Day 3 pt. 3 - Denali National Park

After our horseback riding adventure, we decided to drive down and get a quick preview of Denali National Park & Preserve so we could get a game plan for the next day. But first, of course, we had to stop for ice cream at the little shops just north of the park.

Filled up on sugar & cream, the boys dusted off their national park entrance sign posing skills and headed to the visitor's center. The center was full of info about the founding of the park; the native people who called the land home for centuries; the western explorers who set up their first camps in support of studying dall sheep; and the ecology of the species who inhabit what is now Denali National Park & Preserve.

From there we drove out to Mountain Vista and walked the small trail. Not really sure where we might find Denali, we all took turns using Papa's binoculars to try and spy the elusive behemoth but didn't spot anything conclusive. Everett wanted to run, so he and Nate set out to jog the trail (they didn't jog long) and Holden, Papa and I straggled behind.

Holden was not in the mood to hike, but didn't perk up a bit when he found a rock shaped like Tennessee. He really always does find the best things.

After we finished in the park, we started the trek back to our lodging, but first stopped at 49th State Brewing for dinner. The big open area included frisbee golf, horse shoes and loads of other activities that kept the boys entertained while we sat and enjoyed our beers.

Just as we were finishing up dinner, I spotted a man walking up and leaned over to Nate and commented how much he looked like Kellan's dad. Nate looked at him and said, "That IS Kellan's dad." About that time he saw us and we all laughed in astonishment that we ran into each other in Alaska. We also saw them 3 years ago in South Dakota on our big road trip. The boys reunited and ran around playing hard for the next hour. We all joked about wondering where we'll run into each other on vacation again in a few years.

Before leaving, Nate checked out the little bus that decorated the yard which is the bus that was used the movie INTO THE WILD. Copies of the diary entries from the book decorated the inside of the bus.

Tired and delighted by the day, we headed back to our B&B and settled in for the night.Read more