2022-explore-magazine-north-america-issue

Alaska’s siren call for adventure seekers of all kinds is legendary . The largest state in the United States (nearly twice the size of Texas!), Alaska’s laundry list of outdoorsy superlatives includes being home to America’s largest national park (Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve), the biggest species of bears on the planet (polar bears and Kodiak bears) and the tallest mountain in North America – the mighty Denali, which towers some 20,310 feet above sea level. And when you arrive in the historic town of Talkeetna, on the south side of Denali, a palpable air of adventure is easy to feel on just a simple stroll around town. After all, this is the place where mountaineers with their sights set on climbing Denali kick o« their expeditions — getting things prepared and organized in town before flying o« to base camp in Denali National Park to try to bag one of mountaineering’s bucket list peaks. In town, the Alaska Range already dominates the skyline. And on a clear day it’s easy to see Denali and all the promise, wonder and danger beckoning from its snowy slopes. There are only about 1,200 full-time residents in Talkeetna, many of whom still reside in log cabins. But this is a town that welcomes the world with arms open thanks to its location right along the Alaska Railroad and the Parks Highway, which runs from Anchorage north to Fairbanks. Despite having somewhat of a wild, frontier feel, Talkeetna is also one of Alaska’s most visited towns — and exploring here is as easy as stepping outside and diving in.

START WITH A LEISURELY STROLL DOWN MAIN STREET

Talkeetna’s main road, Main Street, is roughly a quarter mile long and the artery of the very walkable downtown. You’ll want to take your time exploring here, with a few blocks brimming with interesting little shops selling locally made products and art – not to mention an abundance of local characters you might get chatting with along the way. Pop into Dancing Leaf Art Gallery to browse pottery, handmade jewelry, birch bark baskets and other unique souvenirs created by artists from Alaska’s Upper Susitna Valley. Almost everything for sale here is made in Alaska, so a sense of place is pretty much guaranteed. Once in a Blue Moose is a sweet little gift shop where you can shop for inexpensive souvenirs, including soaps made from Alaskan wildflowers, birch syrup to«ee and reindeer sausages to surprise people with back home. And the historic Nagley’s Store has been here since 1921, back when the clientele was more of the fur trapper and gold miner variety, and pro«ers delicious ice creams and cappuccinos worth the calorie splurge. Look for the food truck called Talkeetna Tako along Main Street, too, and fuel up on tacos or quesadillas piled with fresh Alaskan halibut. And be sure to meander all the way west on Main Street (just a few shorts blocks) to reach Talkeetna River Park, where views open up to the Alaska Range and you breathe in the fresh air at the confluence of three wild glacial rivers – the Talkeetna, Susitna, and Chulitna – roaring swiftly before you. VISIT AN ORIGINAL TRAPPER CABIN FROM 1916 Like a time capsule from an even more rugged era, the Ole Dahl Cabin is an original trapper cabin that dates to 1916 and was built by a Norwegian who immigrated to

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