What do you think are the top 5 prettiest Alaskan cities? (Anchorage: living, area)

[Dakster]

I'd like to know who has seen/been to all or at least most of the cities in AK?

My bucket list is to do that. I probably won't be able to hit them all, but at least a majority of them and at least all of the cities on the road system.

From the limited exposure I have, I do agree that they are different and unique in their own way. I have been to Chicken, Fairbanks, Anchorage, "The Valley" Palmer/Wasilla, and Seward. Spent time in Denali and whatever that little town is around the park as well. Would like to see Haines, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Soldtona and the rest of Kenai as well.

I also want to drive the Dalton all the way up and back. Just to say I did it. Not sure I want to do it in the middle of the winter the first time out, but I want to do it.

BTW, the drive from Anchorage to Seward is pretty incredible. I would definitely put that so far, as one of my top scenic Alaskan drives.

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by Dakster

I'd like to know who has seen/been to all or at least most of the cities in AK?

My bucket list is to do that. I probably won't be able to hit them all, but at least a majority of them and at least all of the cities on the road system.

From the limited exposure I have, I do agree that they are different and unique in their own way. I have been to Chicken, Fairbanks, Anchorage, "The Valley" Palmer/Wasilla, and Seward. Spent time in Denali and whatever that little town is around the park as well. Would like to see Haines, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Soldtona and the rest of Kenai as well.

I also want to drive the Dalton all the way up and back. Just to say I did it. Not sure I want to do it in the middle of the winter the first time out, but I want to do it.

BTW, the drive from Anchorage to Seward is pretty incredible. I would definitely put that so far, as one of my top scenic Alaskan drives.

I have been to Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. Those are the only cities in Alaska that I am aware.

Everywhere else may like to call themselves "cities," but in reality they do not even constitute a large town, much less a city. After Anchorage, Juneau, and Fairbanks, Sitka and Wasilla are the next largest with populations of 9,000 and 8,500 respectively. Palmer, Kodiak, and Bethel are about the same size at around 6,500. These are small towns, not cities. If any were at least 10,000 or more in population they could convincingly argue that they are at least a large town, but they cannot even do that.

I have noticed that Alaskans have a propensity of calling things something they are not. Like Ship Creek, which is really a river. Or the Ninilchik River, which is really a creek or stream. Maybe calling population centers with fewer than 25,000 people "cities" is a similar phenomena.

[Dakster]

How about, the most named areas in Alaska... So that some of the smaller areas would be counted in the prettiest "areas" of Alaska. (And I was wondering when someone was going to bring that up). I guess you could up ships creek in Alaska then?

Used to be a population nomenclature. A certain threshold was required to be called a village, town, city, or metropolitan area. But that has gone to the wayside even down here.

[TKO]

I took my nephew on a fly-in to Lake Creek. It was neither.

[Dakster]

I hope Deadman lake is wrong too...

[hogfamily]

Originally Posted by Dakster

I hope Deadman lake is wrong too...

I have been to Deadman Creek that was named for...well...a dead man. It is a local name in the Skwentna area.

One year two friends and I had the most incredible two days of King Salmon fishing there, a King on almost every cast.

[hogfamily]

Dak,

I have been to about 2/3 of the villages in AK that have runways and a few that don't. Although I mostly saw the runway, the road to the village clinic, and the clinic.

[Dakster]

SO you have a pretty good idea of the places people live in AK... What are your favorites in the eye candy arena?

[notoriouskelly]

What- no Talkeetna?

Originally Posted by TKO

I have to say, as a New Mexican who has spent a lot of time in Albuquerque that Anchorage has a very strong Route 66 vibe to it.

The Hilton is Sooooooo retro

[stiffnecked]

There are 21 1st class cities and 112 2nd class cities in Alaska.

http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/Porta...b/Homerule.pdf