Moving to Anchorage

[Rance]

Have a look at those pictures I posted in the AK forum. I just spent 6 days driving around AK and the views are awesome. The roads are great. And it should not take 2 weeks to drive from Maryland to AK. Maybe a week if you stop and get a room everynight.

[warptman]

hmmmm, drives around Alaska scenic???




taken near Ted Stevens International Airport


Glenn Highway just outside Glennallen


Seward Highway-Turnagain Arm


Richardson Highway


The Pipeline and the Richardson

[Superbecky79]

Yep, AK has some beautiful spots!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/MomDadbaby/anything%20and%20everything/mountains.jpg (broken link)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/MomDadbaby/anything%20and%20everything/stepsandstairs.jpg (broken link)

[akankie]

[quote=Glitch;1384048]Rance is right, fall is definately the prettiest season of the year. Driving from Maryland would be more expensive than flying, but also a gorgeous drive.

The cost of living in Anchorage is slightly higher than you're used to, but the wages are slightly higher as well. The unemployment rate is currently 6.5% in Anchorage. You shouldn't have too much difficulty finding an entry level position. quote]


Hello i just drove up here from kc in sept. my advice to you is to fly if at all possible. The exchange rate for the us to Canada dollar has tanked so they are even right now. And Canada is MUCH MUCH more expensive than the us to drive in. The drive is also physically and mentally hard on you if your doing it alone like i did.

If you do choose to drive my advice spend as much time as possible in the us with the cheaper yes cheaper prices on almost everything..

If you do drive be prepared at the boarder crossing you will be surprised at how long it can take just to cross into Canada, once you are in Canada it takes forever to get across it. It was a shock to me how large Canada is and how poorly some of the roads where maintained.

The leg from whitecourt, to Whitehorse in the Yukon was exp. difficult and it snowed on me at fort nelson in sept.

As for finding a job it took me four weeks, 28 applications, and three interviews to get a low paying entry level job at a grocery store. I was completely unprepared to be out of work for a month. So save up at least two months worth of bills in advance, just encase.

It is a wonderful opportunity to live here in Alaska but as with all things it will be what you make of it.

Good luck and God bless

[Glitch]

Originally Posted by akankie

As for finding a job it took me four weeks, 28 applications, and three interviews to get a low paying entry level job at a grocery store. I was completely unprepared to be out of work for a month. So save up at least two months worth of bills in advance, just encase.

Good advice. The drive up the AlCan can certainly be draining, particularly if you plan on driving 8 to 10 hours every day. As akankie pointed out, Canada is quite large, and so is Alaska. Canada's idea of a "paved road" doesn't quite measure up to what you are used to in the lower-48. If you plan on driving, pace yourself or you will become fatigued after a few days. Expect a cracked windshield or broken headlight and you probably won't be disappointed.

It is best if you already have a job waiting when you arrive, but if you don't then be financially prepared to be out of work for awhile. Check out the classified section of the Anchorage Daily News and the Alaska Job Center daily. As I'm sure you are aware, finding a job is fulltime work in itself, but in the end, if you are determined, I'm sure you will be successful.

Best of luck.