Where is the best place to work in Alaska?
I think I'm going to move to Alaska for the Summer for a nice change of scenery but I'm not sure what area I would want to live in. I've been reading about Anchorage which seems nice but I don't real want to live in a big city, I was going more for the wilderness perspective. ANy info on Alaskan cities would be appreciated!
Other - United States - 3 Answers
People's Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
Answer 1 :
There are really only two places that will provide you a reasonable base for an entire summer... Anchorage and Fairbanks. And frankly, these general areas have the most summer jobs. Calling Anchorage a "city" is a relative term..!! But I understand your concern, 'cause in the summer it is overrun with cruise ship tourists that bring in the $$$. There are suburbs around Anchorage (Eagle River for instance, or Girdwood-a ski resort town about 30 minutes down the Turnagain Arm) that will give you more trees and less people, and still give you access to infrastructure. Being the central pulse, a lot of roads radiate out of Anchorage to other places you can go for hiking and great scenery, including the Kenai Peninsula (Turnagain Arm, Homer, Seward), and the road to Glenallen and the Canadian border. On this road, there is great and scenic hiking, such as the Matanuska Glacier right from the road, or take the detour to Valdez. You can even drive to Fairbanks through Delta Junction which is very beautiful. Fairbanks is the other town you may want to consider if you want less tourists yet still have some infrastructure. People here are friendly, very independent. They brag about % wolf in their dogs, and many mushers liver here so this should give you some idea about the place. You are right on the artic circle, so the sun NEVER goes down in the summer. Denali is close by with its hiking and wildlife, but I don't think the hiking or scenery is as beautiful around Fairbanks as it is around Anchorage and the Kenai peninsula, because you are inland, and the permafrost layer is closer to the surface so the trees are stunted. There are a lot of motels and lodges at the entrance to Denali Nat'l Park that may have jobs. Juneau and Sitka are secluded but you have to fly in/out or take the ferry. They do not give you access to decent roads, you will be bored in a few weeks. There is a town on the road between Anchorage and Denali (Mt. McKinley) called Talkeetna. It is quite bohemian, and was the model for the tv sitcom "Northern Exposure". A lot of mountain climbers start their trek there, and there is a GREAT airplane company called K-2 which will fly you around Denali...absolutely amazing. They fly the trekkers to the base camp of Denali. Other towns require you to stay put unless you fly in/out of them. The problem is when 20% of the population has their pilot's licenses, this tells you that much of Alaska is inaccessible and things are extremely far apart. At least in Anchorage or Fairbanks you will be able to drive or charter a flight to see other parts of the state. There is one town on the Katmai Peninsula you may want to consider as a base if you are into Brown Bear/wildlife photography or great fishing, and that is King Salmon. The motels and lodges there may also have jobs. No matter where you stay, you should book NOW to see Katmai National Park and view the brown bears at Brook's Lodge (Kodiak/grizzly/brown are all the same species) as space is limited. You will share the viewing towers with a lot of National Geographic and Discovery Channel photographers. There are Inuit (Eskimo) towns on the western coast (Nome or Kotzebue for instance), but I'm sorry, I have no idea what it would be like to live there. and what you could do for an entire summer, or even find a job there. If you don't go in summer, consider going in the end of February when it starts getting light and warmer to experience dog mushing (great fun), the Iditarrod, ice carving, etc. I love Alaska in the late winter! Please be aware that hiking in the wilderness in Alaska poses a lot more danger than the lower 48, make sure you read up on safety! Things you don't think of like 90%+ of foxes carry rabies there, the huge swarms of mosquitoes, etc. Bears and moose are everywhere, and if you don't lock up your food tightly in camp, you will have wildlife visitors within 24 hours guaranteed! Hope this helps.
Answer 2 :
peggy's cove, n.s.
Answer 3 :
Valdez is the place for you!!! It is mostly surrounded by mountains and has a small hospital, 4 restaurants, bar, thrift store. A job would be a waiter or working on the boats or oil cleaning barrels. Lot of land to hike and water to boat
Read more other entries :
