I guess I like Sitka and Ketchikan better than Anchorage, because when I visit them I really feel like I am in Alaska.

Sitka is very clean and has a very strong Russian heritage. The natural surroundings are beautiful, but that is true of almost everyplace I have been in Alaska. I also met wonderful people in Sitka.

Ketchikan is rougher--feels more like a fishing, logging kind of town although the waterfront does get attacked regularly by hordes of tourists when the ships dock. Beyond the tourists, I have met some very interesting (an indivualistic) characters who have made my time in Ketchikan truly memorable.

The really good thing about going to Anchorage is that if you are lucky enough to get a clear day, the mountains will take your breath away.

Don't forget: Starboard north and port south. I would happily give up a first class aisle seat to Anchorage for a window on a sunny day.