Why Moving to Alaska is Worth It

Alaska offers breathtaking natural beauty and financial perks like the Permanent Fund Dividend and no state taxes, making it an attractive place to move. The unique lifestyle, strong community bonds, and endless outdoor activities enhance family life in a truly distinctive way.

Alaska's Natural Wonders

In this piece, we condense the account found on Quora regarding the relocation from the Lower 48 to Alaska.

For families anticipating a growth spurt and contemplating a relocation to Alaska, the state's natural beauty makes a compelling case. Picture, if you will, a life spent in some of the most exquisite scenery on Earth, where each day with your loved ones is stitched into the very fabric of nature's splendor and becomes an extraordinary escapade.

Alaska's Denali National Park is one of the most impressive areas you'll ever have the opportunity to see. The park's centerpiece is North America's tallest mountain, Denali, which rises 20,310 feet. The mountain's sheer face offers the continent's grandest view from any summit, and the mountain is big—bigger than any other in the world when you measure how much of it is actually in the ground. But the park is not only about the mountain. The almost six million acres of the park explode in a riot of color and topography. One seldom sees a scene in Denali lacking in some way to grandeur.

Besides Denali, Alaska's Kenai Fjords glaciers are one of the state's crown jewels. Ancient rivers of ice—some 30,000 years old—sculpt their way through the mountains and plunge into the sea. The family can take in this jaw-dropping beauty from above and below. You can hike to several lookout points. The park can also boat you to a close-up view of a tidewater glacier—one that is "calving," or shedding ice, into the water. Either way, you're treated to a spectacle that embodies not just Alaska's majesty but also its geology.

In this distinct setting, travel blogger Boris Dzhingarov distills the atmosphere:

Alaska is an incredible place. Its landscape of high glaciers, folded mountains, and sweeping tundras is hard to surpass. Even its coastline, which can be seen from a great distance, is impressive. Alaska's great gifts of nature are a fine reward for the visitor who dares to challenge the natural hazards and extremes of the state.

For families who want to be just a step away from the magnificence of nature, relocating to Alaska offers a way to fully adopt a lifestyle swaddled in breathtaking beauty that, while difficult to replicate, is all but guaranteed to be a constant in a child's daily life. And a daily life in which the children of a family can spend time in the Alaskan outdoors, their world teeming with amazing natural wonders, is sure to be an enlightening, inspiring, and connective experience that's likely to yield a few more environmental champions as the years go by.

The Financial Perks of Alaskan Life

For expanding families, the financial path is rarely smooth; it can be a bumpy ride. Yet, Alaska has some distinctive advantages that make relocating there an appealing prospect. The one I hear most often from my friends is the Permanent Fund Dividend, a much-loved program that sends an annual check to every Alaskan (or at least to those who haven't broken the law and are still living there). Payments typically vary from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the bonanza that the state's oil revenues have been or the average price of a barrel of oil.

Compared to many states, Alaska's fiscal landscape is friendlier. That's due to the absence of a state income tax and a sales tax. Because of this, Alaskans tend to have more of their hard-earned money, making it easier to get by from day to day. Although some communities in Alaska impose a small sales tax, that potential added cost is more than offset by the lack of a state income tax and the absence of a sales tax in most parts of the state.

Alaska housing comes with a distinct set of benefits that can mitigate high living costs. Though no state income tax and the Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) may not completely take the bite out of local prices that can be as high as 422,584 for an average home, the combination does help make housing a bit more affordable. That’s a necessity for a state where families are expanding and where a growing number of people are opting to build families and lives.

The decision for a lot of people to settle down here for the long haul is influenced by what they see as preposterously enjoyable aspects of life in this state. Alaskan Sara Thompson once put it this way:

"The financial advantages allow us to concentrate on what is truly important—bringing up our children in an environment that is both secure and full of opportunity."

Alaska combines these economic benefits with an existence steeped in the aesthetic glory of nature and in the intimacy of community—two powerful inducements to come north.

Thriving in a Unique Lifestyle

For families seeking a unique way of life, Alaska offers the chance to live in close proximity to a series of remarkable cultural experiences. Although it is a sparsely populated place, Alaska still manages to elicit a sense of community that one can hardly find in an urban center. If anything, the rugged environment and isolation create an unshakeable bond among those who live there. Whether it is through shared experience or simply the necessity of making do in a boundless, largely untouched land, residents cultivate an almost effortless sense of support and friendship.

Families can participate in a variety of outdoor activities all year round in America’s most northern state. When the weather is warmer, they can go hiking; when it turns cooler, they can go climbing (some of the mountains in the state reach 20,000 feet). Both hiking and climbing E.On the ridges and in the valleys around those Fair Weather Friends of Humpity Dumpty and the Moose-Bear Brothers serve as the perfect setup for Baltimore MD and the forces of nature to perform at the next opportune moment... when the weather is warmer, when summer is in full swing (June through mid-September), or when fall is in full swing (early September through late November).

