Talkeetna Roadhouse

"Set the scene: A place where tourists and locals sit together at family-style tables to pass the syrup caddy and swap stories. It's also often where climbers get their last meal and hot shower before attempting to summit Denali (and the first place they go afterward). Because of its connection to climbing, the walls are papered in black-and-white photos of summit teams, route maps, flags and foreign currency, commemorative T-shirts from summit teams, snowshoes, and other expedition knick-knacks. The backstory A hundred years ago, roadhouses were a common reprieve for fortune seekers streaming into frontier Alaska. Then the hybrid inn, restaurant, bar, post office, you-name-it buildings were found about every 10 miles—thought to be the distance a person could walk with all their belongings in a single day—and numbered in the thousands. Today, only a few are left, with the Talkeetna Roadhouse being one of them. The main building was built in 1917. The rooms: One might say it's what all woodland cabins aspire to be. The beds are draped in handmade quilts, there are well-worn armchairs in the corner, and when you check in, there are fresh-baked ginger snap cookies on the desk. In the main building, there are private bathrooms, but you need to go out into the hallway to reach them. Food and drink: The Talkeetna Roadhouse's breakfasts are the thing of legend, largely because of the pancakes. Made with a sourdough starter that dates back to 1902, the flapjacks can be dotted with chocolate chips or blueberries and are so large they literally hang over the side of the plate. Get them with a side of reindeer sausage. The neighborhood/area: If you’ve seen the CBS show Northern Exposure, Talkeetna may feel familiar—the community in the show was based on this quirky hamlet known for having a (unofficial) cat mayor and for dropping varnished moose turds from the sky during festivals. Talkeetna's main street is only three blocks long, and the Roadhouse sits at its middle point. In many ways, it acts as a community center for the town's 900 year-round residents. The service: Low key, but personal. Anything left to mention? The restaurant portion of the Talkeetna Roadhouse is currently only open to overnight guests. But, they hope to expand hours in summer 2022." - Bailey Berg