Lodging

Posted by Nancy D. Brown of What a Trip

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge

Let’s be honest. After a morning of sightseeing in Denali National Park and Preserve, I was a tad disappointed that I only saw the back of a moose rump from a patch in the forest. The scenery was amazing, like nothing I’d ever experienced. I did spy an Artic Hare taking shelter from the late August rain. He was tucked, warm and dry beneath some Birch and Aspen trees. Yet seeing a hare is not the same as spotting Dall sheep or a grizzly bear  in Denali Park.

My disappointment was quickly dismissed as I boarded the glass-domed Wilderness Express railroad car on the Alaska Railroad. Our luxurious traincar was bound for Talkeetna, Alaska. The comfortable leather seats gave us stellar views as the train glided across Hurrican Gultch Bridge. Our Royal Caribbean Cruisetour Guide, Roberta Warner, explained the term, “termination dust” to the non-Alaskans among us. “When you see the powder sugar sprinkling on the mountain tops,” remarked Warner, it means our Alaskan summer is officially over.”

No matter, the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge was a wonderful location to wait out the cat and mouse game that the elusive Mount McKinley was playing with the cloud cover. We were not sure if we would see Denali during our one night stay, but the staff at the Lodge would do their best to help with the site-seeing. In fact, the hotel staff is willing to give you a wake-up call for a Denali or Aurora Borealis sighting, no matter what time of day or night. While I didn’t quite spot the vivid rainbow streaks across the sky, I say the big dipper constellation as if I were viewing it from under a microscope.

 Mount McKinley Makes An Appearance

Talkeetna Lodge Room #333

The next morning, as I pulled the drapes open, I did a double take. There before me was a fantatic view of Denali in all her glory. So big was her massive scope, that I had trouble fitting her into the lens of the camera. Even better, I went to the viewing deck, situated outside the timbered lodge, behind the massive stone fireplace, and took a picture of Mount McKinley from the reflection of the lodge window. Some people in our group were so excited that they couldn’t keep their finger off of their camera shutter. One woman was heard to say, “out of a couple hundred photos, I should have one keeper!”

In my book, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge is truly a keeper. Guests can easily walk to the one-block-wonder of a town, or take the courtesy shuttle that is offered on the half hour and hour from the lodge. The lodge offers excellent king crab legs or stop by the Wildflower Cafe for local offerings. I highly recommend the Talkeetna Roadhouse for their caribou chili with a hunk of cornbread.

Photos by Nancy D. Brown

Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge 1 (907) 733-9500

Mile 12.5 Talkeetna Spur Road, Talkeetna, AK 99676