5 replies to this topic

[WGibs]

Wow! I can't even imagine what 43 below is like! Sorry to jump on your thread without any info, but I've had Alaska on the brain lately...

My BF and I are toying with the idea of moving to Anchorage if his company offers him a transfer up there -- sounds like that may be the balmy tropics compared to where you are! I'm curious -- do the grocery stores in urban areas get fresh produce year-round? I'm sure it's expensive, but is it available? Do you depend on mail-order for gluten-free bread, cereal, etc.? (I had assumed this would be the case.)

I'm sorry -- I'm sure this is a really typical response. (Wow! You live in Alaska? Wow!) But I'm genuinely really interested in understanding what it's like up there...whether living in Anchorage is pretty much like any small city, or if it's the wild North.

I'd love any info you'd be willing to pass along.

[Generic]

I go to Fairbanks often to visit. I lived there for about a year back in 98-99. I found that Fred Meyer's was the best place to find gluten free stuff. Oddly enough I found gluten free mac and chesse there and can never find it in WA state.

[WGibs]

I live just outside Fairbanks and it is definitely colder than Anchorage, but also warmer in the summers. Can get up into the 90's here. Very extreme temps. Anchorage never gets too cold, but never gets too warm in the summers either. More of a coastal climate and wet. Fairbanks is extremely dry.

Anchorage is a good size city...you will have to look up the population, you may be surprised. We do get fruit here and it is a bit more expensive, but of course, not as fresh. I love going to Hawaii and having smoothies every morning for breakfast.

Anchorage and Fairbanks both have Fred Meyer's and I have seen and bought the gluten-free Pantry items there. They seem expensive, tho, the sandwich bread is $6.50. How does that compare to the lower 48? Haven't found any Tinkyada pasta or Chebe yet anywhere in town.

Wow! I never would have thought Fairbanks got that hot! We live in the SF Bay area, so we know all about that coastal climate -- never gets cold enough to snow here, but also doesn't get terribly hot in summer...summer is usually cool and foggy while the nicest days come in the fall. Sounds like Anchorage is similar, but 20 degrees colder on average.

Anchorage is about the size I imagined, but the difference is that in the lower 48, when you have those small/mid-size cities, they are surrounded by suburbs and smaller towns, and other small/mid-size cities nearby...you can't drive for an hour an be in the middle of nowhere.

That price on bread doesn't sound too bad, actually. I haven't been doing this very long, but I know that the Whole Foods Gluten-Free Bakehouse sandwich bread is $7-ish. I don't know the price of Gluten-Free Pantry, though. I don't eat alot of bread anymore!

Thank you for your feedback on Alaska...we're still talking about it, so we'll see if the option of a transfer comes along...then we'll have a big decision to make!