Final answer:
The synonym of 'ambiance' in the given context is 'atmosphere', which reflects the mood and feeling evoked by a place.
Step-by-step explanation:
The synonym for ambiance as used in the sentence 'The ambiance of the Alaskan cabin inspired the poet much more than his cramped apartment in town did' is the atmosphere. Ambiance refers to the character and atmosphere of a place, the feeling or mood that an environment evokes among its inhabitants or visitors.
So the more appropriate synonym in this context is 'atmosphere' because it encapsulates the mood and emotional setting generated by the cabin's environment. The other options—environment, setting, and surroundings—while similar, do not precisely capture the connotative and emotional quality associated with the word 'ambiance'.