We are moving to Anchorage next summer

[amylc]

Thanks so much for the info. We can hardly wait. We moved to Florida from England but I don't think that was as much of a temperature change as it will be for Alaska. Everyone we talk to says if you like the outdoors, it is a great place to be. We are thrilled!!!!

That is very exciting to know about the paved bike trails. Here, I have to brave the crazy roads to get anywhere! My girls are 4 and 6 and love to ride their bikes on the base trails here so they will be happy to know our family bike rides can continue.

[MM_QFC!]

I haven't lived in Alaska, but I've been to Anchorage for work several times and also biked from Fairbanks to Anchorage (Alaska AIDS Vaccine Ride, 2000, only had to turn once as we took the Richardson Hwy to the Glenn and on the outskirts of Anchorage we enjoyed the bike trail (lots of chipseal and worse on those roads out in the boonies!).
I live in the Seattle area, so I'm used to longer days in the summer, but in Anchorage you'll get 19-20+ hours of daylight in the summer! Then you pay for it with very short days in the winter, so you may want to consider morning kindergarten in the winter, if that's an option, so that your kiddo can have a bit o' daylight after school for playing...I've been up there in December and remember it getting dark by mid-afternoonish...
That being said, I moved to the Northwest ("rainy Seattle" and all that) from Puerto Rico, after enjoying living there, the beautiful weather, playing tennis, etc for 3 years and it didn't take me long at all to love it here more than anyplace else I've lived. I wish the same for you and your family.
Best wishes in your move and new life...enjoy!

[Bad JuJu]

Woo-hoo! Alaska is gorgeous! Be prepared to keep pointing and saying to your DH, "Look at that!" "Look at that!" "Hey, look at that!" Just incredible.

I live in Florida and visit my twin brother's family in Juneau about once a year. Juneau's kind of rainy, like Seattle, but when the weather's good it's wonderful. Both my DB and I love both Florida AND Alaska--something about enjoying the extremes--though Juneau doesn't have the extremes of temperature that some other parts of Alaska have. Yes, your cycling legs will have some adjusting to do--it's much hillier than flat ol' Florida--but the scenic vistas should make it worth your while.

The great thing about going there with the USAF is that if you don't like it, no problem--in a couple of years, you'll be moving again. DH and I were in the navy and knew plenty of folks who got orders to Alaska. Many of them liked it so much they stayed and retired there! Have fun!

[surgtech1956]

Good luck on the move. Alaska sounds beautiful. Just think besides biking, you will be able to snowshoe, cross country ski, enjoy those winter activities.