"Hope your reference to Anchorage included the Kenai Peninsula. We really enjoyed Gridwood, Homer, Seward and Whitter."
I had issues with version control. :) In my first attempt at the post, I had written "...Anchorage (then points South if interested).."
The Kenai Peninsula is a great part of the state. Soldotna and Kenai (IMNSHO) are great jumping off places and Girdwood, Homer, Seward, and Whittier are not only great jumping off places, but neat destinations in their own right. If one is a bit of a counter-culture type, Girdwood and Homer will feel quite congruent.