Alaska websites: guides, tools and a place to stay
These nine sites are built around Alaska's realities: big tides, long winters, a high cost of living, frost heaves, earthquakes and a short building season. Each one sticks to a single subject and goes deep enough to be useful, whether you live here, are moving here or are planning a visit.
Boating
AK Harbors: Alaska harbors and small-boat ports guide
AK Harbors is an independent boater's guide to Alaska's small-boat harbors. It covers the road-accessible ports of Southcentral Alaska, including Homer, Seward, Whittier and Valdez, as well as Juneau, Ketchikan and Kodiak, where most visitors arrive by water, ferry or air.
Visiting and recreational boaters get practical help with transient moorage, reading Alaska's big tide ranges, launch ramps and the boating season. The site explains how things work, then points to harbor offices and agencies for current rates, rules and conditions.
Best for: Visiting and recreational boaters planning an Alaska trip.
Popular guides
Alaska living
AK Circle: Alaska living guide for locals and newcomers
AK Circle is a practical Alaska living guide for newcomers and longtime residents. It walks through moving to Alaska, how daylight and the seasons really work, when and where to see the northern lights, and what to do in Anchorage throughout the year.
Its winter living guide covers the everyday details that matter most up north: cars, homes, clothing and the mindset that gets people through the dark months.
Best for: People moving to Alaska and residents who want to get more out of the seasons.
Popular guides
Personal finance
Finance North: Personal finance guide for Alaskans
Finance North answers the money questions that come with living in Alaska: how the Permanent Fund Dividend works, why so much costs more up north, and how to budget for winter heat and flights Outside.
Its guides use plain language, simple formulas and checklists to cover PFD basics, a step-by-step Alaska budget, comparing heating fuels, what Alaskans do and don't pay in taxes, and saving for travel. It's an educational resource, not a financial institution or licensed advisory firm, and it doesn't give financial advice.
Best for: Alaskans budgeting for the cost of living, winter heat and travel.
Popular guides
Insurance claims
AK Claims: Alaska insurance claims guide for home and auto
AK Claims is an educational guide to insurance claims in Alaska. It explains how homeowners and auto claims typically work, including situations Alaskans run into more than most, such as earthquakes, ice dams, frozen pipes and moose collisions.
It also shows how to document property damage and what to do if you disagree with your insurer, including the role of the Alaska Division of Insurance. AK Claims is not an insurer, adjuster or law firm, and it does not give legal advice.
Best for: Alaska homeowners and drivers preparing or following up on a claim.
Popular guides
Home and garage
AK Coating: Protective coatings guide for Alaska's climate
AK Coating explains how to choose and apply protective coatings that hold up in Alaska, where cold slabs, freeze-thaw cycles, coastal salt and long summer UV cause most coating failures.
Guides compare epoxy and polyaspartic garage floors and cover what roof coatings can and can't do, spray foam insulation basics, stains and sealers for log homes and decks, and rust protection for metal. It's an independent resource that doesn't sell or install products.
Best for: Homeowners and DIYers planning floor, roof, wood or metal projects.
Popular guides
Home and garage
Anchorage Asphalt Paving: Asphalt paving guide for Anchorage homeowners
Anchorage Asphalt Paving is a plain-language homeowner's guide to asphalt in Anchorage and Southcentral Alaska, written around frost-susceptible soils, freeze-thaw cycles, spring breakup and a short paving season.
It covers building a driveway that lasts, when sealcoating actually helps, crack filling and frost heave repair, cost factors and how to choose a contractor, and when asphalt can be placed. It's an information resource, not a paving company.
Best for: Anchorage-area homeowners planning a driveway or repair.
Popular guides
Vacation rentals
AK Golden Hills: Book-direct vacation rentals in Palmer, Alaska
AK Golden Hills is a book-direct site for two large vacation rentals in Palmer, in Alaska's Matanuska-Susitna Valley: 700 Golden Hills, which sleeps 25, and 1260 Golden Hills, which sleeps 30.
Booking direct skips the service fees that booking platforms add at checkout, and the calendars sync live with Airbnb and VRBO, so the availability shown is current. The site also introduces the Mat-Su Valley, with mountains, glaciers and northern lights close by.
Best for: Families and groups looking for a Mat-Su Valley base.
Sports stats
AK Wrestling Stats: Alaska high school wrestling stats and rankings
AK Wrestling Stats tracks Alaska high school wrestling with unofficial rankings, wrestler profiles, school pages and event results for ASAA competition, covering boys and girls from the 2022-23 season through 2026-27.
Rankings use an Elo rating, so beating a strong opponent counts for more than beating a weak one. Fans, families and coaches can search wrestlers, browse schools and events, and follow state results and leaderboards.
Best for: Wrestlers, families, coaches and fans following Alaska high school wrestling.
Popular sections
Home design
Mountaintop Home Builder: Design a small home in 3D with an instant estimate
Mountaintop Home Builder is an interactive 3D designer for small homes. Pick a plan, such as The Ridgeline (two bedrooms, 828 square feet) or The Aspen (three bedrooms, 912 square feet), then look around it inside and out, by day or at dusk, in summer or winter.
As you choose exterior, window, outdoor, structure, heat and power, and interior options, the site updates an instant price estimate and summarizes your build.
Best for: Anyone pricing out a small home before talking to a builder.