Last Modified: February 10, 2026
Wondering about life in Alaska? To be frank, it cannot be summed up with average weather charts (we have 2 seasons - 24 hours of darkness, or 24 hours of sunlight) or demographic stats (that ignore the real debates like arguing over which salmon species tastes best - yes there are FIVE). If watching the northern lights dance across the night sky, witnessing humpback whales bubble feed, or hearing melting glaciers calve is on your bucket list, the Last Frontier might just be calling you home. Our playful but honest guide will prepare you for the good (where to find the best blueberry patches) and the bad (a moose blocked you in your driveway for an hour) so you know just what to expect living in Alaska. And because moving advice is better when it comes from someone who actually lives there, Mackenzie, our Alaska-based Snappy Scout local expert, shares firsthand insights on everything from local quirks to daily Alaskan life.
Snappy Summary: We already know Alaska offers unmatched wilderness and adventure. People move here for the raw beauty, the frontier lifestyle, and a culture that rewards self sufficiency over convenience. However, you'll likely pay for the thrills with long dark winters, inflated cost of living, and a degree of isolation from the Lower 48.
Is Alaska right for me? If you're an adventure junkie, avid outdoorsman, or just appreciate self-sufficiency, you will thrive among the vast wilderness, public land, and endless frontier spirit. If you're a binge shopper, beach bum, or Wall Street exec, you'll find Alaska's remote wilderness clashes with your lifestyle.
I live for the scent of cottonwood buds blooming in Spring. It is my happy place- and represents warmer, longer, sunnier days ahead!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local Expert
Think you really know Alaska? We boast icefields that could dwarf entire states, brown bears that are outnumbering the neighbors, and bloodthirsty bird sized mosquitoes. Let's run through the facts, stats, and moose mayhem that showcase what makes Alaska's frozen frontier so wild.
The Last Frontier. Land of the Midnight Sun.
Parts of Southeast Alaska can average 200 rainy days a year.
Washington, Michigan, New England, and military bases worldwide.
Bush pilots, dog mushers, seasonal workers, extreme sport athletes, salmon fishermen, and off-grid homesteaders.
Folk festivals, local jam bands, bluegrass, and karaoke nights at the local dive bar.
Northern Lights dancing pink and green across winter skies. Midnight sun refusing to set all summer. Salmon runs so thick you could catch them by hand!
Glaciers, fjords, muskeg, icebergs, ocean, tundra, temperate old growth rainforest, volcanic islands, Arctic coasts.
8 national parks, Denali (tallest peak in North America), 100,000 glaciers, highest density of brown bears and bald eagles.
Public lands, hunting opportunities, salmon, blueberries, gold, oil pipelines, snow covered mountains, dry cabins, cruises, Xtratuffs, heli skiing, grizzly bears.
Purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million—about 2 cents per acre.
Jewel from Homer; Sarah Palin from Wasilla. Portugal. the Man from Wasilla.
Least densely populated state with 1.3 people per square mile and has fewer people than Wyoming.
Extreme sport athletes looking for either the perfect alpine camp spot, glacier crevasses to climb, or big spine lines to shred.
48th by population, 1st by land size.
The 3 largest U.S. states combined (Texas, California, Montana.)
Summer and Winter Solstice- Our favorite holidays! The best time to get together with friends and loved ones for celebrating, adventuring, eating, and sharing what we are grateful for- as we welcome the longest and shortest days of the year.
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local Expert
Curious About What You'll Do In Alaska? If you like the idea of kayaking among glaciers, fishing wild rivers, or checking out the local flora and fauna on coastal rainforest trails, Alaska is calling you home! This list of fun things to do will take you from northern lights to gold rush towns and give you a taste of Alaska's rugged beauty and frontier spirit.
I can't pass up an opportunity to hike up to Cropley Lake on Douglas Island in Juneau, AK. I love the muddy, slippery incline and enjoying the muskeg while working up a sweat great enough to warrant a jump into the frigid clear waters! Perfect picnic and sunbathing spot.
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertThe Essential Alaska Trifecta
State Income Tax: None, plus you get a Permanent Fund Dividend check annually
Property Taxes: Among the lowest nationwide, no statewide levy
Alaska politics are: Libertarian-leaning red with fierce independent streak, ranked choice voting
Alaskans are: Rugged, self-reliant, welcoming and happy to help
The religious breakdown is: Majority Christian including Protestants, Russian Orthodox, and Catholics, significant Native spiritual traditions, alongside Church of Latter-day Saints, as well as non-religious
Is it going to freeze, rain, or maybe something worse? The summers are midnight sun mosquito festivals and the winters feel like they last decades. Here's what else is going on around Alaska that will impact the time you spend outside.
I love the transition of trading in my packraft paddles, fishing gear, camping equipment, and mountain bike for backcountry skis, ice climbing tools, ice skates, and a local library card!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertMajor Cities In A Nutshell
Anchorage is perfect for: outdoor lovers that love accessibility
Widely recognized as the place for: highest population in AK, moose encounters and midnight sun
If Anchorage were a person, it'd be: mountain enthusiast who's main gig is corporate office
Locals live here because: real jobs, city perks, access to wilderness
Nothing's more Anchorage than: brunch after an early morning XC ski
Your housing options here are: split-level homes and apartment blocks near trails
Don't say we didn't warn you about: winter darkness swallowing your soul and moose in your yard
Local fashion forecast: Outdoorsy gear, wool baselayers and Xtratufs year-round
Fairbanks, perfect for: Hardy souls chasing northern lights and hot springs
Best known for: Brutal winters, Chena Hot Springs and dog mushing culture
City as a personality: Grizzled trapper with engineering degree
Move here if you want: Frontier life, university jobs, true isolation, less mountains
Locals swear by: Aurora viewing and Midnight Sun baseball games
Home sweet home in Fairbanks is like: Log cabins and weathered ranch houses
Be prepared for: 40 below temps freezing your face in Winter
What you'll wear most often: Insulated jackets, heated socks, wool mittens and balaclavas
Juneau is perfect for: State workers and outdoor enthusiasts craving glacier views and epic backcountry access
Well known for: No road access and float plane or ferry commutes
Juneau in human form is: Government employee packrafting at lunch
Move here for: Stable state jobs and island living charm
Locals know best: Ptarmigan chairlift and Pel'Menis
Housing vibe: Hillside homes clinging to rainforest slopes
The downside to Juneau is: Rain drizzles 220 days a year, and no road system
The dress code here is: Rain gear, Xtratufs, statement earrings, and crabber gloves
Sitka is perfect for: Fishing families and quiet island life
Best known for: Russian history and rugged coastline beauty
If Sitka were a person, it'd be: Fisherman reading Tolstoy on boat deck
Locals live here because: Fishing economy and tight-knit community feel
Locals swear by: Catching fresh seafood and skiing backcountry summits
Your housing options here are: Weathered DIY cabins
Don't be surprised. We warned you that: Everything arrives by barge or plane
Local fashion forecast: Grundens raingear and Xtratufs daily
Beer Battered Fish and Chips (Try the Halibut or Rockfish!), Local Alaskan Oysters, King Crab Legs, PelMeni's, Fish Tacos, and Grilled Salmon. Friends Don't Let Friends Eat Farmed Salmon!
Mackenzie SchultzAlaska Local ExpertHow We Write
To help you move with open eyes, realistic expectations, and hopefully a few extra laughs.
We tell it like it is, not like you want to hear it.
Real insights, quirks and all.
That perfect balance of wit and genuine helpfulness.
NOT Sponsored by Any Real Estate Company, Moving Service, or Tourism Board.
