The Last Frontier, Alaska, beckons and frightens, and with good
reason. If you’re not prepared — and thorough preparation takes several
months of research and selection — you might have reason to worry. But
with the proper vehicle; excellent road maps; the Trailer Life RV Parks, Campgrounds & Services Directory; and a copy of The Milepost (the bible of Alaska), you should discover a dream adventure, although a few bumps in the road make for some good storytelling.
A particularly friendly, colorful and adventure-packed town in the Land
of the Midnight Sun rests just 14 miles east off the Parks Highway,
between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Talkeetna simply shouts out with history, old-fashioned food and the hustle-and-bustle of a dozen or more expedition companies.
The old television show, Northern Exposure, supposedly
used Talkeetna to create its frontier backdrops; today’s walking
visitors can catch a glimpse of an original miner’s cabin, a small
church and numerous artifacts of the “golden” days. Souvenir shops
abound, two tiny bookstores are tucked away on a side street and a
handful of mouthwatering restaurants boast such dishes as caribou
sausage and reindeer burgers on their menus.
But it is the outstanding selection of chills, thrills, highs, lows and
everything in between that RVers can take advantage of here in this
gateway to outdoor excitement that makes it such a special detour. For
those who want to keep their blood pressure in check, The Talkeetna
Sundog Kennel, various fishing guides and river guides offer a variety
of options. For those seeking more of an adrenaline rush, helicopter
flights, scenic plane trips over Denali National Park and even
mountaineering endeavors begin in Talkeetna.
And for something in between mild and wild, there is McKinley
Jeeps Backcountry Safari sojourns in which you board 4WD Jeep Wranglers
and buckle up for a ride on the Petersville Road. Scenic vistas,
wildlife, mining remnants and, with luck, a view of Mt. McKinley/Denali
lie in wait.
Mat-Su RV Park is within a few miles of the town. For more information, email: [email protected]
