Where would the best place to move in Alaska.

[starlite9]

Originally Posted by AKNana

It's about a three hour drive from Anchorage to Seward. As Warptman said, everyone is going to tell you where they live is the best place, so I'll tell you why I live where I do. I have lived many different parts of the country, and three different places in Alaska. When it came time to choose our retirement home, the choice was easy. Eagle River is beautiful, has the friendliest people, is close enough to Anchorage for a quick work commute or for big box shopping, but away from the traffic and congestion. Everything we need is no more than a ten minute drive. We can get to Wasilla/Palmer in 30 minutes, or most places on the Kenai peninsula within three. Get any further out towards Wasilla and the commute is bad in the winter, and frankly some areas of Birchwood/Chugiak are a bit dicey. It developed without zoning, you can have a beautiful home next to tear down dumps. Eagle River has much more distinct neighborhoods. We also considered South Anchorage. But it takes just as long to get to downtown Anchorage from there, and the drive is most unpleasant compared to that from Eagle River. The hillside area is much too windy for my taste, and I think the Sand Lake and southeast/central areas of Anchorage are a disaster waiting to happen. The homes are built on silt and will liquefy in an earthquake. Check earthquake maps before you settle anywhere in Alaska. Add to that the problems in Anchorage schools, homeless people on street corners, etc. etc., Eagle River is just a better choice. As for the rest of Alaska, there are great places to live, but jobs become more scarce as the size of the town goes down.

I don't know about Eagle River, I grew up there and then after I left into the military, the pipeline started and it grew to being a bedroom community verses a neat place to grow up that I remember. But it is still much better than living in Anchorage by a long shot! We didn't get electricity up to the house until the mid sixties and looking back on it... it wasn't that bad not having it either. Had military hand crank phone systems that connected people to the bottom of the hill and you could listen in on everyone's calls, just like they heard yours... Not too many people, but everyone knew what you were doing too... So getting into trouble as a kid, your parents knew about it before you got home...

Lots of change, that is why I live in the interior, much less people and like it use to be around Anchorage fourty+ years ago.

[kittypawz11]

Originally Posted by BeC...

Hello, Im new to all this... so if I sound silly...not my fault...

For the past few years I have really wanted to move to Alaska, but im not sure where to... I want somewhere cheep, pretty (even though everywhere is) somewhere with local community, and a few jobs available. Im not moving for quite a while im more just trying to pick a place so I can start organizing.

I have tried looking it all up but all the information i get is so related to tourists.. and is more just a add.

So I figured I would ask the locals.. or people who would know from experience or even hearsay.


I think you would like Juneau. It's absoloutely gorgeous. population is 30,000.

I am excited as well as keen and i would love some help.
Thank you...

I think you would like Juneau. It's absoloutely gorgeous. population is 30,000. small town charm, upscale, and very touristy. google it.

[AlaskaKash]

On the Peninsula between Soldotna and Homer. World class fishing, whether you have a boat or not. Decent hunting, although permits are difficult to obtain. Usually great snowmachining and wheelin'. Tons of places to go camping and you can find inexensive lots that have electricity and phone near them, meaning all you need to do is drill a well.

Winters there are relatively mild, usually not too cold and the weather is always changing. Your drive from town to town is absolutely beautiful and the drive all the way to Anchorage is spectacular.

During the summer you will run into traffic, especially on the weekends with people in RV's and underpowered trucks towing enormous boats....but its worth it IMO. You will meet people from all over the world in the summer which is always interesting and most are very nice.

If you enjoy going to your local bar once in awhile, you will eventually get to know most of the town that you choose to live in. Its good times. Busy and beautiful in the summer, nice and quiet in the winter.

~Kash