9 Quirkiest Alaska Towns You Didn't Know Existed
A cat for mayor. A town inside a park. There is always something attractive about the unusual, the unexpected — an attraction that is way off the beaten path. Skip towns without color and character for hidden gems with funky signposts, bizarre roadside attractions, and buildings shaped like animals. You will enjoy exploring locations with funny storefronts, weird street art, and strange names. Talking of strange names, did you know there is an Alaskan town called Chicken? For specific recommendations, discover below the 9 quirkiest Alaska towns you didn’t even know existed.
Talkeetna
Although it is a fantastic spot to catch a salmon or sip yummy views of North America’s highest peak, Talkeetna is quirky in a weirder sense: Residents appointed a cat as their mayor. Technically, that is impossible. Talkeetna, a small, laid-back town about 110 miles from Anchorage, is unincorporated, meaning it cannot have a mayor. But that small legal hurdle did not stop residents from naming a feline as their mayor. The trick? The cat serves in an honorary capacity. You will want to visit Nagley’s Store, the iconic shop that thrust the furry mayor into the limelight. It has been around since 1921 and serves delicious ice cream. A few steps away is Talkeetna Gifts and Collectables, a fantastic place for Alaskan-made gifts and decorations. There is Denali, one of the world’s highest peaks, and several water bodies, including the Susitna River, where one can float down and enjoy gorgeous waterfront views.
Whittier
Whittier is a small town of approximately 200 people, where everyone resides in a single large building. To be fair to Whittier, not everyone lives in the Begich Towers Incorporated, the 14-storey landmark that once served as an Army barracks. But nearly all of them call the building home, about 90%. The BTI, as many abbreviate it, has a sombre look and resembles an aging hotel. People live here as a family and know each other's business. They don’t have to drive to a hospital, school, market, or city offices. They just press for a lift. But it is not just the building. Whittier is unique in a different way. It is pounded by rain for almost half of the year and pummeled with snow for the remaining part, making it among the wettest cities in the United States, if not the wettest. See the beautiful waterfall at Emerald Cove, sample the intriguing World War II exhibits about the Japanese invasion at the Prince William Sound Museum, grab a fresh Halibut Sandwich at Varly's Swiftwater Seafood Cafe, or just stroll along the shore, especially to enjoy the breeze and the views.
McCarthy
McCarthy looks like an idea or a physical representation of a myth. Where else in the world do you still find an unpaved Main Street, a stretch that looks impossibly frozen in time? But that is McCarthy for you, a small town of about 100 that takes the fairytale theme to a wilder level. As if that is not enough, McCarthy is right inside a park, and you don’t find that often. It is tastefully ensconced inside the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest national park in the nation. Set base at Blackburn Cabins, a peaceful property in a convenient location in town, before venturing out to see other attractions. At the McCarthy Kennicott Historical Museum, you will find original cable cars that residents once used to pull themselves across the river, while The Potato, a cherished name on Dan Creek Road, prepares rosemary garlic fries like their lives depend on it. There is also the McCarthy Swimming Hole, the perfect spot to relax on a hot summer afternoon.
Haines
Haines provides access to the Alaska Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve, home to the world's largest concentration of bald eagles. Bald eagles, the national symbol of the United States, are unique in one respect: commitment. They often remain with a single partner for their lifetime. Thousands of bald eagles gather along the Chilkat River, which flows on either side of town, each fall. But even if you don’t have an interest in bald eagles — in their sky dances or soaring abilities — Haines will line up several other oddbeat attractions for you. Hammer Museum, for example, keeps a fascinating range of hammers, most of which you have never seen before. Also, the scenery at the nearby Chilkat State Park is as raw and pristine as can only be found in Alaska. The trick is to start with a hearty breakfast at the Chilkat Restaurant & Bakery, a warm, friendly space, whose pecan pies are to die for.
