Wife and I have been talking about moving to Alaska. Not looking to live like bush people, but we don't want to live in the city. Any small towns within an hour or 2 outside of Anchorage? Ideally we would like to buy 10-15 acres and build on it.
Any info and advice is appreciated!

Have you been up to AK before?  Keep in mind that it is a huge change from what FL has to offer!  Finding 10-15 acres with in a couple hours of Anchorage is doable, as long as one has a fair size chunk of money.  Would you be looking for 'raw' land on some place that is already built?  Some friends of our recently bought 40 acres for $61,000 but they are 80 miles from Anchorage and this was bare ground.  They are in the process of putting in a drive way and build pad this year. Some other people that we know recently sold their place, house on 5 acres about 48 miles out of Anchorage for $1,000,000.
Having said that, AK is a good place to live and is slowly becoming more like the lower 48 all of the time.  While we would like to have more land, we are at the end of the road with mountains as our back yard.
I am sure that there will be lots of other replies, that will give you more information.

Only if flying into NAS Adak in an S3 back in the 80's counts! I honestly know nothing about Alaska, other than what I see on the tube. Major change from Florida is exactly what we want, living here has been in the toilet for 20 years!

Within an hour of Anchorage you are looking at some pretty expensive properties.  A ton of people live in Palmer/Wasilla and commute into town daily.

Big thing you realize, you will be moving to -35f in the winters.  A lot of folks move up, do a winter and leave since they can't handle the cold.  Right now, the state is going through some serious budget issues, so I'd wait for those to get resolved to see what happens.  Housing market might down a good % of cost if it leans toward the worse side of things, since folks will be leaving state like crazy.

What are you hoping to find?  There are a lot of other places cheaper than alaska that could be a major change.  Our economy isn't getting any better our state government as far as politics goes is full blown inbred retard.

Sounds a lot like Florida govt!! lol...

We're not on a quest. The only thing we are hoping to find is a peaceful more simple life to retire into. I know the winters are brutal, we actually spend a lot of time traveling the northwest during the winter months, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. This isn't going to happen for a couple years maybe closer to 5. We have a few other places on our target list, Alaska just happens to be one of them and the place I know least about. So the info you guys are giving is helpful!

THIS...

BUT if you want to locate some land you can check out BLM and AK state land sales. they do over the counter sales every now and then and some parcels are 20 acres for like 20 grand. BUT they are 3 hours from anywhere and you wouldn't have road access, or you would have access to a gravel road... not sure.

I live off grid here in Alaska, and am 1/2 hour from Wasilla, and maybe an hour from Anchorage. Lots of land for sale around me.


Aviator

Go to Montana. Alaska is not a state for people to come and retire unless your loaded and can fly south for doctor visits and treatments.

Montana, Wyoming or the Dakota's will suit you better unless you have a killer job lined up before the move.

+eleventy billion on the medical aspect of it.  No offense to the clinicals up here, but some of them are fucking idiots or hack jobs.  When the hospital staff refers to one surgeon as "the Butcher" you know something is wrong.

I'm on my 2nd trip to Seattle so far this year.  If it is anything more serious than a broken bone, consider medical out of state.

Milk is $3.50 to $5 a gallon, gas is $4+ in the winter, etc to compare against what you are paying now.

You guys are making it sound like a great place to visit... In the summer! lol

Alaska is a Great place to live.  I have only been here 45+ years and yes I am retired.  Yes things do cost a little more then some places in the lower 48, yes it does get cold most winters, but not as bad as some places in the lower 48.  We are also getting ready for some really tough times, but we have been through them before.  It just goes with living up here.  On the plus side there are a lot of really good people here in Alaska that still believe in helping their neighbors and being friendly.  We also have some freedoms that many in the lower 48 do not have.  While it is changing up here, Alaska is very good for those that can handle it.  If one does not have activities during the winter, it can be really hard on some.  
OP, since you still have some time, may I suggest that you come visit a couple different times of the year so that you will get a 'taste' of what you could expect.  I know people that have come up in the winter and really like it.

Thanks to all of you for the input! We are actually planning on making a couple trips maybe more to Alaska over the next 2-3 years. If for nothing else, just the adventure and beauty of seeing it! I have been wanting to go on a caribou hunt for years, and the wife wants to see the moose! Plus some gold panning and some camping along with a little fishing then a few days in anchorage so the wife can get her city fix.
I appreciate the advice and info and as I said, we have some other options and places we want to look at and consider before we make a permanent move.