I'm thinking of moving to Alaska. Has anyone been there? How is it?

Answer 1

Greetings!
yes, I have lived in Juneau Alaska 15 years. How is it? I do not know where to begin. I will give it a try.
You do need to know weather extremes as the it can change on a moments notice. People no longer live in igloos. the natives that live along the upper coast line do when they go on hunts, but its safe to know how to build one just in case. some tips about bears-unpredictable neusances that like to tear up garbage cans,most towns requier to built a locked garbage bin to store cans in. read up on bears before going on hikes,need to say woman need too stay out of woods if its that time of month,Ive heard some gruesome stories. As I said I lived in Juneau which was a port city tourists from all around the world would visit primarily in the summers and flood the towns with money(excellent opp for entreprenours). I worked for the State. From the time when when I first moved in, the population was near 4000, in 15 years it had grown to about 17000 pop when I moved out.
Save up a good amount of money before going there to live as It can be a tough time finding digs and you maybe in store for an extended stay at a Hotel or a bed and breakfast. Or you can rough it. One day while I was on a off trail hike, I happen stanced upon a small community of people doing just that. I do not think the authorities where even aware of it but these communs were all over in the backwoods,but one would have really look
(I digress). but too answer your question, it depends on where you want to live. Don't go without a friend, climates vary, light rain mostly in southeast as it is almost like living in Seattle. Winters differ from year to year from extremely cold, harsh winters to mild. Jobs are plenty if you want one. I had to take what I could get at first (dish washer 12 bucks an hr). know how to budget. The people have a friendly, pleasant demeaner,they do not have the cold hardened temperments of most people in the mainland States. Alaska is 3 times the size of Texas or 1/3 the size of America.
So in short have a skill that is in demand and do take a rain coat and your best nice smile and you will be in for the most memorable time of your life. Best Wishes. Brent

Answer 2

Alaska is HUGE and your experience there will obviously depend on where you are. You might be in the bitterly cold arctic town of Barrow only accessible by plane, or you may be in the far south and always rainy town of Ketchican.

Where are you thinking of moving? Have you checked out the weather -- are you prepared for it? Are you okay with losing most of your daylight in the winter and losing most of your darkness in the summer?

Though you may be in a major metropolis like Anchorage, or a small town like Nome, one could probably make the following generalities:

1) Alaska is still somewhat of a frontier -- people who move there like their freedom and privacy

2) Alaska is not as fully developed as the lower 48 (or 49 for that matter). You may not get all the amenities you are used to here. Some supplies may be more expensive.

3) Most of the state, though there are liberal enclaves such as Talkeetna, is Republican. The Christian right has a strong hold up here. Are you ready for that?

4) No matter where you are, it will be cold and there will be precipitation.

5) There is incredible beauty nearly everywhere you go.

So, whaddya think?

Answer 3

You don't say which part of Alaska, but I've been to Anchorage twice and it's a beautiful place. has a small town feel about it and is certainly not the coldest place in the US. it's winter is seldom any colder than the average winter temps in Michigan, they do however last longer. If you are prone to seasonal affective dissorder you might want to reconsider because there are long stretches of bleak gray weather and in some places the days are not full daylight for weeks at a time. in the other hand there will be stretches where it will be full daylight past 11 pm. the scenery is amazing, things tend to be a little expensive because all items tend to have to be shipped in, there are not many vegetables that take the short growing season. when you see the northern lights for the first time and actually hear them you will be astounded . If you like out door activities I'd have to say go for it if you get cabin feaver easily in the winter then you might want to investigate further to see what kinds of activities are availiable near the city where you are going.

Answer 4

Timothy C, Anchorage's winters are certainly much colder than Michigan, at least the areas that the vast majority of people live in Michigan.