Cordova
You cannot pin it on a single thing, but Cordova, a great frontier tucked away in Southeast Alaska, feels so surreal, remote, and unbelievable. It could be the untouched wilderness that hems the town on one side or the nautical charm of the Copper River Delta that envelopes it on the other. Cordova is a small fishing village and boasts one of the most robust wild fisheries in the world. Salmon runs take place at the Cordova River every year from mid-May, an anticipated spectacle that supplies diners from Seattle to Boston. Cordova Historical Museum keeps interesting displays of the town's culture and art, while Laura's is the place to go for some kick-ass cappuccino. Also, The Little Cordova Bakery may be small and true to its name, but it is way bigger on flavour and quality. Take a quick hike to the Mt Eyak Ski Area, especially if you want a beautiful day with beautiful views.
Skagway
If it is your first time in Skagway, you will feel like you are stepping into an Old West film set. Broadway Street, for example, is lined with several old but beautiful buildings, many of which date back to the late 1800s. There is no town with an Old-West theme that does not have interesting stories about saloons and brothels. Skagway is no exception. There is the Red Onion Saloon, where you can tour a gold-rush era brothel and catch a glimpse of the town's scandalous history. You can also turn the wheels of time at the Skagway Museum and marvel at the exhibits that depict interesting aspects of the town's early years. On a different note, even if fresh halibut is not your thing, Skagway Brewing Company has several other items to dazzle your taste buds. Keep in mind that Dewey Lake is a great spot to cool off after a difficult, day-long hike.
Seldovia
It may look like a normal trip, except for the pristine scenery that follows you through the entire journey, but the 45-minute ferry ride from Homer to Seldovia is a show-stopping escape into a classic coastal Alaskan village, where time magically slows down or dreamily grounds to an abrupt stop. If you have ever read of off-grid beauty, if you have ever imagined a peaceful oasis with a soothing feel, Seldovia is a perfect exhibit. You will amble through quaint boardwalks, lock eyes with sea otters, and marvel at a St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church perched idyllically on a knoll. You will see interesting wood carvings, enjoy some outdoor action at the 1.2-mile Otterbahn Trail, which winds through an old-growth spruce forest, or savor excellent coffee and crepes at the still brand-new Seldovia Roasting Co.
Gustavus
The terrifying beauty of ten-story-high calving glaciers emptying into the sea inlet is among the most glorious spectacles in the world. Unfortunately, places where you can see such an explosion of beauty are few and far between — one reason to visit the Glacier Bay National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992. We are talking about the largest UNESCO-protected biosphere on the planet. While it may not match with your idea of “quirky,” the ice-and-mountain scenery provides enough offbeat drama to stop you mid-step. Gustavus is the gateway to the Glacier Bay National Park, so it makes sense to sample what it offers when you are in the area. And while the town will hold your attention, don’t forget to explore the nearby Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest on Earth. Within town, the Salmon River, a lovely park at its bend, and Fireweed Gallery, Coffee and Tea House, are all worth checking out. Fireweed Gallery serves the best breakfast burrito in the world. But there is only one way of proving.
Chicken
There is something quirky about how this gold-mining town got its name, how it looks, and how it feels. Residents wanted to call it “Ptarmigan,” which is today the official Alaska state bird. However, many feared that people would struggle to spell “Ptarmigan” correctly. The solution was to call it “Chicken,” a bird that resembles Ptarmigan and — you guessed it — way easier to spell. But Chicken has other special characteristics. It was the second town in Alaska to be incorporated. Secondly, gold is still mined there today, long after most of the other mines went quiet. Even the river that flows through the town has a quirky name: the Mosquito Fork of the Fortymile River. The town’s backdrop, a sea of black spruce forest, is painfully pristine and unspoilt. You know what to eat in Chicken? Chicken soup — and at the Chicken Creek Cafe. Afterward, you can visit the historic Pedro Gold Dredge to hear how it operated, then pick a souvenir at the Goldpanner Giftshop, a beautiful store with interesting chicken sculptures in front.
The Takeaway
There is a time to be guided by the glossy tourist brochures that sing about towns with eye-catching Victorians, waterfront views, and cobblestoned streets. However, the truth is that the real Alaska lives off the map, off the brochures. Think of city mayors with real whiskers, places where almost all residents live as one big family in one big building, and towns literally named “Chicken.” In this weirder but truer side of Alaska, you will leave wondering if you just stepped into a dream. You will appreciate that truth, indeed, is often stranger than fiction.
