Anchorage

Anchorage needs 2 days: taking a sightseeing cruise through Turnagain Arm fjord, with a chance to see beluga whales and snow-capped mountains dropping straight into the sea, on one, and touring the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, an 18 km path along the coast with views of the Chugach mountain range, on the other. May-September brings near round-the-clock daylight close to the summer solstice and avoids the extreme winter cold. It's expensive, like the rest of Alaska, due to its logistical isolation. It's by far the state's most populous city -with nearly 40% of Alaska's total population- despite being surrounded by vast uninhabited areas, and its location makes it the usual starting point for exploring the rest of the state.