I Live In Alaska Year-Round And This Is What It's Really Like
By Megan McDonald|Published February 20, 2024
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
I’ve had, in all seriousness, a tourist ask me once: “Where do you go in the winter?” I thought they meant for vacation, but I didn’t have plans that year, so I said I would stay home. The shock on their face when they realized that I didn’t leave Alaska in the winter made me smile. The idea for people in the lower 48 of long, dark nights, plenty of sub-zero days, and jaw-dropping snowfall can feel like somewhere you’d like to escape. But Alaskans who live here year-round know the absolute joy each season can bring. Yes, Alaska year-round is gorgeous —even in the wintertime.
Living year-round in Alaska, the land of the midnight sun and our stunning northern lights, is an adventure that never loses its excitement.
Something about the crisp air, the expansive wilderness, and even the challenge of the colder months makes life here uniquely rewarding. Alaska is where life feels most vivid. It's a state that asks a lot of you but gives back immensely in experiences, sights, and a sense of belonging to something larger than life.
Calling yourself an Alaskan means embracing the extremes.
The long, sunlit days of summer when the sun barely dips below the horizon are as much a part of our life here as the dark, cozy winters. This land teaches you to find joy in the contrasts. Whether you find yourself gardening at midnight in the summer (guilty!) or watching the northern lights dance across the cold winter sky, Alaska year-round offers moments of magic that are hard to find elsewhere.
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And this winter, we have a little bit more enchantment in the form of record-breaking snowfall.
The Anchorage, Alaska, snowfall levels have reached numbers that we’ve rarely seen before; we’re on track to break our snowfall record of 134.5” set in the 2011-2012 winter season. I’ve also been here for the record-breaking season, and I am utterly delighted. Winter used to be difficult for me, as I wasn’t used to the long, dark days, but now it’s my favorite season.
Many will ask, “How many days of total darkness in Alaska?” And locals will tell you this is a tricky question to answer because it varies so much throughout the state.
In Utqiagvik, the northernmost town in Alaska, they’ll see 67 days of total darkness, known as “Polar Night.” But down in Anchorage, where I live, our shortest day only sees 5.5 hours of daylight. But once we hit early February, we get to enjoy the fun of the winter season, as well as more daylight and plenty of bluebird days. After December 21st, we gain 6 minutes a day of daylight until we reach summer solstice in June!
And, of course, there are plenty of things to do to keep us occupied, even if you’re not a fan of winter sports or the colder temperatures.
Anchorage is a large municipality of just over 400,000 people and is filled with everything you love in a city. We have award-winning restaurants, movie theaters, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, rock gyms, yoga studios, plenty of shopping, and more. Many are surprised when they discover the amenities they can experience here, although locals will joke that Anchorage is “only 20 minutes from Alaska!"
There is a famous quote by John Muir that genuinely sums up living in Alaska: “You should never go to Alaska as a young man because you'll never be satisfied with any other place as long as you live."
There is truth in that — Alaska is larger than life. It’s hard to live anywhere else after you’ve experienced the awe-inspiring beauty that this state is famous for.
Would you ever live in Alaska year-round? What do you think? Let us know in the comments! And if you’re planning to visit, gear up at our favorite outdoor store, REI.
Want to learn more about living like an Alaskan? Check out our iconic Alaskan foods!
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