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USA - ALASKA - ANCHORAGE: CITY OF LIGHTS AND FLOWERS
 It is a modern city .... but located as it is in the heart of the great wilderness and surrounded by six breathtaking mountain ranges, Anchorage is the ultimate base camp for Alaska adventure.
Apart from a number of historical and cultural attractions, Anchorage offers a wealth of outdoor opportunities in both summer and winter and for residents and tourists alike.
Its unofficial nickname is "The City of Lights and Flowers", a reference the thousands of buildings adorned by tiny white lights throughout winter and its spectacular displays of flowers in the summer.
Anchorage is nestled at the base of the Chugach State Park, the third largest state park in the United States. The Chugach State Park also happens to be Anchorage’s favorite playground, offering a variety of outdoor activities year round.
For fair weather visitors, there are more than 120 miles of paved bike and multi-use trails and 85 miles of summer non-paved hiking trails. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy hiking, climbing, berry picking and fishing.
The Chugach State Park is home to moose, brown and black bears, lynx and eagles, offering many opportunities for wildlife viewing. The scenery is nothing short of spectacular.
If fishing in the summertime is your thing, you can hook the big one without ever leaving the city at Ship Creek in downtown Anchorage during the king and silver salmon runs. The Campbell Creek greenbelt, which runs through the center of Anchorage, has eight easy-to-find public access points for viewing salmon and rainbow trout.
In the colder months, beginners and those short on time can zip to Hilltop ski area located in the southeast corner of Anchorage for alpine skiing or snowboarding. Residents and tourists alike can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling over more than 130 miles of winter walkways that are plowed, more than 100 miles of groomed ski trails, 24 miles of lighted ski trails and 36 miles of dog mushing trails.
Anchorage’s Kincaid Park is one of only two Nordic ski areas in the US certified for international 5K, 10K, 15K and 30K competitions.
For those preferring the city’s urban amenities, there is plenty to do. Historical and cultural attractions include the world-class The Anchorage Museum of History and Art at the Rasmuson Center, The Anchorage Museum of Natural History showcasing dinosaurs, the Independence Mine State Historical Park, celebrating the importance of gold in the history of Alaska, the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum. with its collection of vintage aircraft, The Imaginarium science center and the Alaska Zoo.
Located just 10 minutes north of downtown Anchorage on 26-forested acres is the Alaska Native Heritage Center. This unique, interactive facility was designed to celebrate, perpetuate and share the rich heritage of Alaska’s 11 distinct Native cultures.
The city sports a lively arts community. Alaska Center for the Performing Arts is home to eight resident performing arts companies. The center hosts the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, which is a semi professional symphony orchestra. Music-lovers can also hear bluegrass, folk, Irish, country, jazz, rap and rock and roll performed on stages, in coffee shops, parks, restaurants and bars throughout the city.
Anchorage has more than 8,000 hotel/motel rooms and more than 850 bed and breakfasts/hostel beds ensuring that there is something for every taste.
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