Inhabited by nearly 280,000 people, anchorage is by far Alaska’s largest city. Civilized amenities notwithstanding, the great outdoors is never far away.

Art lovers will find plenty to browse in the dozens of downtown galleries. Try to attend a First Friday Art Walk, held on the first Friday of the month, when dozens of galleries, shops, and restaurants offer food, drink, live music, and appearances by exhibited artists.

For outstanding photos and paintings of traditional Alaska subjects, try Stephan Fine Arts Gallery, which carries Thomas Mangelsen’s distinctive bear photos.

At the other end of the art spectrum is the non-profit International Gallery of Contemporary Art. Aurora Fine Art Gallery offers a blend of traditional and contemporary styles, epitomized by the totemic design pieces by Marilyn Kaminsky Miller sometimes carried by the shop.