Talkeetna

Alaska 2005 Trip

Talkeetna

Talkeetna is between Anchorage and Denali, 14 miles off the Parks Highway. It can have a lot of tourists, but is still a nice town. All of the downtown area is on the National Register of Historic Places. Talkeetna is popular with mountain climbers who fly to base camp from there and with tourists that want a flightseeing tour of Denali.

I hadn't planned on going on a flightseeing tour, they are pricey and I'm not crazy about tiny planes. The day I arrived in Talkeetna, it was pouring rain and the same was predicted for the next day. But the next morning when I got up, it looked like it was going to be a clear day, and I drove out to the view point where you can get great views of the mountains on a clear day, I lucked out and got amazing views (like the picture on the left). So on a whim I decided to take a flightseeing tour. One of the women running the hostel where I stayed recommended Talkeetna Air Taxi. I'm really glad I did, it was incredible. The plane flew over glaciers and around various peaks. At certain times of the year, the planes can land on the mountain (the snow was too soft in mid-August) and that is supposed to be really incredible also.

There are many other activities if you don't want to go flying, including boat tours, fishing and horseback riding. The Talkeetna Historical Society Museum is a nice little museum, with a lot of information about mountain climbing.

There are several restaurants in Talkeetna, including Mountain High Pizza Pie, West Rib Pub and the Roadhouse restaurant. I really liked the Roadhouse for breakfast. Seating is "family style" so you can end up sitting with other people. I talked to a woman who was building her own cabin outside of Talkeetna. The breakfasts are available in regular or half size - most people will want to order the half size - they are huge.

I stayed in a private room at the Talkeetna Hostel. It's a nice place in a quiet area a few blocks from downtown (and one block from Talkeetna Air Taxi). I believe the new owners want to do a major addition to the place, so don't know if the place will be closed down at some point.

Pictures from Talkeetna and the flightseeing tour.

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