Anchorage is about the same size as Reno (though without the casino scene, obviously) and Boise. It's got a similar outdoors vibe to other places in the northwest, but a bit grittier than either Portland or Seattle and doesn't have the art scene of either one - of course it's much smaller than both of them too. My only times up there were in the summer, so I've got no idea about how the outdoors scene will be when you're there. The city of Anchorage as a GREAT trail system though. When I was there I biked the Tony Knowles coastal trail, from downtown along the water south of the airport, back up to downtown. Great views, fairly flat. Was about 25 mile the route I went. Bikes to rent at pretty decent rates downtown (maybe even cheaper when you're there). You may just need to dress warmer! If the snow is already on the ground, and cross country skiing is your thing, I think a lot of the trails get used for that. Bottom line, there's a great trails/park system in the city (and lots of state parks around the edges of the town) if the weather and your wardrobe/gear jive up.
Another thing I really enjoyed was the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum (it pops right up in google, since I can't remember if I'm allowed to post links ;)). It's on Lake Hood which is right next to the international airport and is itself one of, if not THE, largest seaplane airports in the world. A lot of the museum is inside so if the late in the year weather isn't friendly you can still check out a lot about bush pilots, how airlines in the region got going, a bit about the Aleutian Campaign in WWII - and there's some interesting stuff outside too. If you head out on the highway toward Eagle River, you'll go past the Alaska Native Heritage Center which I really wanted to check out but ran out of time (though I plan to one of the next trips I take up there).
I think my two favorite places to eat were the Glacier Bay Brewhouse, and the Snow Goose Restaurant. Both are really pleasant environments, have really nice craft beers if that's your thing (I really enjoy the variety of flavors in the genre), and have menus I really enjoyed. Glacier Bay (which, while it does have big vats and all that, really does look nicer inside than the word 'brewhouse' would make you believe) had a seafood chowder that I really enjoyed - and I'm not generally much of a seafood person (I took a bit of a 'flyer' and figured Anchorage would probably have seafood I would like; I was correct). I distinctly remember Snow Goose having a great caribou burger; it also had an upstairs dining room with plenty of windows and a view across the inlet.
Humpy's Great Alaskan Alehouse is also right downtown and is more what you think of when you think of 'alehouse.' When I try to compare it to the setting of the previous two, the first thing that comes to mind is 'a little grittier,' but they've got a pretty varied and creative menu with some regional fare, and (again if you're into checking out regional beers) probably the widest selection I stumbled across. Moose's Tooth Pub and Pizzeria is exactly what it sounds like, but a friend I happened to be working with when I was TAD up there last year made a point of taking me there for dinner as it was one of his favorites and he's been stationed there twice.
Had a great time up there when I was there - I should have 2-3 more TADs there in the next 12 months, and in the event there's no grand reconciliation for me, it's definitely on the list of places I'll be sniffing around for jobs when I retire.
I'm pretty sure it will be off-peak when you're there so places won't be near as crowded and maybe even be cheaper. There may be some differences to menus and hours and all that... But as I was typing, I checked out every place I mentioned on Google and their homepages popped up at or near the top so you can check on them before you go.
Me: 36 Her: 35 Together 7/09 Married 8/7/10 Separate rooms since at least April 11 "I've decided I want a divorce" 12/5/11 She moves out of state/files 2/7/12 Dissolution final 5/12
