Valdez, AK

Tucked into a deep fjord on Prince William Sound, Valdez is a scenic coastal town of about 4,000 residents surrounded by the towering Chugach Mountains. Known for massive winter snowfalls, the area draws skiers and snowboarders from all over the world to nearby Thompson Pass. The entire town was relocated a few miles down the coast after the 1964 earthquake, leaving modern Valdez with a tidy, spacious layout and direct access to the water.

Daily life here centers on the outdoors, a busy working harbor, and steady employment tied to commercial fishing and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline terminal. For families and newcomers, Valdez offers well-funded local schools, a community college campus, and solid city services. When the weekend rolls around, locals make the most of the wilderness in their backyard, spending their time hiking past waterfalls, kayaking around glaciers, or fishing for world-class salmon and halibut in the sound.