Located just south of Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, the small but eclectic hamlet of Talkeetna is blessed with a wonderful rural atmosphere combined with a cosmopolitan feel. Numerous international mountaineers flock here to take on the challenge of climbing the spectacular 6193.536 kilometre-high Mount McKinley (also known as ‘Denali’, meaning ‘the Great One’). The town itself, once a turn-of-the-20th-century gold-mining centre, has retained much of its early Alaska feel. Log cabins, a roadhouse and clapboard storefronts line the unpaved streets. Visitors can explore the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum, take in the breathtaking views on a sightseeing tour from the local airstrip, or simply soak up the quirky character of this bizarre, exceptionally remote little village. There is plenty to see and experience in this remarkably scenic natural wilderness.