What BestPlaces Users Say about Anchorage
Anchorage, Alaska has been ranked as one of the top places to live in the United States due to its stunning natural scenery and abundance of outdoor activities. However, living in this city may not be for everyone. According to many user reviews on BestPlaces.net, there are both pros and cons to living in Anchorage. Some of the common themes mentioned include the high cost of living, extreme weather conditions, and the friendly and welcoming community. Let's take a look at what some users had to say about their experience living in Anchorage.
- "Anchorage is a beautiful place to live, surrounded by mountains and the ocean. The outdoor activities here are endless, and the people are incredibly friendly and welcoming." - Sarah D.
- "The cost of living in Anchorage is quite high, especially when it comes to housing and groceries. However, the natural beauty and close-knit community make it worth it." - David S.
- "I love living in Anchorage, but the long, dark winters can be tough to handle. It's important to stay active and find ways to enjoy the winter months, otherwise, it can be a bit depressing." - Rachel M.
- "One of the best parts of living in Anchorage is the abundance of fresh seafood. The salmon and halibut here are unbeatable. Plus, the outdoor activities are endless and the people are always up for a good time." - Mark T.
based on 83 ReviewsGet to know Anchorage with the latest comments and reviews from people who live in or have visited Anchorage
What has happened to the Anchorage I love so much? - 1/15/2008
We drove the Alaska Highway in the dead of winter in 2003 to escape horrible job conditions in Oklahoma.
I fell instantly in love with Alaska. Then I slowly began falling out of love with it over the past 5 years. Next week will mark our 5th year here.
I started seeing people leaving one after another for very good reasons.
There never were murders or gangs. Now there are murders more than you would expect.
The rate of rape is one of the highest in the United States. The treatment of Alaska Natives is often disrespectful and racist.
The summers are now so crowded, we can never find anyplace to put our RV to enjoy unless we drive way out of the way.
The fishing holes are impossible to even get into when the tide comes up.
The breathtaking Turnagain Arm is almost enough to keep us here, but my husband is getting ready to retire in a few years.
Recently, Channel 2 did a story on the medical and medicare crisis in Alaska.
There's
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A Work In Progress - 12/31/2007
When I first saw Anchorage, in 1975, it was still very much a frontier town. And isolated: we'd get Walter Chronkite a day or two later by videotape (this was before satellite TV). It was, and rightly so, famously expensive as pipeline construction was in full bloom and the big box stores had not come: meaning Safeway could (and did)charge whatever it wanted (that part perhaps has not changed). But Anchorage felt like the frontier town that it was. Anchorage was still part of the Alaska of legend. It was fun to live there and everyone felt a sort of camaraderie in being part of it all...it was special. It's not anymore. Anchorage has mushroomed in population to the point where it's well over a quarter million people. Unfortunately, a lot of the new people who came in did not come in to be part of Alaska.....I think a lot of them, seriously, came up because of the Permanent Fund Dividend (a kind of reverse income tax where the State sends everyone, even infants, a check every
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Anchorage: Where An Acquaintance Was Shot While Wa - 12/23/2007
I grew up and lived in and around Washington, DC from 1972 to 1988 and 1995 to 1998...you know the "murder capitol." Well, while I lived there, I never knew someone who was shot walking home. I also never saw a drunk driver and I never witnessed a vehicle accident. I don't consider my self naive or reclusive. I did not live with my head in the ground in the nation's capitol. I was out and about growing up and living in working in DC as an adult. Living in Anchorage, compared to living in DC has been a shocking experience.
In Anchorage, I have witnessed so much drunk driving that I avoid driving in the evenings on weekends. I have called the police while driving to report drunk drivers four times in two months. A woman I know was walking home from volunteering at a film festival...she was shot in the back by a guy completing a crime spree that included two murders, three attempted murders, a slew of assaults, and an attack on a dog. (For one of the assaults and
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Outdoor Activity - 12/6/2007
Many people say the best thing about Anchorage is that it is so close to Alaska. As a lifelong resident of Anchorage I can say it has amazing opportunities for outdoor activities within the city limits as well as throughout the State. Hiking, camping, bicycling, boating, fishing, etc. all are readily available. Recently I watched one of my out of State guests thrill at the landing of a King Salmon from Ship creek, just a stone's throw from downtown Anchorage. It never ceases to thrill me that I can be on my front porch, sipping coffee and watch a moose meander down the street, or possibly right in my
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"Don't like it leave" we're leaving! - 11/5/2007
We have lived in the Achorage area now for 20 years. I still love Alaska, the scenery and wildlife can't be beat. However many of the reasons that we lived here no longer exist. In south central Alaska, fishing anywhere along the road systen is generally a circus if there's fish. Shoulder to shoulder fisherman, a lot of them very rude with bad attitudes. Hunting, same thing, too many people and not enough access. To go to a campground now on weekends, you better have a plan A,B,C,D and expect to end up somewhere you didn't want to be, because of them being full. Fantastic hiking, however, don't leave anything in your car or it might be broken into at the trail head, and whatever you do, don't leave a car on the highway overnight! If you have lots of money, the old Alaska is still there, you just need to fly or boat to it.
The scoff law attitude drives me nuts, and I think the reason people move here is so that they no longer have to obey traffic laws. And once behind the wheel,
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Summer's in AK - 10/23/2007
The summers here in Anchorage are the best! Not too hot but hot enough and the gorgeous view that is offered puts the cherry on the
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??? humidity ??? - 10/10/2007
Not sure what the hell the person from Georgia was yapping about. There is NO humidity in
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The un-enjoyable Alaska - 6/24/2007
I live in a small town in Alaska of Haines and that place is the Alaska you would expect, but Anchorage is too big of a city to enjoy Alaska peacfully, wherever you fish nearby is very crouded and in the winter there is way to many car accidents, besides what I said Anchorage is a nice city but not a nice
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Alaska The Very last Frontier - 4/12/2007
I have lived in Alaska for the last 14 years after moving from Philadelphia and it has been phenomenal* I met a wonderful Christian Man here and we started a family.Moving here as a single mother of two was very scary but well worth it!Alaska is Clean the people here are from All over the world and very courteous. The Winters take getting used to because it starts in Late August and lasts until the end of April* ALASKA is the poster child of Christmas* Winter wonder land.This is a slower pace lifestyle and filled with Animal lovers. My children love it but the draw back is NO FAMILY and it costs thousands to visit family and friends on the East coast or anywhere for that fact. THE COST of living is EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, FOOD prices, CLOTHING, HOUSING all is off the CHARTS but the jobs here PAY extremely WELL. I looked into some state jobs in Georgia and I love the Homes I see on the Real estate sights. I visited in April 2006 and just fell in love with the atmosphere, the sights of so
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Climate - 3/23/2007
I loved Anchorage but after 17 years I got tired of the darkness, snow and cold. It's beautiful there and there is humidity in the summer. I am looking for warmth, sunshine and no
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