Alaska: Take a wild drive along the delightfully quirky George Parks Highway

Quirky towns and awe-inspiring Alaska adventure await travelers and on this northbound trip. Discover big plants, big mountains and big fun on the rivers and among the mountains of this amazing state.

Drive 363.3 miles, 6 hours, 27 minutes

1. Palmer

Starting Point

This is the agricultural hub of Alaska and the home of world-record-size vegetables. Growing conditions in the area are perfect (19 hours of sunlight in the summer) for producing everything from arm-length zucchinis to baseball-size strawberries. The Agricultural Showcase Garden displays flower and veggie gardens growing an assortment of native flowers and produce. Hit the U-Pick Trail for a chance to explore area farms and pick your own huge Alaskan veggies for dinner.

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2. Talkeetna

83.3 miles, 1 hour, 33 minutes

Quirky charm abounds in Talkeeta, the town that inspired the popular ’90s TV comedy “Northern Exposure.” Step out for a self-guided walking tour or lift off for a once-in-a-lifetime flightseeing trip in a small aircraft. Cast off on a riverboat trip to get a real feel for the area; unwind at the Talkeetna Roadhouse, similar to the TV show’s Brick Bar and Restaurant; o   r stop by Nagley’s General Store for awesome ice cream, a chance to pet the “mayor” (a cat named Stubbs) and an opportunity to grab some necessary provisions.

3. Denali National Park and Preserve

155 miles, 2 hours, 40 minutes

Trek one of the last wild frontiers in Alaska. Denali Nation Park and Preserve encompasses more than six million acres of rugged taiga forest and alpine tundra, climaxing at Denali, North America’s tallest peak. This area is home to an amazing assortment of animals, large and small. Bus and ATV tours are available to the area, and don’t be surprised if you spot grizzly bears, moose, wolves, caribou and Dall sheep, along with smaller snowshoe hares, red foxes, marmots, ermines and lynxes.

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4. Fairbanks

125 miles, 2 hours, 14 minutes

The so-called Golden Heart City offers golden opportunities for summer fun during its bright summer nights. One of Fairbanks’ oldest traditions is the Midnight Sun Game, a baseball game that starts each year in late June at 10:30 p.m. without artificial lighting. Not a sports fan? Check out the Midnight Sun Festival, also held in late June and featuring dancing, round-the-clock shopping and great food. Put your best foot forward at the annual Midnight Sun Fun Run, the third largest foot race in Alaska, or check out the Yukon 800 Marathon Riverboat Race, the “longest, roughest and toughest speed boat race in the world.” Take a hike to the top of Murphy Dome, the highest point around and an ideal spot for enjoying the Midnight Sun.