Don't get too excited.
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8/8/2013
People like to say that there is always lots of things to do, which is far from it. I mean, yeah, if you are an avid skiier, or a snowboarder, then sure, you can be engaged in those activities about 7 month a year. But other than that..there is very little things you can do here. First off, it's hard to play outside when it's under 30 below.So If you want your children to spend all day sitting at home playing videogames, it's a great state for you. Second, every single decent artist or singer in US have forgotten that there is a state called Alaska. So in case you need your Lady Gaga fix, you better hop on a plane. Lack of museums, theaters, decent places to hang out really. There is quete a few nice restaurants though. I mean, what else you gona do, when it's so miserable outside? Eat!! One of the downsides if that if you want to go somewhere else, you'll have to endure hours and hours of flying and layovers. However, and it's a good thing, they do have a direct flight to my beloved Hawaii. What else? Salaries are high, but so is cost of living. Good luck finding a 1 bedroom for rent for less than 1,000/mo+utilities. I think, if you are not an oil indurstry professional, don't even bother living here. Education. I don't know about high schools, but University of Alaska Anchorage is clearly lacking. There is not enough programs, it's underfunded, parking is horrible. Ok, maybe I'm being too harsh, I guess for a small city like Anchorage, it's ok. What I like? Mose walking around town, summer is not hot, summer of 2013 was simply amazing. All prior summers (for 10 years of living here) were very gloomy...ok did I start on bad things again? No sales tax. yearly PFD of about a grand, favorite part, really. My advice? Come spend couple of weeks here in January, before you decide to move.
Nastya | Anchorage, AK