Around Town
Food
Tired of RV or campfire food? Eat out! Every Tuesday at noon, our Upper Susitna seniors prepare a delicious lunch for the public at their new senior center, located two miles north on the Parks Highway (turn right on Helena Drive, just after the church). Prices are always reasonable, and all meals include the salad bar and beverage. This is a great opportunity to chat with and hear the remarkable stories of some of the folks who founded and built this community – some of the original homesteaders who settled here long before the highway existed. Every Sunday, the public is also invited to brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the seniors. You will be seated, order off a menu and be served by volunteers. These meals include salad and dessert bars.
In addition, our neighborhood eateries are all open seven days a week:
| Business Name | Location | Distance | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sheep Creek Lodge | Mile 88 Parks | 8 miles south | 907-495-6227 |
| Lou's Bakery | Mile 98 Parks | 1 miles north | 907-733-1180 |
| H & H Cafe | Mile 100 Parks | 4 miles north | 907-733-2415 |
| Sunshine Cafe | Mile 99 Parks | 3 miles north | 907-733-3171 |
| Talkeetna Alaska Lodge | Talkeetna | 17 miles north | 907-733-9500 |
| Cafe Michelle | Talkeetna | 17 miles north | 907-733-5300 |
| Latitude 62 | Talkeetna | 17 miles north | 907-733-9500 |
Go to church
The Montana Creek Baptist Church, 2 miles north on the Parks Highway, welcomes visitors of all denominations. You can call the church if you need transportation (907-733-2591). Services are on Sundays:
- Sunday School: 10 AM
- Worship: 11 AM
Go to a meeting
AA and Al-Anon meet downstairs every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Montana Creek Baptist Church.
Take the Talkeetna Spur Road (located three miles north on the Parks Highway)
This makes a perfect day or afternoon trip. Be sure to stop at the Mt. McKinley viewpoint; it is absolutely the best place in the state from which to view McKinley – if the mountain is out. Then park in town and stroll through beautiful downtown Talkeetna. The town is only a few blocks long, but is filled with many original and historical buildings and cabins. Be sure to visit the Talkeetna Museum, which is located in what was once the little red schoolhouse, to learn more about this old mining town. The Wax Museum of the North is fun to see, and is unlike any other wax museum you have visited. There is also a Museum of Northern Adventure and the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum. Talkeetna is home to many craftspeople and artists, so be sure to stop in at the little shops to see what they’ve done. And if you're looking for Alaskan gifts or mementos, you’ll find those in Talkeetna as well.
Observe the aurora borealis (northern lights)
On clear nights in May, late August and September, look up during the night. (They are there year-round, but it is not dark enough to see them during the bright nights of summer in Alaska.) Brightest around midnight, these wonderful patterns of light can sometimes be seen straight overhead. More often, they’re located toward the north and can be obscured by the trees in the forested part of the campground. If you feel like taking a late-night stroll, walk out to the open part of the campground for the best opportunity to see the lights. They may appear (most often) as a rainbow-shaped pale green glow, pale green and/or pink waving curtain or as (overhead) spectacular flat planes of light. Occasionally, they’ll appear as a swirling, cloud-like mass. They’re always exciting to see and are worth staying up or getting up for. (And if they don’t make an appearance, you’ll still see our starry, starry night.)
Take a shuttle
Take our shuttle further upstream to fish, rafting back down to the campground (using your own equipment). (Use of the shuttle will depend upon staff availability, and there is a charge for this service.)