on the 4th of July and bask in hot summer sun on July 5th. Powerful winds can race from the mountains with no warning. If you're taking a flightseeing tour, prepare for delays or cancellations. The fog can set in as quickly as it can also lift - and small planes are dependent on the weather.

What to Wear

The weather is perfect for casual wear for people taking advantage of the many outdoor activities. Visitors may notice a drop in temperature while riding to the top of Mt. Alyeska or hiking in the Chugach Mountains. It is a good idea to bring a jacket for those activities. Wear layers of clothing and peel off a layer or add one as the weather changes.

Comfortable walking shoes are great for all seasons. In winter, bring heavier layers, long underwear, warm hat and gloves, and warm boots. Alaska's informality is perfect for visitors.

Average Temperatures:

Month

High

Low

January

19F

5F

February

27F

9F

March

33F

13F

April

44F

27F

May

54F

36F

June

62F

44F

July

65F

49F

August

64F

47F

September

57F

39F

October

43F

29F

November

30F

15F

December

20F

6F

When to Go

Warm temperatures and long evenings of midnight sun draw visitors to Alaska from June through August.. July and August are the rainiest months in South Central Alaska (including Anchorage) and the Interior. Mosquitoes enjoy the summer rains, so come prepared with repellant.

To avoid the summer crowds and prices, go during fall or spring. From late August to early September there are displays of brilliant foliage, bright blue skies, and the mountains and glaciers dusted with fresh snow. Daytime temperatures are pleasant, though evenings can be chilly. May and June are the driest months.

Winter brings skiing, sledding, ice-skating, dog mushing, and ice fishing, along with the Northern Lights. They appear late at night, when it's darkest, during fall and winter. They are best seen north of Anchorage in Fairbanks.

Business Hours

Most Alaskan stores are open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Larger grocery stores remain open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Banks and credit unions are typically open Monday-Friday 10-5, and some have limited Saturday hours. Most government and other offices are open Monday-Friday 9-5, though some close at 4:30.

Many Alaskan gas stations remain open until 10 PM, and some stay open 24 hours a day. Most are also open on weekends, particularly along the main highways.

Holidays

January 1 New Year's Day

3rd Mon. in January Martin Luther King, Jr., Day

3rd Monday in February President's Day

March or April Easter Sunday

last Monday in May Memorial Day

July 4 Independence Day

1st Monday in September Labor Day

4th Thursday in November Thanksgiving Day

Dec. 24 and 25 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

December 31 New Year's Eve

Customs & Duties

Arriving in the United States from another country: For information, contact the U.S. Customs Service, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20229, 202/354-1000;

Electricity

The U.S. electrical standard is 110 volts/60 cycles AC. International visitors traveling with dual-voltage appliances will not need a converter, but they will need a plug adapter. The standard U.S. electrical outlet takes a plug of two flat pins set parallel to one another.

Emergencies

For police, fire, or ambulance, dial 911.

Hospital Emergency Rooms

Alaska Regional Hospital (2801 DeBarr Rd., 907/276-1131).

First Care (3710 Woodland Dr., 907/248-1122; 1301 Huffman Rd., 907/345-1199).

Providence Hospital (3200 Providence Dr., 907/562-2211).

Flightseeing Tours

Any air-taxi company (check the Anchorage Yellow Pages) can arrange for a flightseeing trip over Anchorage and environs. The fee will be determined by the length of time you are airborne and the size of the plane Three-hour flights over Mt. McKinley, including a landing on a remote backcountry lake are also availble.

Kenai Fjords Park Tours

Kenai Coastal Tours ( 907/277-2131 or 800/770-9119) leads day trips into Kenai Fjords National Park - in Seward, which is 127 miles south of Anchorage at the end of the Seward Highway. They also offer combination train-cruise-motor-coach trips from Anchorage.

Money

ATMs

As in the rest of the US, most ATMs in Alaska charge a fee if you don’t have an account, but this fee is not imposed at most credit union ATMs.

Exchanging Money

Anchorage is not a major international city, so the best strategy is to buy traveler’s checks in U.S. dollars before you come to the United States.

Taxes

Anchorage has no sales tax.

