Alaska’s vibrant port city, which earned a Top 10 ranking for Place, isn’t just a stopover for an increasing number of cruise ships—especially in a COVID-19 world. Anchorage is also a destination for nature-lovers, art buffs, beer enthusiasts and folk who like their urban experience with a dash of the rustic, capped off on a clear day by views of North America’s tallest peaks. All of it is easily accessible via Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, which serves over 5 million passengers annually and is the second most connected among the nation’s small cities. The city’s #4 spot for Parks and Outdoors is obvious when you first set foot here: Anchorage is a prime base for outdoor adventure, from skiing to salmon fishing to kayaking down plentiful rivers—from mild to wild. And while the sun sets early in winter, nature offers excellent compensation with regular displays of the Northern Lights. Locals love to talk about that time a moose walked down the street or a grizzly showed up in the backyard. But in addition to wild visitors, the city’s neighborhoods are home to a surprisingly cosmopolitan population, serviced by Top 10-ranked museums, shopping and restaurants among small cities in the country.