Life in Alaska is filled with amazing activities, phenomenal vistas, and some of the nicest people you will ever meet in your lifetime. But like every place, there are some bad things about Alaska. With so many great outdoor options, how could we possibly explore the entire state in our lifetime? It would be impossible to check off our ever-growing bucket list even if we never had to work another day and had unlimited time to play. But it’s not all fun and games. We can’t leave the house unprepared or it could literally cost us our life. This state is mighty and unforgiving. So, is it hard to live in Alaska? Yes, but the risks involved are undeniably worth all of the fruitful rewards. Check out these 25 facts about life in Alaska, and let us know how many of them you agree with!

1. Our fish are so big that we break at least one pole a year.
Flickr - Matt & Nicole Cummings
A reel rough life.
2. Outdoor swimming in warm water is just never going to happen.
Flickr - Kim F
Like, ever. Unless, of course, you visit one of the natural hot springs in Alaska. So either shape up, or ship out! Life in Alaska isn’t for the faint hearted.
3. Want to go to a headlining concert? Expect to pay big bucks.
Flickr - University of Alaska Anchorage
Oh you'll settle for nosebleed seats? That will still be $130 bucks a piece. Definitely one of the worst things about life in Alaska.
4. Limited access to a yummy, fresh variety of produce year-round.
Flickr - Scot Nelson
The struggle is definitely real. One of the worst facts about living in Alaska is the lack of tasty, fresh fruit and vegetables, especially throughout the winter.
5. Sun guilt.
Flickr - Paxson Woelber
Not soaking up every last second of that glorious midnight sun always reminds us that we will be kicking ourselves in the wintertime.
6. Snow guilt.
Flickr - Amy Goodman
If we just feel like busting out the stretchy pants and vegging out all day, the glistening guilt of the fresh powder will haunt our dreams.
7. The cost of living is pretty outrageous.
Flickr - Wonderlane
Is it worth it to live in the most beautiful state in the nation? YES! But high prices still aren't fun to pay. (Here are a few things that are way more expensive in Alaska.)
8. Not knowing which trail to choose from.
Flickr - daihung
Eenie meenie miney mo... so many places to go! One of the hard parts of living in The Last Frontier is choosing which hike in Alaska to do next! However, this is definitely one of the best bad things about Alaska.
9. Cabin fever is no joke people!
Flickr - mikethefifth
Either we dig ourselves out or we wait for the snow to melt. Antsy pants!
10. Garden planting is a great idea, until the moose show up.
Flickr - Donna
Good thing they're so darn cute to look at. Otherwise we'd be really frustrated!
11. There is really no such thing as a short road trip.
Flickr - James Brooks
Unless you consider 150 miles short. No big deal, though. The views are mind blowing along the way, making any road trip in Alaska worth it.
12. There is really no such thing as a casual walk in the woods.
Flickr - Jay Cross
It’s always, "you’re entering bear country" and you better be prepared to defend your LIFE. The highlighter and capitalization is what gave it away really... sprinting away from bears is without a doubt among the bad things about Alaska.

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13. Free shipping! Hooray! Oh wait, except AK or HI.
Flickr - katrina.alana
This is my "and I'm not even surprised" face. BLAH!
14. Food prices in the bush might cause us to take out a second mortgage.
Flickr - Kim F
Good thing we can fish and hunt. Otherwise we'd go broke real quick out here.
15. Crazy high rental prices.
Flickr - Mark Hogan
Oh and you want to have a dog? Fuggetaboutit.
16. Football season has us calling distant relatives to fill our fantasy bracket.
Flickr - dabruins07
Football fans in Alaska? Much harder to come by than the average outsider state.
17. So many epic fishing spots, so little time.
Flickr - mtn85
So frustrating that we can't possibly mark off our entire bucket list in a lifetime. 😉
18. If you’re into fashion, you’ll probably always be overdressed for every occasion.
Flickr - Mike Mozart
And if you wear heels or a suit and tie, prepare to be stared at like you're an outsider.
19. Never knowing where the actual lanes are for basically half of the year.
Flickr - pablo_marx
Weeee, here goes nothing!
20. Having to listen to the rest of the US (and world) talk about banning guns.
Flickr - Paxson Woelber
Try moving to Alaska and see if you preach to that same choir. The thought of living without guns up here is utterly terrifying.
21. Our gas prices are no joke.
Flickr - Robert Karma
Usually... 😉
22. Heavy pots.
Flickr - allyhook
So heavy! But wait, are those gigantic delicious king crab in there? Never-mind about the heaviness, it's all worth it now!
23. The Last Frontier revolving door policy.
Flickr - Suzanne
They come, they see, they fall in love and decide they’re moving to Alaska. And then the long winters get to them and after a few years its onward and downward. At least we have the opportunity to meet lots of new friends along the way!
24. Mad traffic interfering with our weekend warrior status.
Flickr - Travis
Mad, not happy. 48 hours and um…five spent in traffic ONE way. Not cool, man. Not cool at all.
25. When the Anchorage population takes over our peaceful long walks on the beach.
Flickr - Travis
Not a local in sight!

Not that we are really complaining; every place has its quirks. Can you think of any other bad things about living life in the last frontier? What do you think some of the worst things about life in Alaska are?

So, now that we’ve covered the bad things about Alaska, let’s change gears. Here are some positive facts about living in Alaska.

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More to Explore

Worst Things About Living In Alaska

Megan McDonald | May 19, 2020

What are the weirdest things about Alaska?

There’s a lot of weird things about Alaska. Some of the most famous things we are known for are our extreme weather patterns, and days of darkness and light. In interior Alaska you can see temperatures swing from 90 plus degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, to negative 55 degrees Fahrenheit or colder in the winter. This insane temperature swing takes a lot to get used to, and only the heartiest and most adaptable people are able to not just survive, but thrive in it. In fact, most people who live in the interior love the fact that they get the extremes in both seasons. More to enjoy! The long hours of daylight in the summer and the never-ending hours of darkness and the winter are both hard to get used to if you’re not from here. But Alaskans move in the rhythm of the seasons, and we love to play in the summer and hibernate in the winter. 

What is the worst place to live in Alaska?

Similar to the adage “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing,” the worst place to live in Alaska is truly relative. It’s wherever you don’t want to be! Some people may think living in the bush, far away from the amenities of the city, would be the worst place to live in Alaska. Others think the big cities are crammed with too many people, and not “real Alaska.” The worst place in Alaska is the one that you’re stuck in!

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