Cruise to/from Anchorage (Anchorage Northbound & Southbound Sailings) Amid the wild countryside that crowds around it on all sides, Anchorage has grown into a spirited, cosmopolitan city – by far Alaska's largest and most sophisticated.  The relative affluence of its largely white-collar population – with a sprinkling of olive drab from nearby military bases – attracts fine restaurants and pricey shops, first-rate entertainment, and world-class sporting events.  Flashy modern towers punctuate the skyline, and colorful flowers spill from hundreds of baskets on downtown lampposts. Anchorage got its start with the construction of the federally built Alaska Railroad, completed in 1917, and traces of the city's railroad heritage remain today.  Boom and bust periods followed major events: an influx of military bases during World War II; a massive buildup of Arctic missile-warning stations during the Cold War; reconstruction following the devastating Good Friday earthquake of 1964; and in the late 1960s the biggest bonanza of all – the discovery of oil at Prudhoe Bay and the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline.  Not surprisingly, Anchorage positioned itself as the perfect home for the new pipeline administrators and support industries, and it attracts a large share of the state's oil-tax dollars. In the last decade, Anchorage has become an increasingly important focus of travelers to Alaska.  The central location, relatively mild climate, and excellent transportation system make it a natural place to begin or end a trip. [Click here for other cities] Anchorage Vancouver Seattle San Francisco