Anchorage, Palmer & Talkeetna

Our first glimpse of Mt. Denali - Talkeetna Alaska 2 August 2025

We left Homer Spit Alaska on 29 July 2025.  Our destination was Denali National Park, but we broke up the trip with stops in Anchorage, Palmer and Talkeetna.  We spent two nights in Anchorage, which gave us one day to site see and run some errands.  It rained all day on the 30^th, but we got our grocery shopping done as well as a haircut for Steve and a pedicure for Anita.  We also checked out the Russian Orthodox Cathedral we had been told about in Homer by the church tour guide, Christina. After dinner that day we went to the Fish Viewing bridge and to the William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery. 

Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

Saint Innocent Russian Orthodox Cathedral - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

William Jack Hernandez Sport Fish Hatchery - Anchorage Alaska - 30 July 2025

We had a short drive (45 miles) to Palmer on 31 July.  We stayed two nights in Palmer.  We got settled in midday, so we went out site seeing for the afternoon.  Steve has read James Michener’s book “Alaska” which mentioned the families from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Minnesota who were moved to Palmer Alaska in the 1930’s.  The visitor center in Palmer has information about the “pioneers” and there is a house from the original houses built to tour.  We checked out the pioneer house and walked a little more in Palmer to see where the churches from that era had been built.  The Catholic Church from 1935 burned down, but the original Protestant and Lutheran Churches are still there.  St. Michael Catholic Church was rebuilt in 1966. After our downtown walk in Palmer, we drove out to see a couple of farms that are still operating from the pioneer time.

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Colony House Museum - Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Pioneer Peak Mountain

Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

Palmer Alaska - 1 August 2025

We spent one night in Talkeetna before heading to Denali.  We had time to walk through the little town of Talkeetna and get a feeling of its charming funky vibe.  We also checked on the schedule for the Hurricane Train, a 6-hour train ride from Talkeetna to see scenery and wildlife.  We decided to come back after Denali to take the train ride. We attended mass at 9am Sunday at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Talkeetna before driving to Denali.

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Bear Trap...

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

Talkeetna Alaska - 2 August 2025

100 yr old Fairview Inn

St. Bernard Catholic Church - Talkeetna Alaska - 3 August 2025

St. Bernard Catholic Church - Talkeetna Alaska - 3 August 2025

St. Bernard Catholic Church - Talkeetna Alaska - 3 August 2025

St. Bernard Catholic Church - Talkeetna Alaska - 3 August 2025

Next stop: Denali National Park...