Anchorage’s central focal point is the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts (907/263-2900, www.myalaskacenter.com), better known as “the PAC,” short for Performing Arts Center—an unusual brick-and-glass building with colorful Olympic-like rings of light around the top. Find it at 5th Avenue and G Street. Inside are three auditoriums with wonderful acoustics and horrific carpeting; wags say it looks like a pepperoni pizza. Hold the anchovies!

Free tours of the center are offered Wednesdays at 1 p.m., and two IMAX films are screened throughout the summer: one on wolves, the other on the Great Land. The latter is narrated by Charlton Heston, so check your National Rifle Association pistols at the door. In addition, the center has an interesting slide show on the northern lights.

The spacious front lawn of the Performing Arts Center is Town Square, a fine flower-filled field of fecundity. It’s a wonderful place to meet up with friends or just relax on a sunny summer day.

Egan Civic and Convention Center is right across 5th Avenue, and the beautiful new Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center (www.anchorageconventiondisrict.com) at 600 W. 7th Avenue.