Our Weekend In Talkeetna and Denali Alaska!

Bryan and I left Friday afternoon and headed north. Anchorage was cold and rainy but as we went north it got warmer and sunnier!!! After about two hours we stopped in Talkeetna Alaska, to stay at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. It is a touristy resort but about the only place to stay in this 1000 populated town. You can only see Mount McKinley from about 10 places around Alaska and this was one! While there the clouds broke and we were soo lucky.....we could see the summit!!! After dinner "in town" we came back for dessert and headed to sleep! Saturday we got up and headed to Denali park. The drive was unlike anything I had ever seen! The mountains were everywhere along with amazing rivers etc! We got to McKinley Chalet and felt like we were at a geriatric convention...as we were the youngest by 30 years!! Our cabin was really cool and secluded by a river. Immediately we headed to the Denali National Park! We were only allowed to drive in to the 19 mile marker, as only Denali Park buses can go to the 96 mile marker (uh a 12 hour bus (school bus) ride...uh no). We hiked around and enjoyed the beautiful weather and surreal views. God's country for sure!! After having happy hour on the river...we created :), we headed to The King Salmon for dinner! After fresh salmon we walked around and saw a sunset...well technically a semi sunset, as it then rises again around midnight! Sunday we had another amazing hike and went back to Talkeetna for a wonderful halibut lunch at the West Rib (as seen on the travel channel-man vs food). We both LOVED Talkeetna and highly recommend it!! What a special weekend full of memories I will never forget!! I am blessed to be here and experience this! One more week in Alaska than back to reality...very hard to think about BUT I have a new baby niece coming this week!!!! We are ready for Kathy and Dan....more adventures are planned....Seward for an animal/glacier cruise and MORE yummy seafood!

Our drive into Talkeetna Lodge

View from the lodge

Back of the lodge

Ha! Wanted to see this but a little far up :), also a Peters Glacier and a Petersville!

Awesome views....

Fun times!

View outside on the deck

Many of these planes were taking off right by us heading to see McKinley

MOUNT MCKINLEY!! First time all sumer for the clouds to move out of the way!

Booming downtown of Talkeetna

DELICIOUS PIZZA in Talkeetna!

Nice town sign....

If you squint you can see McKinley.....

Moose Mousse....with some extra chocolate drops :)

Dessert back at the lodge (note this was 10pm, notice the sun!)

Our walk.......saw bear tracks, got a little nervous after seeing the sign below

Bryan was a little nervous!

Our next lodge (think we were the youngest by 30 years!)

Lunch in Denali Park

Just a few of the 100 scenery pictures....

SERIOUSLY....did I ever in my life envision seeing this sign?!?!?!

Bryan the "truck driver"

The drive in....

Just another drive around Denali! Traffic was stopped for about 10 minutes

This is about 1/100th of the 6 million acres!

HELLO!!!

Gripping Bryan's hand as he had messed up several takes :)

This was the last take after Bryan messed up several! I won!

Not a post card I promise!

Some self portraits along the path.....Bryan was freaking about bears!

YES this is real.....words and pictures can't describe!

Some hiking views...

Just hanging out outside our cabin......

That's our cabin......

Like the nature made cooler?

Our Happy Hour we created.....most peaceful "bar"....

The King Salmon....this was around 10pm!

Is this the sun setting?!? WAIT WHAT?

A SUNSET?!?! It was soooo awesome!!

Where we hiked to....

Amazing...

Our truck is at the very bottom left :)

The one wild life we saw on our hikes....

Good-Bye Denali....