They poisoned a president and elected a cat mayor, so yes, you should definitely visit.
Tucked between Alaska’s biggest city and North America’s biggest mountain, you’ll find the small village of Talkeetna, a place known as both the gateway to Alaska’s most famous national park and for the nearly 20-year reign of its most recent mayor, Stubbs the Cat. This confluence of the great outdoors and strange local lore sums up the town quite nicely (and made it the quirky inspiration behind the hit 1990s television show Northern Exposure). Visitors come for the multitude of outdoor activities offered and stay for the community of artists, musicians, and craftspeople who give the town its true charm (the high chance of seeing a moose casually roaming the main street is another big draw). Whether you’re en-route to conquer Mount Denali or just want to experience a real Alaskan small town, here are five reasons why Talkeetna should be on every Alaskan itinerary.