Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 20 miles west from downtown Los Angeles down the I-110/I-105. You can also make it via the I-405 to Century Boulevard, or skip driving and take the LAX FlyAway shuttle for an easier commute. Typical flight times are just under five hours to Anchorage. Ted Stevens airport is just six miles southwest of Anchorage and is easily reached by car, taxi and shuttle service.

Attractions and tips

Alaska's biggest city, Anchorage has plenty to offer visitors. The people of Alaska, both those that have lived there for hundreds of years as well as newer arrivals, have two museums devoted to them, namely the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center. Besides local history, Alaska's biggest attraction is its natural beauty. From the city, you can easily take a walk along the Prince William Sound or the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail and drink the amazing sights from there or book a tour into the true wilderness.

Anchorage's handfuls of hotels are found downtown, though there are many smaller accommodation options available throughout the area. Anchorage's weather is surprisingly warm in the summer, reaching as high as 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter temperatures are, of course, much colder with the lows dipping to a frigid 5 degrees.