Tipping

At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters; up to 20% may be expected at expensive ones.

On package tours, conductors and drivers usually get $10 per day from the group as a whole; check whether this has already been figured into your cost.

Telephones

The country code for the United States is 1. The area code for Anchorage is 907.

Daily events recording ( 907/276-3200).

Alaska Public Lands Information Center (4th Ave. and F St., 907/271-2737

Daylight Hours

In Anchorage, there are 24 hours of functional daylight on Summer Solstice. The further north you travel, the more sun you get in the summer; in Barrow the sun does not set for 84 days! The day with the least amount is on Winter Solstice, yet Anchorage still enjoys 7:35 hours of daylight. Again, the farther north the fewer the daylight hours.

Travel To Anchorage By Air

More than 240 flights arrive each day, Anchorage has flight connections from anywhere in the world. Domestic and international flights fly into Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC) ( 907/266-2525), 6 miles from downtown Numerous domestic and international carriers offer air service to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport as well as many charter flights. Travelers flying the "Great Circle Route" to other continents may have stopover privileges in Alaska, which allow for local travel. Flying time is 13 hours from New York, 8 hours from Chicago, 7 hours from Dallas, and 6 hours from Los Angeles.

Several carriers, connect Anchorage with smaller Alaskan communities. Some serve the area from Lake Hood, part of Anchorage International Airport; others operate out of Merrill Field, 2 miles east of downtown on 5th Avenue.

Carriers

Ground Transportation

Taxis, buses, rental cars and some hotel shuttles are available at the airport. Downtown is just 15 minutes away.

Airport Services

Secure baggage and cold item storage is available at Anchorage International Airport. Please call Huntleigh at (907) 248-0373 for more information.

Transfers Between the Airport and Town

Taxis queue up at the lower level of the airport terminal outside the baggage-claim area. Alaska Cab, Checker Cab, Yellow Cab, and Anchorage Taxi Cab all operate here; you’ll get whichever cab is next in line. All charge about $17, not including tip, for the ride to downtown hotels.

By Bus

The municipal People Mover bus system ( 907/343-6543) covers the Anchorage metropolitan area. Get schedules and information from the central bus depot at 6th Avenue and G Street. The one-way fare is nominal for rides outside the downtown area; rides within downtown are free.

By Car

Only one road leads to Anchorage from the north and only one road out to the south. The Glenn Highway enters Anchorage from the north and becomes 5th Avenue near Merrill Field; this route will lead you directly into downtown. Gambell Street leads out of town to the south, becoming New Seward Highway at about 20th Avenue.

Car Rentals are readily available.

Requirements

In Alaska you must be 21 (and no older than 99) to rent a car, and rates may be higher if you’re under 25. You’ll pay extra for child seats which are compulsory for children under five, and for additional drivers . Non-U.S. residents will need a reservation voucher, a passport, a driver’s license (written in English), and a travel policy that covers each driver, when picking up a car.

The Alaska Railroad

The routes run from Anchorage either south to the ports of Seward and Whittier, or north to Denali National Park and Preserve and Fairbanks.

In addition to spectacular wilderness vistas and wildlife viewing, the train ride itself is praised by passengers of all ages. Choose between a comfortable Alaska Railroad car or a privately operated tour company railcar with luxurious appointments. Day trips from Anchorage or overnight packages are available.

Northbound Routes

To Denali National Park & Preserve and Fairbanks

The route passes by rivers, sheer granite cliffs, forests and the 295-foot Hurricane Gulch.

Visitors can view Mt. McKinley, rising above the six million-acre Denali National Park and Preserve - and the tallest mountain on the North American continent. Its height is 20,320 feet.

Southbound Routes

To Whittier (Prince William Sound) or Seward (Resurrection Bay)

Observe mountains with hanging glaciers and abundant wildlife. Watch for whales, bald eagles, and Dall sheep.

Driving in Alaska

Road Conditions

Driving in Alaska presents some unusual obstacles. Moose often wander onto roads and highways. The moose will usually move on its own. Be especially vigilant when driving at dusk or night, since moose can be active at all hours.

Parking in Anchorage is usually not a problem, and most of the big discount stores allow free parking in their lots.