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Anchorage Local Customs

Old Fashioned! - Anchorage
Old Fashioned!
by spintobecca
Learn the local customs of Anchorage. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and Anchorage locals.
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Anchorage Local CustomsTips 1 - 10 of 30  
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No dress code
  • Tip Rating:
    • PA2AKgirl
  • By PA2AKgirl on September 24, 2006
  • Anchorage Page by PA2AKgirl
    • how can you dress up in this weather? - Anchorage
    how can you dress up in
    this weather?
    by PA2AKgirl
    Anchorage is a very laid back city when it comes to fashion and dress code. In fact, there are no restaurants with a dress code (other than you should be dressed) in this city. I imagine it’s because it’s so cold a lot of the time that you need to dress in layers and keeping warm is a top priority. I do like this about the city because you don’t have to stand around and wonder how you are going to pull off a dressy outfit during a blizzard. But this does allow for people to come up with some interesting choices or to not get out of sweatpants when ordering a fancy meal. Sometimes, it’s a bit strange but it puts a colorful group of people together. For the visitor, it’s nice that you can come back from a hike or from fishing and get something to eat.

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    Starting Line for the Iditarod Dog Sled Race
  • Tip Rating:
    • Stephen-KarenConn
  • Updated By Stephen-KarenConn on February 9, 2005
  • Anchorage Page by Stephen-KarenConn
    • Monument at the Iditarod Starting Line - Anchorage
    Monument at the Iditarod
    Starting Line
    by Stephen-KarenConn
    Each winter Anchorage is host to two of the world's greatest sled dog races, the Fur Rendezvous World Championship Dog Sled Race and the Iditarod. This is the starting line for both of these great races.

    The World Championship Sled Dog Race is one of the fastest, toughest and oldest races of its kind. First run in 1946, it is a part of the Fur Rendezvous, the premier winter festival in Alaska.

    The Iditarod had its beginning as a mail and supply route from the coastal towns of Seward and Knik, northeastward through several interior mining camps, and ultimately to Nome on the Bering Sea. In 1925 the Iditarod Trail became a life saving highway when Nome was stricken by a diptheria epidemic. The only way to get serum to that remote town in winter was by intrepid dog mushers and their faithful hard-driving dogs. The modern Iditarod dog sled race began in 1973, to commemorate that event. It has been aptly called "The Last Great Race on Earth," covering 1,150 miles and taking from 10 to 17 days through some of the most inhospital terrain on earth.

    Directions:
    On 4th Avenue, between D and E Streets.

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  • Website: www.iditarod.com
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    Coffee on the Go
  • Tip Rating:
    • PA2AKgirl
  • By PA2AKgirl on September 24, 2006
  • Anchorage Page by PA2AKgirl
    • Anchorage Local Customs
    by PA2AKgirl
    When we got the list of places to eat and cafes and stuff, we noticed the extensive list of places to get coffee. We were very excited about this. However, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, the places where you actually go in and sit down to enjoy your coffee are less common than the drive-thru coffee places. I’m not talking about your typical fast food/carry out only establishments—these are mobile coffee joints and they are everywhere. (Much like Pacific Northwest in the lower 48) In parking lots, on corners, along the roads—no shortage of these in the least. They each have catchy names (like Mocha in Motion), a unique design (like a train car) and some serve much more the coffee. The ones that just have coffee still have an extensive set up. Every combination you can think of—many more options than say, Starbucks. Milky Way, Snickers, pumpkin…all kinds.
    Some of them have very strange combinations of food and coffee like the picture here. I’ve never in my life thought “I could use a great shot of espresso and reindeer jerky for that long drive”

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    Borders Bookstore at Anchorage
  • Tip Rating:
    • Scandic
  • By Scandic on December 7, 2004
  • Anchorage Page by Scandic
    • Anchorage Local Customs
    by Scandic
    Yes, there are Borders everywhere in States. But Anchorage has a really nice one. I spent time here every week. Not just time, money too. For coffee, for books. I could call it my living room.

    They have a good selection of Alaska books here, good cards and the coffee shop is awe. Rows of magazines and the service is friendly.
    I do miss it. My first weeks in Anchorage were very difficult, very sad. I was so alone. So lonely. I remember one Saturday, when I biked like crazy around the town, just be able to 'do' something, not just think. During my bike I found Borders. It felt like heaven. I mean, it was open until 10pm, there were millions of good books, cafeteria and nice people. I didn't care that I had frozen good in my backpack, I just spent hours and hours there.
    No wonder I have special bond with this place:)

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  • Phone: Phone: 907.344.4099
  • Other Contact: 1100 E. Dimond Blvd
    • Not Helpful 1 2 3 4 5 Very Helpful
    Barber Shop in the sub Arctic!
  • Tip Rating:
    • spintobecca
  • By spintobecca on March 10, 2003
  • Anchorage Page by spintobecca
    • Old Fashioned! - Anchorage
    Old Fashioned!
    by spintobecca
    Be friendly with the locals and they just might let you visit this barber shop! I think it might be a secret, because I had never heard of it until I walked past it on a cold cold Sunday this past Feburary! It's rather reassuring looking with it's welcoming pole, don't you think?

