Alaska’s largest city doesn't compare in size or population to the biggest cities in the lower 48 states... with a population of just over 260,000 people, Anchorage is puny compared to megacities like New York or Los Angeles... and that makes it all the more charming. Luxury resorts, great restaurants, and premium shopping spots are within spitting distance of vast and gorgeous state parks. A beautiful city flanked by the enormous Chugach Mountains, few major cities in the rest of the country will take your breath away like Anchorage does. With plenty of things to see, including nature museums, the Alaska Zoo, and other historical sites, Anchorage will let you enjoy the luxuries of a major city while putting you just a short trip away from the towering alpines of the Chugach State Park and the crashing Glaciers of the Prince William Sound. Enjoy a beer at a crowded local bar one night before sleeping in a comfortable and modern bed at night, then head out just a few minutes from town for some awe inspiring close encounters with nature. Very few major cities allow you to be this close to nature, and the smaller population than the lower 48's giant metropolises makes the air cleaner even within the city center. So if you're heading to Alaska for your vacation, spend a few days in the state's biggest city... because it will put you right in the middle of everything you want out of your vacation