Talkeetna Trip Report - Alaska Travelgram

Flying with K2 Aviation from Talkeetna to the Ruth Glacier in the shadow of Denali

It all began with a canceled flight. Sometimes weather just gets in the way. It’s sort of an Alaska tradition.

We were all set for a flight up to Denali’s Ruth Glacier on K2 Aviation (pictured, above) when…well…weather “happened.”

Checking out my e-bike from North Shore Cyclery in Talkeetna.

I looked across the parking lot to North Shore Cyclery. THAT was my ticket to adventure today!

Be sure and stop in to see Shawn and his crew the next time you’re in town. His shop is like a museum.

Shawn set me up with my very first e-bike. It’s a pedal-assist model, not a classic motorbike. So I called Lorena, my partner in crime who lives outside of town. “Incoming!” I said.

My e-bike for the day…looking out over the Susitna River.

Any trepidation about “cheating” on my bike ride disappeared as I literally glided up the hill outside of town. Yep, I still broke a sweat. You’re still going on a bike ride even with the extra boost, when needed. LOVED IT.

Lorena lives in a beautiful home overlooking Twister Creek, outside of town. You can rent it out on Air B-n-B. She is a “super host”….check out the listing HERE. Like a good country person, she was taking advantage of the relatively damp day to do some burning. So we sat around her trash fire and chatted. Too bad the clouds were in the way—she has a glorious view of Denali.

Lorena’s deck with a view: behind all those clouds is a stunning view of Denali!

Back in town, I stopped by Mimi’s Haus of Cheese for a picnic plate. Fancy meats, cheeses (manchego, brie), fruit, some figs and a really delicious lunch. It’s just one option for food in beautiful downtown Talkeetna. I didn’t get to try the new poke bowl place…but it was busy, as was Mountain High Pizza Pie.

“Picnic for One” from Mimi’s Haus of Cheese in Talkeetna.

One of Shawn’s fun tours at the bike shop is a “Bike & Beer” tour. You can ride a regular bike, or an e-bike to the Denali Brewing Tap Room for a tour. Or, you can get one of Shawn’s guides to take you on a custom tour of some of the trails around town. Any way you cut it, you end up at the tap room for a back-of-the-house tour and tasting. With the tour, you get a taxi ride back to town!

Six-course dinner at Denali Brewing’s Tap Room: Mushroom pizza and a delicious flight of local beer.

TIP: Although I’m a dyed-in-the-wool fan of Mountain High Pizza Pie, the pizzas they’re putting out at the tap room are EPIC!

So much to see and do (and eat) in Talkeetna. We didn’t do the Zip Line this time, or the river rafting. So we’ll be back.