Average temps H/L:
Anchorage:
Jan 22/9
Feb 26/12
Mar 34/18
Apr 44/29
May 55/39
Jun 62/47
Jul 65/52
Aug 63/49
Sep 55/41
Oct 40/28
Nov 28/16
Dec 24/11

Detroit:
Jan 33/20
Feb 36/22
Mar 46/29
Apr 59/39
May 72/51
Jun 80/60
Jul 85/65
Aug 82/64
Sep 75/56
Oct 62/45
Nov 49/36
Dec 38/25

Answer 5

I lived there for four years, and loved it! A few things to know:

1.) I hope you like snow! First snowfall comes in October in Anchorage; and it stays there until Breakup (what Alaskans have instead of Spring) around April.

2.) Some people get what they call S.A.D., or Seasonal Affective Disorder, during the long winter nights. Basically you feel kinda depressed and sluggish. Some people -- my wife was one -- even go so far as to get portable lights that simulate natural sunshine to help counteract it. I actually had a harder time with the long, LONG summer days -- make sure you've got heavy curtains!

3.) Because of the weather, people dress for comfort and function rather than style.

4.) Before you move, get an engine block heater installed in your car, and have 50% anti-freeze/50% water mixture put in your radiator. Also plan on investing in some good all-weather tires, or studded tires (they have little metal spikes sticking out, like thumbtacks) for use in the winter.

5.) If someone tells you they're "going Outside", that means they're travelling to the "Lower 48", or the continental U.S.

6.) Invest in a good pair of gloves and a hat that'll keep your head warm. Make sure you also have a pair of shoes with good traction -- you're going to have icy sidewalks to deal with 6+ months out of the year.

7.) "A moose was blocking my car!" is an acceptable excuse for being late to work.

8.) Alaskans, as a rule, are very friendly -- most of them are transplants, themselves!

9.) Best pizza in Alaska? The Moose's Tooth in Anchorage, off New Seward Highway near Northern Lights Blvd.

10.) Get used to hearing this phrase: "Ten to fourteen days"....For most major purchases (furniture, televisions, appliances, etc.) the stores won't keep a lot of stock on hand in their local warehouse, and will instead have to ship it up by train or boat from Seattle. So expect a wait of about two weeks or so for when buying a refrigerator, washer/dryer, etc.

11.) They're getting better, but Alaska doesn't have as big a selection in terms of "big brand" stores to shop at; and when one of them DOES decide to open a branch in Alaska, it's a MAJOR event! I was working at Sears in Home Electronics at the time, and management was quaking in their boots when Best Buy opened its doors....

12.) Another phrase you'll hear lots of: "We don't give a damn how they do things Outside!" The "frontier mentality" -- independence, self-sufficiency, and a desire to do your own thing -- is alive and well in Alaska.

13.) If you plan on moving, try to schedule your move during the summer months -- it'll be much less hassle from inclement weather, and apartment vacancies and houses for sale dry up quickly once everyone "settles in" for the winter...

14.) Work can sometimes be hard to come by if you don't have something lined up ahead of time -- say, you got a job working on the North Slope in the oil industry.

15.) If your friends and relatives have ever expressed ANY interest in seeing Alaska, expect to be inundated with visitors wanting to plan a vacation there and stay with you. This isn't always a bad thing, though -- my father-in-law is an avid fisherman, and we had a second freezer in the basement just to store all the fresh salmon he caught during his visits!

16.) Speaking of seafood -- after living in Alaska, expect to be bitterly disappointed every time you order King crab or salmon at any restaurant in the Lower 48. It really does make THAT big of a difference...

17.) Best restaurant for a fancy night out? Try Simon & Seaford's in downtown Anchorage.

Answer 6

A friend of mine went on vacation there. Says it's beautiful. Plus the ratio of men to women is something like 10 to 1. Sounds like a good place to live!

Answer 7

i've been in Alaska w/my family..
it's really cold during winter and is dark all the time..
and during summer is really hot and the sun won't rise up until 11:00pm
also all the things there are expensive...
it's boring..
nowhere to go...

Answer 8

I have heard that it's a very beautiful place although an expensive place to live. My dad was stationed there when he was in the Army.