Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is a curious mix of industry and culture. The boats in port and the warehouses built up along the Knik Arm waterfront reveal close ties to oil and industry. However, this actually contributes to the Anchorage aura, both businesslike and beautiful. Numerous hikes, vistas and haunts can be found within an hour's flight or drive of the city.

Homer, on the southeast side of the Kenai Peninsula, is one of the best cities to visit for a sampling of Alaska's finest. A short distance (in Alaska terms) from Anchorage by road, Homer is not only accessible but also a great staging point for exploratory trips around Kachemak Bay and Katmai National Park. It's cultured yet civilized, wild yet well-trod; Homer is an Alaskan cliche.

Soldotna is a major hub of the Kenai Peninsula, south and west of Anchorage. Bordering the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, this is an area thick with wildlife, from bear and wolves to moose, caribou, geese, eagles, and salmon—for which fishing in the Kenai River that bisects the town is a popular pastime.

Little in 21st century Valdez is left to remind the visitor of the tragic 1989 oil spill that most associate with the area. The road in, connecting the city to Anchorage and Fairbanks, is splashed with waterfalls and provides surreal vistas of glaciers and mountains spread out along the coast. Sea lions now bask unconcernedly on oil-free rocky beaches outside of Valdez, and sea birds again call the area home.

Wrangell-St.Elias National Park and Preserve has some of the tallest mountains in North America. Despite the park's proximity to Anchorage, it is less visited than better known Denali. Consequently it appeals to those who want a bit more isolation without compromising on the scenery.