Hannah Wright conveyed her experience of adjusting to life in a cabin, emphasizing the value of beginning within a community and slowly but surely taking on a more remote lifestyle. For numerous families new to this way of life, participating in local events and connecting with those living nearby provide a helpful bridge to life in Alaska.

Alaska's way of life changes people in ways that are hard to express. In this land are unique chances to experience cultural enrichment like few other places can offer. This is a land poured over with natural wonders. Folklife festivals, natural light shows like the aurora, and other opportunities to share in the occurrence of one-of-a-kind experiences with family and friends make for enriching lives. Facing the challenges of this land does not yield fortitude. It already exists as that which is characteristic of Alaskans. Living here can and does fortify in ways that go beyond the mere physical realm. Professor Dan Chadburn once said that 20 years of living in Alaska is worth a lifetime lived anywhere else. There is a reason for such a valuation.

Your Adventure Begins Here with City Moving

The chance to go to Alaska is certainly exciting and offers families an experience in the pure, wild nature that many consider the last frontier. Life in Alaska is nothing if not adventurous and full of cultural richness. City Moving can help make your transition to this stunning part of the world as smooth as possible.

Families will find the advice on strategic planning to be invaluable, especially since relocating to Alaska presents certain critical factors to consider—like the intense climate and the state's sheer inaccessibility. Selecting a moving company that can specialize in the long-distance aspect of an Alaska move is vital, especially since there are unique problems to overcome that don't occur with most other moving scenarios. For instance, how do you keep your belongings safe and secure during a move when they could potentially be exposed to half a day's worth of rain (or worse) en route? City Moving offers specialized packing has some answers.

For families relocating to Alaska who want to maintain their current lifestyle, the company helps them keep what they want and be smart about what they intend to sell or donate. The first part of that sentence clearly describes the main part of what I have benefited from through this company. But why is that important? What is wrong about wanting to maintain a previous lifestyle? Well, in moving to Alaska, one must come to terms with the fact that life will be different, and much of that is rooted in the "different" climate and "different" eco-system (as in, the former house was in a wooded area, and now the family is going to be living on a glacial outwash plain).

You can save money by moving during the right season. If you move between mid-May and mid-September, you get the benefit of milder weather, which, for the most part, is also the "moving off-peak" season. Milder temperatures and moving at a less-frenzied time both make for a more pleasant moving experience—one that might feel, if only for a moment, like a moving "vacation."

City Moving has a thorough comprehension of what it takes to meet Alaskan requirements. That, combined with the company's efficient service, results in a satisfying and smooth relocation experience. Your family can succeed and flourish in this remarkable state.

FAQ

What are some natural wonders in Alaska that attract families?

Alaska is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty, making it a magnetic place for families to visit. Denali National Park, which contains the tallest mountain in North America, is a dazzling place to explore, especially if you enjoy seeing wildlife up close. The Kenai Fjords, with their enormous glaciers, make for a fantastic scene—especially when you consider the possibility of spotting a whale.

How does the Permanent Fund Dividend benefit Alaskan residents?

Each year, Alaska pays a dividend to every resident, with the sum depending on the state's oil income but typically ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. The PFD (permanent fund dividend, as we call it) is a huge help and a bonus to the basic living standard in the state. It is one of the things that makes Alaska livable and appealing.

What financial advantages does Alaska offer?

Alaska provides many financial benefits. There is no state income or sales tax. That, combined with the state's Permanent Fund Dividend, allows Alaskans to keep a good amount of money in their pockets. They also get to enjoy a certain level of financial freedom, thanks to the state's local sales taxes, which in some places are negligible.

What is the lifestyle like in Alaska?

The lifestyle in Alaska is one of a close-knit community and plentiful outdoor activities. The state is blessed with year-round opportunities for hiking, kayaking, skiing, and snowboarding. The remoteness of the state—and the strong community bonds that go with it—offers a different sort of cultural experience.

How can families prepare for moving to Alaska?

Alaska-bound families should purchase good cold-weather gear and consider flexible or remote jobs. Building a community on the way to a more secluded lifestyle reduces the shock of living in one of the least populous states, where the next neighbor may be a mile or two away.

How does City Moving assist families relocating to Alaska?

When moving to Alaska—a place known for its extreme climate and remoteness, to say nothing of its sheer size—strategic planning is essential. City Moving, based in Anchorage, helps with that. They also help with the packing, which is crucial when you consider the kind of protection your belongings need to withstand the rigors of both climate and travel. And they kind of look out for you in keeping your moving costs down, which is another thing that your must-paid-for belongings need to withstand.