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    You might be invited...
  • Tip Rating:
    • spintobecca
  • By spintobecca on January 17, 2003
  • Anchorage Page by spintobecca
    • You might be invited to go out for Ice Cream in cold cold freezing winter weather. Alaskans consume the most ice cream per capita of any state in the USA. I guess the theory is "Why wait for a sunny day?"!

    For the best ice cream in Anchorage, Try

    Cold Stone Creamery

    2813 Dawson Street
    Anchorage AK, 99503
    PH: 907-569-0305
    Cross streets: On Dawson between Northern Lights Blvd. and Benson

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    Always smile and the world will smile back at you.
  • Tip Rating:
    • Grazina
  • By Grazina on January 21, 2003
  • Anchorage Page by Grazina
    • The russian were in the land once. - Anchorage
    The russian were in the land
    once.
    by Grazina
    What took me by surprise was the fact that the Native Alaskan already knew who we were. I would walk into a shop, food place, just about anywhere and the Native people would say "Your dine'" which in my native tougue (Navajo) means the people. They would say "Your the break-away-people". About a 1000 years ago a group of people sojourned over the snowy mountain but did promise to return...to make a long story short, we never did return but venture down to the Southwest part of the United State, there the Spanish people call us Navajos.
    What I did learn from the nice gentle people of Alaska is the genuine kindness, and sense of sharing their culture and way of life with the world. Always SMILING!

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    everyone is friendly here
  • Tip Rating:
    • goingsolo
  • By goingsolo on September 24, 2002
  • Anchorage Page by goingsolo
    • Anchorage Local Customs
    by goingsolo
    expect to meet people wherever you go- literally on every street corner! People are extremely friendly and will always stop to give you a hand with directions, a recommendation for a place to hike, to fish, to eat, etc. Don't hesitate to talk to any of the residents about their great state. They love to tell stories about life here and are very proud of the state's history and geography. Most people will also extend an invitation to their favorite fishing spot or a floatplane ride to a place you'd otherwise never see. Mixing with the locals is the best way to see the real Alaska.

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    Copper River Salmon
  • Tip Rating:
    • Scandic
  • By Scandic on December 7, 2004
  • Anchorage Page by Scandic
    • Mmm.... - Anchorage
    Mmm....
    by Scandic
    After the halibut (just my opinion dear) the best fish of Alaska is the Coper River Salmon. All that rush and hush for this fish is totally earned. What makes people so much to belong this special salmon? One bite of it, and you don't wanna any other salmons anymore.
    Too bad that the peak time of Copper River salmon lasts only three to four weeks.

    The Copper River flows in the state of Alaska. Almost 300 miles in length, this wild rushing river empties into Prince William Sound at the town of Cordova. Salmon that originate in these pristine waters are challenged by its length and its strong, chill rapids. Consequently, Copper River salmon are strong, robust creatures with a healthy store of natural oils and body fat. These qualities make the salmon among the richest, tastiest fish in the world.

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    Watch salmon run - Ship Creek
  • Tip Rating:
    • Scandic
  • Updated By Scandic on March 31, 2005
  • Anchorage Page by Scandic
    • Anchorage Local Customs
    by Scandic
    This strange platform in the heart of Anchorage is not the prettiest thing, but certainly an interesting one. Located near railway station, the Ship Creek runs throught the town, bringing more than 24 million gallons of rushing water from Eklutna glacier.
    The viewing platform offers visitors an opportunity to watch salmon run while fishermen attempt to hook them.
    Sp every summer, around June, the platform is full of people,locals and tourists, watching the salmon running and the high jumps of this king fish.

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    More Anchorage Tips
    Overview
         		Hotels and Accommodations
    Tips: 111 - Photos: 82
    Things To Do
    Tips: 211 - Photos: 347    		Nightlife
    Tips: 49 - Photos: 38
    Transportation
    Tips: 54 - Photos: 49    		Restaurants
    Tips: 171 - Photos: 127
    Shopping
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 37    		Off the Beaten Path
    Tips: 74 - Photos: 81
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 25 - Photos: 18    		Warnings or Dangers
    Tips: 44 - Photos: 36
    Local Customs
    Tips: 30 - Photos: 30    		Packing Lists
    Tips: 18 - Photos: 8
    Sports Travel
    Tips: 35 - Photos: 28    		General Tips
    Tips: 85 - Photos: 71
    Flights
    Tips: 13 - Photos: 0
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