Unlike most Alaskan cities, Anchorage was not founded for it's fishing or mining, but rather as the choice for the railroad construction port for the Alaskan Railroad. Anchorage soon grew to be an important spot for the military and the construction of a new air base. However, not all went over smoothly in Anchorage... In 1964, Anchorage was hit by an earthquake with a magnitude reading of 9.2 -- the second largest earthquake every recorded in the world. After 5 minutes of the earth shaking, practically every building in the town was destroyed. While rebuilding the city in the mid 1960's, oil was discovered, causing a huge boom in the city. Jobs opened up, people relocated to Anchorage, and the city grew larger and larger until it became the incredible city that you see today!

On the first Saturday of March, Anchorage begins it's annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. This event (that is better known as simply, "The Iditarod") is the longest and most famous dog sled race in the world. With a distance of 1,161 miles, it takes a team of sixteen dogs and one driver anywhere from 8 to 15 days to finish this difficult race. With racers frequently driving through negative seventy-three degree Celsius weather and facing blinding whiteout conditions, the Iditarod is without a doubt the toughest and most physically demanding, yet most prestigious, dog sled race in the world.

Anchorage is also an ideal city for anyone who enjoys wildlife and sight seeing. You will be able to see bears, or go on bird or whale watching tours with knowledgeable guides who can teach you more about the amazing wildlife in Anchorage. You could also book an Alaskan Flight Seeing Tour and see the Alaskan landscape in a way that you have never seen before, via helicopter or floatplane. View the mountains tops from overhead, watch wildlife from a safe distance, and view many parts of Alaska that are unreachable by land or foot. With a landscape as beautiful as Anchorage, it is a "must see" for any traveler or wildlife enthusiast. Only in Anchorage can you watch the real beauty of nature unfold right before your eyes.