Retire To Kotzebue, Alaska

Kotzebue lies on a sand spit at the end of the Baldwin Penninsula in the Kotzebue Sound where the Noatak, Kobuk and Selawik rivers end. The Kotzebue Sound was named after Otto von Kotzebue who 'discovered' the sound while exploring for Russia in 1818. The site was a trading location for local natives for hundreds of years. A post office was established in 1899.

Population: As of the census of 2007, there were 3,109 people

Climate: Kotzebue is located in the transitional climate zone, which is characterized by long, cold winters and cool summers. The average low temperature during January is -12; the average high during July is 58.

Health Care: Local hospitals or health clinics include Maniilaq Medical Health Center (442-3321). The hospital is a qualified Acute Care facility.

Transportation: Air is the primary means of transportation year-round. The State-owned Ralph Wien Memorial Airport supports daily jet service to Anchorage and several air taxis to the region's villages. It has a 5,900' long by 150' wide main paved runway and 3,800' long by 100' wide crosswind gravel runway. A seaplane base is also operated by the State.

Housing Costs: Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $134,600 (it was $116,700 in 2000)

Retiring In Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks, Alaska, 358 miles north of Anchorage (by way of the Parks Highway), likes to think that it (instead of Delta) is the end of the Alaska Highway. Its central location makes it the focal point for the tiny villages scattered throughout the surrounding wilderness, and Fairbanks is a staging point for North Slope villages such as Barrow and the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. Yet, unlike Anchorage, it still retains its down home "frontier" feel. It is contained within the North Star Borough, similar to a county, but which is roughly the size of New Jersey

Climate: Interior temperatures range from 65 degrees below zero in the winter to 90 degrees above in the summer. Gardening is big in the Interior.

Population: As of the census of 2000, there were 30,224 people.

Transportation: Regularly scheduled jet flights are available at the state-owned Fairbanks International Airport. An 11,800-foot (3,597 meter) asphalt runway, heliport, and seaplane landing strip are available.

Taxes: There is not a sales tax.

Things to do and see: Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
Georgeson Botanical Garden
Pioneer Park
University of Alaska Museum of the North
Riverboat Discovery

Health Care: Local hospitals or health clinics include Fairbanks Memorial Hospital; Interior Community Health Center; Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center; Bassett Army Community Hospital/Fort Wainwright.

Universities: Fairbanks is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the oldest college in Alaska.

Housing Costs: Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $145,800 (it was $126,400 in 2000)

Retire in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska is affectionately known as the City of Lights and Flowers. As a major seaport and trading center, Anchorage is Alaska's largest city. It has a simply stunning location, resting on both the shores of the Cook Inlet and the base of the Chugach Mountains. Anchorage benefits from being the long held urban epicenter of Alaska, while being surrounded by the massive beauty of one of the last great areas of unspoiled wilderness.

Population: Nearly 260,000 residents

Housing Costs: Median house value: $270,000

Health Care: ALASKA NATIVE MEDICAL CENTER, PHS (4315 DIPLOMACY DR)
ALASKA PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE (2900 PROVIDENCE DRIVE)
COLUMBIA ALASKA REGIONAL HOSPITAL (2801 DEBARR ROAD)
NORTH STAR HOSPITAL (2530 DEBARR RD)
PROVIDENCE ALASKA MEDICAL CENTER (3200 PROVIDENCE DRIVE,BOX 196604


Colleges and Universities: UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA ANCHORAGE (Full-time enrollment: 9,453; Location: 3211 PROVIDENCE DR; Public; Website: www.uaa.alaska.edu; Offers Master's degree)
ALASKA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (FT enrollment: 504; Location: 4101 UNIVERSITY DR; Private, not-for-profit; Offers Master's degree

Climate: Anchorage has a subarctic climate due to its short, cool summers. Average daytime summer temperatures range from approximately 55 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (13 to 26 degrees Celsius); average daytime winter temperatures are about 5 to 30 degrees (-15 to -1 degrees Celsius). Anchorage has a frost-free growing season that averages slightly over 100 days

Transportation: The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, six miles (10 km) from downtown Anchorage, is the airline hub for the state, served by many national and international airlines, including Seattle-based Alaska Airlines as well as a many intrastate airlines and charter air services
The Alaska Railroad offers year-round freight and passenger service along the length of its rail system from Seward (the southern terminus of the system) to Fairbanks (the northern terminus of the system), although passenger service is less frequent in winter than in summer, and some passenger terminals are not serviced in winter

Anchorage also has a bus system called People Mover, with a central hub in downtown Anchorage and satellite hubs at Dimond Center and Muldoon Mall. The People Mover provides carpool organization services. The public paratransit service known as AnchorRides provides point-to-point accessible transportation services to seniors and those who experience disabilities

Things To Do and See:
Alaska Center for the Performing Arts
Anchorage Concert Association
Anchorage Municipal Libraries
Anchorage Museum
Anchorage Opera
Anchorage Symphony Orchestra

Retirement Communities: Alaska retirement homes guide from RetirementHomes.com, a comprehensive directory of retirement homes and retirement communities, senior communities, elder care and long term care facilities.